Major Assignment detail

I chose to do the construction management alternative in the major assignment, and to make a steel UC join into a concrete footing. Some construction photo's for this model is shown above. The idea was to create box, symbolizing the concrete, which one could see into to view the reo, and the connection into the concrete, such as the dynabolts.

Article #5 - "Saving Energy: Homes Lead the Way"

An article posted in the Sydney Morning Herald by Wendy Frew describes a house exhibition in Wollongong which could be a prototype for reduced greenhouse gas emissions in housing for the future. The article “Saving Energy: Homes Lead the Way” contains $100 000 in household rebates due to the energy efficient appliances installed in the house, and is likely to affect up to 1000 households by reducing their energy consumption.

The article attempts to push the idea that while some power saving appliances are better than none, houses can be designed and constructed to reduce the cost both economically and environmentally in a substantial amount. The orientation of the house was pushed as a major reductor in heating and cooling energy, while the construction of local materials can reduce the embodied energy in transportation.

While the article states that the government has continually failed to address this issue, Frew argues that it is in the best interests of the company to do so considering the immediate reduction on electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases could be reduced by 20% if consumers switched to solar hot water systems, while the correct insulation materials may reduce the output even further.

The article finishes by stating that while the requirements for new housing on energy efficiency is adequate, states may cave in to federal pressure and reduce the requirements in an attempt to create a national energy regulation.

Article #4 - "Housing lobby in 5 star mystery"

Browsing through The Age online, I came across an article on the effectiveness of the 5-star rating system on houses for the environmental sustainability called “Housing lobby in 5 star mystery”. While Planning Minister Justin Madden argued that the aim of the system was for the government, in combination with the HIA, to promote the efficiency of buildings in Victoria. However, sources for ‘The Age’ argue that houses built now use more power and create more greenhouse gases than older ones.

Largely aimed at cutting energy use for heating and cooling, five-star building regulations were first introduced in Victoria in 2004, and then nationally over the past year. The HIA lobbied hard against the national roll-out of five-star rules, arguing it would inflate the cost of an average new home by around $15,000.

While concerns are growing that the Government has not out enough pressure on the HIA to force newly built houses to increase their energy efficiency, many are also worried about the HIA’s role in dictating building standards in the rest of Australia.

However, it is believed that the Government is planning on introducing new rules to replace the five-star system, thus taking a more obvious approach to the construction of cleaner households.

Article found:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/housing-lobby-in-5star-mystery/2007/05/24/1179601576302.html

Article #3 - New Bussiness Options

A newspaper article I found on the Library Website, “New business options”, details the development of a warehouse being constructed in Richmond, Melbourne. The commercial warehouse development is a joint construction effort funded by Macquarie Real Estate and Probuild constructions.

The project, which commenced on May 31, 2007, will provide 48 studio warehouses over four levels. The warehouse will cost an estimated $15 million, and be divided and sold for at least $243 000.

The project will be made primarily from steel, and will be placed next to the Victoria Gardens shopping centre.

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=1196999F1B2D5DF0&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=2&p_product=AUNB&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=T66N4FMJMTE4MDM1NTc0Ni42MDQ4MTc6MToxMToxMjguMTg0LjIuMQ

Site Visit 6 - Pako street

I visited another site in Pako street which was just being finished although still under construction. The building was tilt-up construction, however it could not be told as the building had already been clad up

Article #6 - "Skyscraper Design Gets a New Spin"

On CNET news, I found an article based upon a skyscraper in Dubai being constructed. The outstanding point about the skyscraper is that each level in the $350 million design will be able to spin around a central axis. This will be triggered by voice control, and will even be capable of generating environmentally friendly power.

The skyscraper, designed by an Italy based firm and headed by David Fisher, will be mainly built in an industrial plant were it will be assembled on a “central core” through traditional construction techniques. The core will be fixed to the ground, so that travel between the floors is possible while they are in motion.

The modular-building aspect of the building is a first, as all 68 floors will be able to rotate independently of one another. There will be 48 prefabricated modules that will comprise each floor that will comprises of electricity, plumbing and air-conditioning. These will be connected to the central core via a “smart joint” which will allow each module to be powered and serviced through this core. The technology is has been used before in military aircraft in which one jet can fuel another while aloft, but will be a first for a liveable enclosure.

The Dynamic Architecture building will be a technologically outstanding building if erected without any major flaws in its construction, and thus will be interesting to follow through its construction.

http://news.com.com/Skyscraper+design+gets+a+new+spin/2100-1008_3-6177983.html

Constrruction site visit #5 - Concrete poured onto site

I visited a site in Highton where concrete had just been poured onto the site by the construction workers.

I came across a site where tilt up construction was taking place, so took a few pictures of the pre-cast concrete being put up and decided to take a few pictures.

Tilt up construction is used in about 15% of modern residential buildings and must require bracing when put up, and then can be removed later.

Site Visit #3 - Distribution Centre

Pictures of the connections between the walls and purlins meet, and the connections between the universal columns and main rafter, the cross bracing used to support the rafters and the general interior are shown above.

I found a distribution centre on the Warne Ponds Campus, which although from the outside looked like a smaller structure, was a large long span building.

Article #2 - Tilt up Construction, technique and method

I thought an article on tilt up construction explaining what it is and how tilt up buildings are constructed named “What is tilt up construction? How are tilt up construction buildings constructed” was relevant to the course material.

At the beginning of a tilt-up construction project, the pouring of the slab will occur and workers will install footings around the slab. The form, generally made out of wooden pieces joined together and act like cement panels. Inserts and embeds are then installed to help lift and attach the panels to the roof, the footings and to each other.

The article then explains that once the concrete panels have solidified, the crew then lifts them into place with a crane. The tilt up panel is also put into position in this stage, whereby the crane tilts up the panel from slab into a vertical above the footings. Here the workers connect the braces from the tilt-slab, attach the panel’s embeds to the footing. This process is then repeated for the next panel and so on.

After the panels are erected, the crew applies finishes to the walls with sandblasting or painting. The article states that a capable is able to put up 30 panels a day, making this an efficient process, and that tilt up construction is a worthy substitute for steel or normal concrete buildings.

http://www.tiltup.com/commercial-construction-articles/concrete-panel-building/

Article Review # 1- Tilt up Construction

An article on tilt up construction called “Tilt up Construction and Precast Concrete Building Projects Showcase” was both relevant and informative to the course. The article argues that Tilt up construction is “an informative, cost-effective way to create large buildings quickly”, and compares it to precast concrete building.

The main difference between the two types of construction is that in tilt-up construction the labour is done on site, where the concrete is poured on site and lifted into position by the workers there and then. On the other hand, precast concrete buildings are constructed at a manufacturing facility and transported to the site.

While the article was written by a tilt up construction company, Bob Moore Construction, and is thus slightly bias, it states that tilt-up construction can and have been utilized in a number of applications. These include office buildings, retail centres, warehouses, distribution centres, call centres, manufacturing facilities and other commercial/ industrial structures.

Due to the speed and cost-effectiveness of the method, this is a fast growing industry and technique in the construction industry.


Source:
http://www.generalcontractor.com/construction-projects/tilt-up.asp

Site Visit #2 - Bunnings Warehouse

I took a trip to Bunnings waerhouse, a structure where portal frames were likely to be seen rather than covered up and is large enough to require them.

There is a picture of the junction between the peak of the roof, where the purlin supports the rafters where the rafters meet at the outer shed.

A picture of the middle of the shed where the rafters meet the purlin, with the hanging beam used to support the load of the roof

A picture displaying the connection of the steel frame reaching the concrete base

A picture displaying the complete interior of the rafters, and long span supporting structures to hold the roof up

Portal Frame Construction detail

Portal Frame construction detail

Portal Frame Section - Sheet roofing/concrete panel

Portal Frame detail - Bow Gutter Section

Portal Frame detail - Gutter section

Portal Frame Section

I know this is a little delayed, but a section of the portal frame is above.