MODEL

SITE VISIT 3

The 3rd site visit was also in the Paramount Industrial Development. This project, in comparison to the 2nd site was much larger and complex. BMF Construction were the submitted the winning tender for the project, which was priced at approx $20m. Total Care Logistics are the client, and the project involves the construction of a 90m by 140m truck depot.

Above, temporary bracing can be seen in between the portal frames. This is installed before the concrete panels have been put in place, but can not be removed until an engineer has given his consent to do so.

Below is an example of permanent bracing. The size of the permanent bracing is much bigger than the temporary bracing, and is in the shape of an 'L' as opposed to the smalled rod that acts as temporary bracing.

Bracing in between the 'C' girts is visible in the above photo, and below, fly brace between the stanchioin can be seen connecting to the 'C' girts and purlins.

Steel plates cast into the concrete known as 'diamond dowels' can be seen above. These are to prevent the adjoining slab from rising/ or sinkning when it is poured, but allows for lateral movement.

Architectural specifications do not always work in practice. In the photo above, the stanchion can not be placed where it was intended to be by the architect. The capping and flashing required to cover the bottom of the 'orb' cladding where it meets the precast panels protrudes slightly from the facade, making it impossible for the stanchion to be placed hard up against the precast panels, as specified by the architect.

The site as can be seen when passing by on the Western Ring Road.

ARTICLE 6 - SCIENCE OF BRICK

www.channels.com/catalog/playlist/811/megastructures#catalog/bookmark/7501/science-of-brick

The National Geographic channel's program 'Megastructures' covers some of the leading events in the construction industry. In a recent episode, it took a look into one of the world's first building materials, - brick.

The episode looked at some of the truly remarkable brick structures in the world, such as the Great Wall of China, and gave a in depth look into the transformation of brick from its raw stages to the final product.

ARTICLE 5 - WORLD'S TALLEST BRIDGE

The Millau Viaduct (le Viaduc de Millau), designed by structural engineer Michel Virlogeux, is the tallest bridge in the world.

It spans the valley of the River Tarn in southern France, and reaches a height of 343m at its highest point, making it taller than the Eiffle Tower, and only 38m smaller than the Empire State Building.

http://www.channels.com/catalog/playlist/811/megastructures#catalog/bookmark/7530/worlds-tallest-bridge

SITE VISIT 2

The second site i visited was located in the Paramount Industrial Development, in Deer Park, just a few minutes off the Western Ring Road. It is being constructed by TCC Builders, and was designed by Steven Deandra (Arch.)

The above image shows the spacing of the portal frames.
Safety mesh, 'C' purlins and bracing between the purlins is also easily identifiable.

A close up of the knee joint, showing stiffening plates on either side of the stanchions (column) flanges, which assist in making the connection at the knee joint more rigid.

The 'I' beam supporting the apex has a much smaller cross-sectional size compared to the stanchions.
Haunching is also evident at the apex, helping to reduce deflection of the rafters.

The above image shows the HD bolts which have been cast into the pad footing and secure the stanchion to the ground through a base plate.
A welded cleat is also visible and connects the pre-cast panel to the stanchion.

The two panels in the above photo are acting as lintels over an opening. They are seated on steel cleats to support them, and then later connected by a steel plate and bolts which are secured into ferrels cast into the panels. The joint will later be covered over.

The above three images show how the 'C' purlins are supported when there is not a portal frame in place to support them. A long steel cleat is secured to the pre-cast panles to support them, and a smaller cleat on the far side of the purlin is bolted through to keep them upright.

ARTICLE 4 - PRECAST CONCRETE

http://www.npcaa.com.au/images/file/Precaster_48_May_final.pdf

Issue Number 48 by National Precaster

The issue gives a great insight to connection/ joint methods between pre-cast panels and the disadvantages and advantages of 'open drained joints', 'face sealed joints' and 'compression sealed joints'. It also touches on the structural capabilities of precast concrete used at the new Bulk Liquids Berth at Dampier's Burrup Peninsula in northern WA. The project incorperated precast pile caps, beams and planks.

The issue also provided a case study on the construction of the Meander Dam in Northern Tasmania, which is using a high speed construction method ofprecast and roller compacted concrete (RCC). The project is quite remarkable, consisting of over 4,000 precast panels.

GEELONG FABRICATORS

Photos taken from within Geelong Fabricators.

Despite the people in charge being slightly hesitant about walking around the site to take photos, it was still very informative and of great benefit to visit the site a watch from a distance what goes on at the fabrication plant.

ARTICLE 3 - TIMBER SUSTAINABLITY

Neville Smith Timber's new 'green' brand of wood is intended to strengthen the image of timber being a sustainable building material.

Neville Smith Timber (NST) has launched a new product range, - GoodWood, which aims to 'Nuture the Future' by maximising timber recovery from plantation sites to the factory.

All timber is sourced from native frowth forests on an 80-year sustainable rotation.

Efforts to minimsie waste have been taken, as sawdust and off-cuts are used as fuel to fire the furnaces used for kiln drying, as well as the use of defective timber to make paper, MDF and plant fertiliser.

SOURCE: Building Connection Magazine, March 2006

ARTICLE 2 - LVL

e-beam
engineered LVL beams

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) has many advantages over traditional building products. It's high strength to weight ratio and its availability in longer lengths (up to 12.6m) makes LVL an obvious choice in modern construction, especially when large spans are required.

e-beam is a product developed by wesbeam, and complies with AS/NZS 4357 Structural Laminated Veneer Lumber. It is manufactured from Maritime Pine veneer, and glued using a phenolic adhesive.

SOURCE: Building Connection Magazine, March 2006 and Wesbeam LVL DVD

ARTICLE 1 - NY CRANE COLLAPSE

ARTICLE LINK: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=572449

SUMMARY

An operating crane in New York collapsed early Saturday morning, killing the operator and another construction worker. The crane, which was owned by New York Crane Corp. was being investigated at the time regarding its operation. It was reported that it had been hoisting materials over the street, which is a breach of building codes. The investigation however was not related to the stability of the cranes structure, and investigations will now focus on what caused the collapse. The collapse comes not long after a similar collapse in March.

SITE VISIT 1

The following pictures were taken from a site that is undertaking a redevelopment. The original structure was a storage facility, constructed using a steel portal frame system. The frames are the only remaining part of the original structure, which allows for a close up look at the portal frame system, which spans a distance of approx 60m.

The below images show the knee joint connection between the stanchion, and the 'I' beam. Due to the large span of the portal frame, the beams have been haunched (made deeper) at the supports, to stiffen the beams and reduce mid-span deflection.

Cross- bracing between the two frames and between the frames and 'Z' purlins is also evident in the photo. The 'Z' purlins, which are spaced at either 1200 or 1800 centres are used as an alternative to 'C' purlins to fix the roof cladding to.

At the apex of the portal frame, the two beams are butted and bolted together to form a rigid connection.

COMPLETED STRUCTURE 2 - RAY'S OUTDOORS

Tutorial Exercise 5 - COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION

PRE - CAST PANEL LIFT

The following images were taken whilst a pre- cast panel lift was taking place at a multi -story residential site in Essendon.

The panel is lifted at strategic points to ensure stress is equally distributed through the panel.

It's interesting to notice that the panel is being lifted with the temporary bracing already attatched to it.

Tutorial Exercise 4

Tutorial Exercise 3

Tutorial Exercise 2 - STEEL PORTAL FRAME

COMPLETED STRUCTURE 1 - ANACONDA

The Anaconda shopfront as can be seen from the adjoining carpark.

The store is located at:

25-27 Settlement Road (Cnr Breakwater Road)

Belmont Victoria

Ph: (03) 5244 0117

A detail of the joining method used for long-span beams butted against eachother.

A look at the connections between the long-span edge beam and the smallers beams running perpendicular.

A close up of one of the steel posts that can be found throughout the shop, which provide supports to the steel beams that make up the roofing structure.