ABSTRACT
In pandemic conditions, where the COVID-19 infection is increasing exponentially, quarantine centres have become very necessary to separate and restrict the movement of people. These structures are also helpful in similar situations like disaster management, defence purposes and housing for poor people. Planning and Designing of Steel Intensive Quarantine Centre' takes on the task of designing and analysing an economical, ecological and rapid construction solution of a modular quarantine centre building. It facilitates a faster construction facility due to steel construction instead of RCC, which takes almost 70–80% more time and is not recyclable like steel. The schematic and elevation plans have been tweaked with additional architectural features to ensure ventilation, sunlight and accessible transit of patients. For economical structural design, the iterative method is incorporated to find columns with the minimum size and shape to achieve ample carpet area, i.e., star-shaped. While designing the structures, i.e., portal frame and truss roof frame are subjected to the same loading conditions. For resisting the lateral forces, different types of bracings have been incorporated in plan and elevation. The construction of a portal frame requires specialized labour to handle compound sections and connections, whereas construction of truss sections is possible by skilled labour or directly use prefabricated truss sections with the help of unskilled labour. Compound sections pose a significant challenge due to their unavailability and transportation difficulties. In contrast, the sections for trusses are readily available even in the remote market. Moreover, the construction of both structures provides rapid construction. The portal frame costs about 16% cheaper than the steel frame due to smaller sections and absence of compound sections. For validation of our work, we have used manual and automated calculation to minimize the error. The structure is expandable for future expansion by techniques such as expansion joint and satellite arrangement. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has intensified the need for faster and more efficient construction in Brazil. In this regard, offsite construction methods are important, in particular, modular construction with steel 3D modules. While extensively discussed in the literature, details, such as the inputs of the process related to modular construction, are rarely provided. The purpose of this paper is to map the process involved in modular construction with steel 3D modules, including the operations and inputs. To this end, based on a literature framework, a case study was performed considering six cases of modular construction with steel 3D modules carried out by three different companies. As a result, the process is described in a flowchart, composed by six stages: 1) design and planning;2) substructure execution;3) production of the modules;4) transport of the modules;5) assembly;and 6) installation. This study shows that the fundamental steps involved in the production of the modules are uniform among the construction projects studied. However, the customization and, consequently, the inputs used to produce the modules vary greatly. Thus, this paper contributes to structuring and documenting the process involved in modular construction with steel 3D modules, including the operations and inputs.
ABSTRACT
The Indonesian construction industry is one of the main sectors to support the economic growth in the country. According to a report published by the World Economic Forum, the construction industry currently accounts for about 6% of the world’s GDP. It is expected to reach around 14.7% by 2030. However, on the other hand, the image experienced by the construction sector is dominated by something low-tech, still relying on craft-based methods, characterized by poor performance and low quality. Therefore, it is essential that to better support the nation’s development, it is necessary for the Indonesian construction industry to invest more in the adoption, development, and application of technology. Material technology plays an essential role in construction projects. Based on a survey conducted to 40 Indonesian contractors, it was found that the priority of using concrete and steel materials ranked at the top during normal conditions and the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, data about the history of development, utilization, and potential of construction technology, especially concrete and steel materials in Indonesia, is almost non-existent. This study aims to present the technological landscape of concrete and steel construction material, providing an overall view of the historical development of the utilization, contribution, and strategy for developing future construction material technology in Indonesia. In contrast, the information data is considered essential to help formulate policies regarding developing and utilizing construction technology in Indonesia. Therefore, this study will map the landscape of technology material in Indonesia. The methodology to be used is literature studies, interviews, and questionnaires.
ABSTRACT
The building sector continues to play an essential role in reducing worldwide energy consumption. The reduced consumption is accompanied by stricter regulation for the thermotechnical design of the building envelope. The redefined nearly Zero Energy Building levels that will come into force for each member state will pressure designers to rethink the constructive details so that mandatory levels can be reached, without increasing the construction costs over an optimum level but at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The paper aims to illustrate the main conclusions obtained in assessing the thermo-energy performance of a steel-framed building representing a holistically designed modular laboratory located in a moderate continental temperate climate, characteristic of the south-eastern part of the Pannonian Depression with some sub-Mediterranean influences. An extensive numerical simulation of the main junctions was performed. The thermal performance was established in terms of the main parameters, the adjusted thermal resistances and global thermal insulation coefficient. Further on, the energy consumption for heating was established, and the associated energy rating was in compliance with the Romanian regulations. A parametric study was done to illustrate the energy performance of the investigated case in the five representative climatic zones from Romania. An important conclusion of the research indicates that an emphasis must be placed on the thermotechnical design of Light Steel Framed solutions against increased thermal bridge areas caused by the steel’s high thermal conductivity for all building components to reach nZEB levels. Nevertheless, the results indicate an exemplary behaviour compared to classical solutions, but at the same time, the need for an iterative redesign so that all thermo-energy performance indicators are achieved.
ABSTRACT
The construction and building sectors are currently responsible globally for a significant share of the total energy consumption and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The use of Modern Methods of Construction can help reduce this, one example being the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) construction. CFS channel sections have inherent advantages, such as their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent potential for recycling and reusing. CFS members can be rolled into different cross-sectional shapes and optimizing these shapes can further improve their load-bearing capacities, resulting in a more economical and efficient building solution. Conversely, the high thermal conductivity of steel can lead to thermal bridges, which can significantly reduce the building’s thermal performance and energy efficiency. Hence, it is also essential to consider the thermal energy performance of the CFS structures. This paper reviews the existing studies on the structural optimization of CFS sections and the thermal performance of such CFS structures. In total, over 160 articles were critically reviewed. The methodologies used in the existing literature for optimizing CFS members for both structural and thermal performances have been summarized and presented systematically. Research gaps from the existing body of knowledge have been identified, providing guidelines for future research.