ASSIGNMENT-3 STRUCTURE

A. There are a number of options when constructing

concrete floors. Compare the options available by
analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.

Ans :
There are two options constructing concrete floors they are:
1) cast in situ
2) Precast
1) CAST IN SITU
Cast-in-Place Concrete Advantages
Monolithic construction
Positive drainage is easier to achieve
Floor vibration generally negligible.
Post-tensioning forces reduces cracking in slabs
Lower maintenance costs
Higher perceived head room ceiling and more openness.
Generally no shear walls except in high seismic zones or very
tall structures
Construction can be performed by local sub contractors using
local labour.
More accommodating for unique structures with irregular
shapes, circular helix ramps
Cast-in-Place Concrete Disadvantages
Potentially higher construction cost in some regions of the
country, particularly in areas where field labor costs are high

 Quality control is more difficult to attain due to exposed

weather conditions
Slightly longer on-site construction schedule
Less adaptable to winter construction in freezing climates
Less adaptable to rain construction
Slightly longer on-site schedule

2) Precast
Precast Concrete Advantages
Potentially lower construction cost .
Faster construction process
Shorter on-site construction schedule
More adaptable to winter construction
Economic for large scale production
Precast Concrete Disadvantages
More propensity for leaking at the joints between tee flanges
Higher maintenance cost for sealants
Lower perceived head room and less openness.
Reduced drainage slopes
More bird roosting ledges
Might not be performed by local subcontractors in many cities
Require heavy equipment.

B. You have been asked to plan the installation of precast

concrete beams on the first floor of a new apartment
building complex. Explain what factors you would consider
how you would carry out the task including labor and
plant requirements.

Ans :
Pre-cast construction is cost effective and provide significant
advantages over conventional construction. Precast concrete does
not have the weather concerns that a Cast in place system has. It
has significant benefits in the schedule and cost of a project due
to its fast erection. It does not require the setting up of formwork,
pouring concrete, and then curing of the concrete because it is
produced indoors away from the site.
Factors
Access of the trucks and cranes to the site
We need to know type of cranes that can lift the beam
Delivery of the percast material to site
Sufficient place for mobility of vehicles
Procedure of pre cast beams
1. Set reference line and offset line to determine the position of
the precast elements to be installed.
Put up temporary props to support the precast beam elements
2. Provide level pads for setting the level of the elements in
position using non-ink mortar
4. Lift panel to its designed location with the use of wire ropes.
5. Secure it with diagonal props after panel is in its position.
6. For components with cast in-situ joints, place the rebars as
required.
7. Set up the formwork for the casting of the joints
8. Carry out concrete casting.
9. Remove forms after sufficient strength has been achieved by
the concrete.

precast yard within a construction yield higher rates of production

and improved quality since materials, equipment are all close by,
and the work tends to be highly repetitive. The precast yard can
be either:
A precast suppliers(permanent facility) yard; or
A temporary precast yard established on site.
Temporary precast yard on site can produce components at a very
rapid rate and precast beams can be cast each day with high
Quality control .
D. You are planning the construction of a high rise
apartment complex. It has 40 reinforced concrete columns
on each floor. You have to decide on the best method of
constructing these to meet budget and time constraints.
Clarify what options you considered and justify which one
you eventually chose.

Ans :
A steel-concrete composite column comprising a concrete filled
hollow section of hot-rolled steel. bare steel sections support the
initial construction loads, including the weight of structure during
construction. The light weight and high strength permit the use of
smaller and lighter foundations.
With the use of composite columns along it is possible to erect
high rise structures in an extremely efficient manner. There is
quite a vertical spread of activity working simultaneously. For
example
Sequence of work
One group of workers will be erecting the steel beams and
columns for 1st or 2nd storeys .
Another group of workers will be fixing the metal decks for
the one storey below.
Another group of workers will be concreting the floors.

 Another group of workers will be fixing the column

reinforcing bars in cages.
Another group of workers will be fixing the formwork, placing
the concrete into the column moulds etc.
Advantages

Less Labour required.

Economical solution with regard to material costs
Formwork is not required
High Strength, Stiffness and Ductility
Excellent Fire Resistance
Low Cost
Ability to Be Cast into Any Shape
Constant cross section for all stories is possible in high rise
buildings

E. Your client is considering a new office block and has

been approached by a company recommending the use of
structural steel rather than reinforced concrete
construction for the main structure. The client has asked
you to prepare a report on each and to make a
recommendation.

Ans :
There are many options available to designers when developing
the structural of a building. The most common approaches are
cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete, or structural steel each
with this has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Cast-in-place systems

CIP system is an extremely versatile material because its shape is directed by formwork erected on site.

Another great advantage of CIP system is the continuity of the

system this gives significant versatility in the floor plan. Cast in
place system do not require connections between members as
structural steel systems do. The natural properties of concrete
make it a very durable material and have significant advantages

over steel when it comes to fire protection, and acoustic

characteristics. The main drawback of CIP systems is the cost and
time required for formwork construction, as this is very labor
intensive
Structural Steel Systems
Structural steel is a very common solution to many commercial applications as
well. Steel has high strength and relatively lower weight compared
to concrete. Steel systems will rather have low span to depth
ratios and also often utilize beam, column frames to support the
floor structure. It is also much lighter than concrete and this saves
on erection costs. One of the major disadvantages of structures
steel system is that they have low fire-resistance characteristics
and require special fireproofing methods.

Time gain Perhaps the most important aspect of using steel

frame construction as compared to reinforced concrete is the
element of time for the on-site erection of the steel frame.
Reduced time presence for the Contractor on site translates to a
shorter construction time for project delivery and this leads to
reduced overheads during project construction. On multi storey
buildings the time gain can be substantial.
Quality Control Off-site prefabrication of steel members in
isolated factory conditions means better quality control of
manufacturing compared to pouring concrete frames in situ whilst
exposed to the weather elements and with reinforcement and
formwork works subject to labor intensive construction processes
that may affect quality. Furthermore, offsite prefabrication
increases the overall speed of construction and facilitates
enhanced safety.
Design flexibility Longer spanning structural metal frames
create column free areas that offer greater flexibility and
functionality of floor layouts thereby facilitating sales or lettings of
the completed buildings. Pipes and ducts can run easily through

steel members and can also be inspected in the future whereas

no such flexibility exists with concrete members.
Sustainability Steel is 100% recyclable without any loss of
quality, whereas concrete is not recyclable. In the UK, when
buildings using metal frames come to an end of their useful lives,
approximately 86% of the steel sections are recycled to create more steel
products and 13% are reused in their existing form. Recycling rates for
reinforcement bars used in reinforced concrete frames are negligible.

Construction Costs Construction costs for steel frame high rise

buildings that are above 10 levels compare favorably with
reinforced concrete frame high rise buildings. Although a cost
premium in the order of 10-15% may be evident initially for high
rise steel frame buildings, this is usually offset by the substantial
reduction in the erection time of steel frame high rise buildings on
site and the associated substantial overheads charges by main
contractors for prolonged stay on site when slower concrete
methods are used.

Considering

Material

Strength

Steel structure

R.C.C structure

Light in weight
compared with r.c.c
structure
Fire safety is low

Heavy in weight

Corrosion occurrence
is more
Periodic maintenance
is required
Life is less

Corrosion is very less

Recycling of material
is possible after its
life
Seismic resistance is
less

Recycling is not
possible

Safety is high

Less maintenance
required
Life is more

Seismic resistance is
more

Construction

Cost

Failure caused is
Failure occurs
sudden
periodically
Required R.C.C
Foundation is a part
Foundation
of R.C.C structure
Shuttering and
Shuttering and
formwork is not
formwork is required
required
After constructing it is It should be in hold
ready to use
till it gains its
strength
Machinery is required Machinery is not
required
Fast in construction
Not as fast as of steel
structure
Curing is not required Curing is required
High initial cost
required
High maintenance
cost is needed

Low initial is required

Low maintenance
cost is needed