U-BOOT TECHNOLOGY IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

2016-17

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

With the current global economic recession and deterioration of the

environment, Engineers and researchers worldwide are seeking to introduce
technology that is environmentally friendly and cost efficient. With regard to
building technology, efforts are being made to reduce the concrete requirement
in construction, increase the load bearing capacity of structures and cut on
construction costs.DC`

In case of horizontal slabs, the main obstacle with concrete constructions is the
high weight, which limits the span. For this reason, major developments in
reinforced concrete have focused on enhancing the span, either by reducing the
weight or overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. Pre-stressed
concrete was invented to overcome concretes weakness in tension, thereby
enabling longer span. To reduce the weight of the slabs, voided slabs were
introduced. The voids reduce the amount of concrete in the slab thereby
reducing the weight of the slab enabling longer spans to be built. Depending on
the method used to create the voids, it may also serve to reduce the cost of
construction.

The u-boot formwork is the modular element made of recycled polypropylene

for use in building lighter structures in reinforced concrete cast in the work site.
This new lighter structure is achieved by enclosing the u-boot within the
concrete cast to create voids. Slabs built with u-boot can form the structural
elements of various building systems, such as floors, rafts and so on, for both
civil and industrial buildings.
Dept. civil Engg GEC K R PET Page 1