Construction Technology Flashcards
What is the elemental build-up of Superstructure in construction?
Frame Upper Floors Roof Stairs External Walls Internal Walls Internal Doors
What are the benefits of a concrete frame?
Good fire resistance
Thermal massing – stores heat
Long service life with low maintenance cost
Can be the most economical structural material (dams and piers)
Can be precast off site
What are the disadvantages of a concrete frame?
Low tensile strength (pulling apart strength) Requires mixing, casting and curing Can crack Very heavy Can’t be recycled less uniform in behaviour
What are the benefits of a steel frame?
High strength to weight ratio Predictable properties Speed of erection Ease of repair Can be prefabricated off site Can be recycled Bolt together so can be used to expand existing structures
What are the disadvantages of steel frames?
Effected by currency fluctuations more
Requires fireproofing
Can rust so requires maintenance
longer lead time
How is slip resistance measured?
R – Rating
9 to 13, 13 being high
What size is a brick?
215x102.5x65mm
How many bricks are there m2?
60
What are Foundations?
Function to safely sustain and transmit to the ground the combined dead, imposed and wind loads of the structure above
What are some types of foundations?
Pad – lighter or wide span lightweight buildings - warehouses
Raft – concrete slab for good soil
Pile – for weak or cohesive, water bearing soils
Strip – for houses where loads are transferred to the ground from the perimeter walls
What are some types of piles?
Pre-cast Bored piles CFA piles Secant piles Sheet piling
How does Continuous Flight Augured piling work?
Augur is used to extract the soil then the concrete is poured in from the bottom
A reinforced steel cage is then dropped into the wet concrete and the casing removed
How does Rotary Bored piling work?
Used for the highest load carrying capacity is required
Augers and buckets used to excavate the soil
Steel casing is inserted to hold the shape of the hole
Concrete poured on top of a reinforcement cage
What are the benefits of RBP?
Minimal ground disturbance / damage to surrounding structures
Suitable for all soil types
Can drill through most obstructions
What are the negatives of RBP?
Most expensive
requires bitumen which is then contaminated so expensive disposal
Types of Waterproofing in basement?
Tanking – asphalt or bitumen applied internally or externally to create a continuous membrane
Cavity drain – moisture below the concrete slab is drained into a sump then pumped or discharged away
What is composite decking?
Profiled steel decking forms permanent formwork and adds sheer strength
In-situ reinforced concrete poured on top
Generally used in steel frames but not limited to
What is an alternative to composite decking on a steel frame?
Pre-Cast concrete planks
What is top down construction?
Used to speed up construction
Ground floor slab is cast with an access hatch
Below grand is excavated whilst the core is built upwards
The piles form the retaining wall
Allows building to be constructed simultaneously above and below ground
What is bottom up construction?
Where the basement is formed the work proceeds upwards, simpler but slower
Which building regulations refer to Noise and vibrations?
Part E – Resistance to Sound
Which building regulations refer to Fire?
Part B – Fire Safety
What is intumescent paint?
Fireproofing to steel – applied in the factory, manually touched up