Article Review #3

Concrete challenge to steel shed monopoly

The Concrete Centre News Archive 2007
Release date: 26th February 2007

Clients and suppliers are likely to benefit from a challenge by an alternative concrete solution to the domination of steel portal frames in the industrial shed market.

At the 2nd Annual Shed Conference, Dr Bernard Rimmer talks about the domination of steel portal frames in the shed market that has led to little innovation or change over many years. Dr Rimmer suggests a solution that provides more freedom and flexibility for designers, which consists of a combination of structural concrete walls together with roof structures lightweight or heavy in materials depending on the architectural and performance requirements. Strong in sustainability, fire resistance and speed to market, the concrete solution offers an attractive and viable alternative to steel portal frame shed.

source: http://www.concretecentre.com/main.asp?page=1570

Master Architect

After thinking about some of the most recognized architects in the world I decided on Zaha Hadid. Born and raised in Baghdad, Zaha studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London where she was tutored by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. She has won many international awards, such as becoming the first female recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. She is currently Professor at the University of Applied Arts Vienna in Austria. Zaha continues to push the boundaries of built form into contemporary architecture. I chose Zaha as my master architect because I believe it will be a challenge to design a warehouse from the influence of Zaha, pushing out of the conventional into the modern world.

Here are some websites on Zaha:
* www.zaha-hadid.com
* http://www.designmuseum.org/design/zaha-hadid

Some works by Zaha Hadid:




Architecture Foundation, London



Phaeno Science Center, Germany


Phaeno Science Center Animation

Pictures of the BMW Central Building, Germany

I have noted that Zaha likes utilize concrete as a favoured means of construction and/or form.

Tutorial Drawing Exercises

Finally, the tutorial drawing exercises. Apologies for the wait. Better late then never!

Week 5


Roof Panel Detail
Important elements:
* The joining of the concrete wall panel to the steel sheet panel with galvanised fixings
* The gap between the concrete wall panel and the steel sheet panel
* The positioning of the zincalume flashing
* The timber fixing blocks at given centers
* The waterproof plywood backing supporting the folded aluminium capping
* The distance between the top of the steel sheet panel and the top of the parapet
* The distance between the top of the steel sheet panel and the first galvanised fixing
* The varying distance of the top of the parapet and the zincalume flashing


Box Gutter Section
Important elements:
* The fixing of timber battens to the underside of spandek
* The fixing bracket to the studs
* The positioning of the fascia gutter, leading down to the box gutter, and hence the downpipe beyond
* The positioning of the purlins around the box gutter


Gutter Section (2) Detail
Important elements:
* All the elements learned in Gutter Section (1)
* The method of joining the concrete wall panel to the roofing with 'fyrechek'
* The positioning of the PVC downpipe and spreader to the lower roof
* The apron flashing in between the lower roofing and the PVC downpipe
* The method of joining the concrete wall panel to the colorbond wall cladding with top hat sections


Gutter Section (1) Detail
Important elements:
* The gap between the concrete wall panel and the 1/2 round gutter
* The insulation between the edge of the purlin and the colorbond fixing, and above the concrete panel
* The position of the round gutter under the edge of the roofing


Week 4 - Portal Frame Warehouse/Office Section
Important elements:
* All the elements learned in Weeks 2 & 3
* The UB floor beam and concrete slab relationship as the office floor,
* The use of flashing between the vertical corrugated cladding and the pitched corrugated metal roofing
* The use of capping and flashing over structural members


Week 3 - Section B
This drawing has the same important elements as 'Section A', however the importance here is understanding the relationships of those elements in a perpendicularly oppisite sectional view.


Week 2 - Section A
Important elements:
* The joining relationship between the stanchion, haunching and rafter beam (knee joint area)
* The area at and above the joining of the two rafters (apex)
* The 'C' purlins that are supported by the rafters and support the roofing
* The tilt-up concrete panel, custom orb cladding and stanchion relationship
* The 'C' girts placed in between the cladding and stanchion, above the concrete panel
* The box gutter above the top 'C' girt and adjacent to the end 'C' purlin

Article Review #2

New guidance explains how to use thermal mass to avoid or minimise air conditioning

The Concrete Centre News Archive 2007
Release date: 23rd January 2007

Hotter summers due to climate change will result in greater use of air-conditioning which, in turn, will result in increased CO2 emissions and more impact on the climate. New technical guidance from The Concrete Centre explains how the thermal mass of buildings can be utilised to successfully address this Catch 22.

The Concrete Centre has identified the advantage of thermal mass in concrete as a means of passive cooling to battle hotter summers in the UK due to climate change. They noted the exposure of concrete provides passive cooling, with the soffit of the floor slabs absorbing daily heat and stabilising the internal temperature, with the cool air at night used as ventilation, creating a heating/cooling cycle through the thermal mass of the building. Furthermore, economical benifits include reduced costs to run air conditioning as well as reduced CO2 emissions.

We can surely relate to climate change in Australia and possibly consider concrete's thermal mass cooling quality as a solution.

source: http://www.concretecentre.com/main.asp?page=1542

Manifold Heights Primary School

The new multi-purpose hall at Manifold Heights Primary School in Geelong, currently being constructed.

Here we can see the steel I-beams and the purlins spanning on top.

Im guessing the columns shown here span about 8 meters.

Here we can see the steel bracing to add support against wind loads.

Article Review #1

Concrete beats steel in school tests

The Concrete Centre News Archive 2007
Release date: 15th March 2007

New independent research confirms that concrete offers the best overall economic solution for school construction, beating steel in terms of cost and lead times. Concrete-framed construction was found to be up to 6.4% less expensive and up to six weeks faster. In addition, concrete construction offers schools a range of extra value benefits at no additional cost.

The independent research conducted for The Concrete Centre included a cost analysis of a typical secondary school long-span and short-span construction, comparing reinforced concrete and steel-framed options, taking into account construction times and the effect of programme on cost.

It was noted that the most economical concrete-framed solution, the post tensioned flat slab, was found to be up to 6.4% less expensive than steel-framed solutions. Furthermore, Slimdek steel-framed solution proved to be 6.8% more expensive than a concrete post-tensioned flat slab solution, and was found to be 63% more expensive if only the cost of the frame was considered.

The concrete-framed options proved to be a few weeks faster in terms of speed of construction, with a calculation of 81-83 weeks (taking into account procurement and lead times as well as construction duration) compared to 86-87 weeks for the steel-framed options.

source: http://www.concretecentre.com/main.asp?page=1584

Long span ice rink

After weeks of cruelty and neglect I have finally found some motivation for my blog. Here are some photos of the ice rink in Oakleigh, Melbourne. I have been playing there for 7 years and only just realized its a long-span portal frame construction (duh).


Here you can see the overall long span roof construction with the use of rafter beams, purlins, apex and roof cladding.


Here is a close up of the rafter/haunching and stanchion bolt connection.


Obviously theres no internal columns supporting the structure as it would be rude to place them in the middle of the rink of the fastest sport in the world, so small steel rods have been bolted from the haunching to the purlins as additional support.


Spotted a legless green seat.

Here we can see the bracing cross-spanning from rafter to rafter, for additional support against structural movement.

The back netting is connected to a steel netting frame which is joined to the roof and purlins. Also note the vertical columns supporting the end rafters.