Guild of Project Controls: Compendium | Roles | Assessment | Certifications | Membership

Tips on using this forum..

(1) Explain your problem, don't simply post "This isn't working". What were you doing when you faced the problem? What have you tried to resolve - did you look for a solution using "Search" ? Has it happened just once or several times?

(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.

Top-Down Construction System

5 replies [Last post]
Wed, 2005-04-27 21:30
Sukumaran Subaram...
User offline. Last seen 8 years 40 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 2 Mar 2005
Posts: 229
Groups: GPC Malaysia
Hi,

I’m developing a construction schedule for 50 storeys building with 5 basements. The site is 2,800 m2 and located in town centre.

Since the site is small and we are facing space constraints, the consultants have decided to go for top-down construction system. In this system, basment and upper floor works will start simultaneously.

Does anybody have experienced on top-down construction system? What is the work sequence? Please advise.

Regards.
Top

Replies

Wed, 2005-05-04 04:22
#1
Sukumaran Subaram...
User offline. Last seen 8 years 40 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 2 Mar 2005
Posts: 229
Groups: GPC Malaysia
TQ Roger.

I manage to get 2 references from google search engine.

1) www.yurkevich.ru/pdf_publications/hi-tech.pdf
Development Top-Down Method Of Underground Construction Or Hi-Tech In Russian

2) www.lta.gov.sg/projects/doc/TopDown%20Final.pdf
Top-Down Construction

Regards.
Top
Wed, 2005-05-04 00:14
#2
Roger Herod
User offline. Last seen 3 years 38 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 8
Groups: None
You can use ordinary diesel powered equipment, but you should make sure that the exhausts are equipped with scrubbers and spark arrestors. Don’t use petrol powered machines because of the greater carbon monoxide output. Any electrical ventilation fans that are intended to extract smoke in the event of a fire should be capable of working at high temperatures, say 250degC. These are about twice the cost of "normal" fans.

I don’t have any reference books to hand, but try Google!!
Top
Tue, 2005-05-03 23:51
#3
Sukumaran Subaram...
User offline. Last seen 8 years 40 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 2 Mar 2005
Posts: 229
Groups: GPC Malaysia
Hi guys,

TQ for the informations.

Just few more questions on the system:
a) Can we use normal machineries for earthwork or use special machineries to expedite the work ie. excavators, lorries etc.
b) Could you guys give me some reference for top-down construction method. ie. the books

Regards.
Top
Sat, 2005-04-30 05:58
#4
Roger Herod
User offline. Last seen 3 years 38 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 8
Groups: None
Sukumaran

Andrew is right. A few points to watch for:

    The first slab you cast (ground floor) will probably need additional strengthening because its going to be your working surface. It needs to cater for construction loads, materials storage etc. The piles, whether temporary or permanent, need to cater for the additional loads, too. I suggest you ask the Engineer to add more rebar so that the slab can cater for 25 to 30KPa. That should cope with most normal events.
    The new basement’s ground support system at the perimeter needs to be installed first. Your engineer may design a sheet pile or diaphragm wall system, depending on ground conditions and your local design codes. If the storey height of the basement floors is not too much he should be able to design a D-Wall system that can span about 6 metres of height without intermediate strutting. This can allow you to excavate in jumps of 2 floors at a time thus allowing you to get to the deepest levels as quickly as possible and reducing the time you need to keep openings workable for "mucking out". The intermediate floors can be cast later, bottom up. If a sheet pile wall, then you may not be able to excavate down in jumps of two floors at a time.
    The temporary piles that you installed to support the ground floor and that later become columns must be designed as columns, because there will be a time when they’re taking all the vertical loads without the lateral support of the ground, as a pile does. Also, if you’re using steel H-piles, they will need shear studs welding to them to support the floors as you go down. Later you can encase the columns in concrete to become permanent columns or cut them out; depends on the structural design of the final basement.
    Give careful consideration to your mucking out routes and methods.
    Make sure there is enough ventilation. The construction plant will be diesel powered and the fumes are heavier than air, so you must keep pumping or blowing in fresh air for your site personnel and for the machinery to burn in their engines. Similarly ensure you have adequate lighting; for safety and working.
    Make sure you carefully plan your escape routes in the event of and emergency. The conditions are not dissimilar to tunnelling and many of those considerations also apply to top-down construction.


Good luck,

Roger Herod


Top
Thu, 2005-04-28 10:36
#5
Andrew Flowerdew
User offline. Last seen 2 years 23 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 960
Groups: None
Sukumaran

Start at ground level, usually then install piles which will later form the basement columns. Cast floor slab on ground, again the first one is usually at or just below ground level. Wait for it to gain strength and then excavate below slab and between piles down to next basement slab level - ie the first slab becomes the "roof". Cast next slab on excavated ground and repeat process until down to the bottom level.

At the same time, after casting the first slab you can start going upwards - concrete columns, steelwork or whatever forms the above ground structure.

Important to programming is to know when supporting structure is strong enough to take the next lift up (or down) and what temporary / permanent measures are required to accomodate this.

Hope this helps.
Top