Modern technology, services, and techniques have entirely changed the trend and the way people work in the construction sector. Considering the old days and time the current method is way far better than the age-old traditional method. Today in this article we would be discussing precast detailing services that turned out to be a boom for AEC industries.
The structure of precast buildings is made with the help of precast concrete components and that is available in different shapes and sizes. The best thing about outsourcing precast detailing work is that they are ready to use panels that are transported to the construction site as and when it is required. The other source of the service is that the creation of these panels are entirely environmental based and are developed in a controlled and balanced environment view. The only disadvantage with the given services is its shipping issue. It is thus related to taking the panel from one place to another.
For transporting the panels from one place to another there is a need to have special types of equipment, machinery, and cranes at the later stage to get these panels assembled at the site. Moreover while undertaking the work for precast there is a need and requirement to prepare proper and accurate structural design calculations and detailed drawings for each precast component. This study represents the features of the structural design method and drawing formation of precast buildings.
For any project, the very first step that needs to be taken care of is the design of the building structure. The fundamental composition is based on the credentials that are being given by the architect and the structural engineer who has been designated by the project stakeholders. The very primary thing that the team should comprehend is to follow the entire design concept and its phases.
Post that they need to further investigate how the said technology can help to minimize the cost of the work, reduce the construction time, and that increase energy efficiency. There can be diverse purposes as to why there is a necessity to opt for precast construction and also how it can be implemented in the project.
It is the responsibility of the architect and structural engineer to initially prepare the contract documents, that shares the entire specifications along with the drawings of the required work. This document has the information that is related to the size of the precast members and the process as to how it is connected with each other. Once these drawings are prepared, it is the responsibility of the contractor and precast fabricator to make sure that they assess and review the entire work and if there are any difficulties and changes requires the same can be considered at the same time before proceeding with the execution of the work.
Before the commencement of the work or performing the work, the contract drawings submitted however will not be adequate. This is why there is a need to have the assistance of precast engineers who can verify the work and share their feedback and details on the same so as to execute the work. It is the work of these design companies who have one of the best teams available with them and along with that, they have a deep understanding of the precast production and assembly process that gives an overview on the analysis of the design and drawings of the prefabricated building structures.
Now let us proceed further, and check on some of the details or stages without which the designing and drafting process of work is incomplete for successful integration of Precast services.
When the project is being outsourced, the team have communication with the stakeholders of the project and understand their need and requirement of the project. Once the same is been done a set of contract drawings are prepared which is then converted into a detailed drawing. These drawings to the next degree can be used for the generation and accomplishment of the plan. Moreover, it is the team of many subcontractors who are involved in the project and therefore based on each area of work it is the precast engineer who will be working on the design as they would be the one who would be having a lot of information that must be integrated into the precast production drawings.
Moving further, the very first step or set of precast detailed drawings will share the exact geometry and details of the precast elements that are with the connections to the other elements and structures. These drawings further will be sent to the respective team who will then check the work and review the work with the consultants so as to be sure with the work and making sure that it is error-free and clash-free. The additional information here that would be shared will be the final outcome of the design that will be done with the help of using different software like CAD and 3D digital building models methods.
It is the responsibility of a structural engineer to make sure that they perform proper and accurate structural analysis of the design and the drawing that is being submitted by the stakeholder of the project. The work of a structural engineer is to ensure that they calculate the overall strength, rigidity, and stability of the building structure. Once the same is done they can further explain how the structure maintains and holds the vertical and lateral loads. To get this set of work, the team of engineers needs to have a thorough knowledge of international codes and standards with structural analysis techniques. FEM is one of the most commonly used methods that is undertaken for structural analysis of the work. The terminology of FEM stands for finite element method.
This common method of FEM is used to prepare the 3D model of this structural analysis of the precast building. To prepare the structural model of the project, it is the engineer who will include all sets of geometric details of all the structural precast members. These members play an important role and they are columns, beams, slabs, and walls. All the undertaking of the services is only possible when the team uses and are aware of the necessary codes, practices, and standard. In the end, the results of the structural analysis are used for the designing purpose and that too for each structural member and this is why this set of work plays an important role in the engineering work.
The result that is being submitted by the team post having a complete structural analysis of the model, it is the structural engineer who prepares the reinforcement and connection design for each precast concrete members. Now one thing that needs to be cleared is that the overall precast design calculations are entirely based on the standard design codes and in general the precast members shall have these connections easily and essentially for the structure that behave in the same manner as that of the concrete structure.
Moreover, other precast systems can also to taken into consideration and that too with different behavioral activity, but it is not necessary that it will be supported by the design codes and this is why it is necessary that proper research and actual testing must be done so as to have and show their accuracy and adequacy. Last but not the least, it is the structural engineer who needs to make sure that they prepare the design report, that has a detailed design report, and which easily describes the approach of the structural analysis and results altogether with the detailed design calculations.
The translation of the contract documents is none other than the precast detailed drawings. It is a fact that this drawing needs to be produced or developed in such a way that it can have an effective and useful set of information that is part of the precast buildings. Furthermore, on receiving the precast drawings, it is necessary that these drawings provide all types of information to the architect and the engineer who further check the set of work, geometry, and its relation to the rest of the building. Post with checking the drawings the precast engineering team will be making sure to assign a unique identification tag to each of its components.
Now comes the part, when there is a need to have a set of erection drawings that consists of all relevant details of the precast component and its connections. To prepare these detailed precast drawings, there is a need to outsource the work and take the assistance of expert drafters who will be able to create 2D CAD drawings or with the help of 3D modeling software will produce the final 2D drawings. This complete method is consequently described precast detailing, and it is an indispensable and crucial part as the errors, and their rectifications can be done at the same very moment.
Similarly, there are some more sets of stages that are undertaken for precast drawings and design when related to any project.
Upon reading this article it is clear how and why the service is important and what is the role of precast detailing services when it comes to design and drawings precast buildings. Silicon Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd is the leading and prominent company that assists its clients in providing accurate and data-driven precast services.
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