Vocational Training Report: Building Construction
Vocational Training Report: Building Construction
Scaffolding, as described in the report, provides a temporary structural support outside the building, allowing workers to engage safely in tasks like building, repairing, or cleaning. It enhances efficiency by giving workers a stable platform to carry out their tasks at various heights, thereby reducing risks and accelerating the pace of the construction operations .
For the columns, the construction project used FE415 HYSD grade steel with M20 grade concrete. Each column reinforced with 8 bars included 4 bars of 20 mm diameter and 4 bars of 16 mm diameter, and shear reinforcement using 8 mm bars at 6" spacing is provided. For beams, FE250 steel was used with 25 mm diameter as the main reinforcement and 10 mm for shear reinforcement .
In the construction of the multistorey building, 43 grade of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) from JK Lakshmi was used. This type of cement is suitable for the construction of homes, plastering, brick work, foundation, and finishing works .
The mortar used at the work site had a cement to sand ratio of 1:6. This ratio was chosen because it is ideal for ensuring adequate bonding strength while maintaining cost efficiency. The choice of this ratio suggests an emphasis on structural stability, especially in brick masonry work where both bonding and fire resistance are critical .
Centering and staging processes involve the use of temporary formwork to support horizontal structural elements during casting and curing. The use of wooden staging, as mentioned in the document, ensures that slabs remain in place and maintain their shape while the concrete sets and gains strength, thereby preventing sagging or misalignment .
Flemish bonds enhance the aesthetic and structural integrity due to their alternating header and stretcher layout within the same course providing a stronger interlocking compared to simpler bond types like stretcher bond. This layout allows for better load distribution and connectivity, thereby enhancing the structural coherence and resistance of brick walls .
FE415 HYSD grade steel, used for column reinforcement, offers high yield strength and ductility characteristics, which are crucial for withstanding the compressive loads typical in columns. The choice of this grade could be motivated by the need for both strength to support vertical loads and ductility to absorb any deformations or dynamic forces (e.g., seismic) exerted on the structure .
Two types of aggregates were used in the project: coarse aggregates and fine aggregates. Coarse aggregates are essential for preparing the concrete mixture, whereas fine aggregates were used not only in the concrete mix but also specifically for plastering .
The roofing used 10 mm diameter FE250 steel bars as main reinforcement, placed at 6'' center-to-center spacing. Additionally, 8 mm bars were used as shear reinforcement also placed at 6'' spacing. This reinforcement is crucial for providing tensile strength to the concrete slab in roofing, ensuring structural integrity .
The project used aggregates of 20 mm and less for concrete mixture, as these sizes ensure adequate workability and uniform distribution within the mix, leading to a consolidated, gap-free formwork. Smaller aggregates also improve the surface finish and strength of the concrete, making them suitable for both load-bearing and aesthetic aspects of the building .