Advanced Construction Technology Insights
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erickimuyu19REVISION QUESTIONS
BCM 3311: ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY III & BQS 3309:
ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY I
1. Building Foundations are basic structural forms, designed and constructed to ensure
structural integrity throughout the structure’s lifecycle.
a. List four main foundation types and describe a situation in which each type of
foundation would be recommended
b. Discuss any five causes of foundation failure and suggest possible remedies for each case
c. Discuss the observable tell-tale signs of possible foundation failure, evident in the
building superstructure
d. Using a well labelled diagram, illustrate by means of a vertical section:
i. Through a basement wall and foundation, then separately through a typical
ground floor slab to show waterproofing treatment in a well detailed foundation
setup
ii. Through a brick or natural store retaining wall constructed through a retain
dense clay soil of up-to 1m deep
2. The University of Nairobi towers sits on piles. Describe the process the foundation
engineers must have used to settle for piles
b. Illustrate a method of determining the bearing pressure due to point load at some depth in
the subsoil
3. a. Discuss the process leading to the selection of a type of foundation
b. Discuss each of the four types of foundation with respect to:
i. Site gradient
ii. Type of soil
iii) Size of building
iv) Location of site (city center, peri urban, rural)
c. Under what construction circumstances is waterproofing necessary
d. Briefly describe three methods of waterproofing
e. For a building to be erected in Nairobi CBD, describe and illustrate how it should be
protected from subsoil water as Nairobi CBD is known for having a high-water table
4. The past decade has been marred by various reinforced concrete skeletal structures
collapsing causing damages to adjacent structures, injuries to unsuspecting workers, and
economic losses to building owners. The collapse has been caused by either sub structural,
superstructural, or as a direct combination of these two failures.
Identify and write short notes on the causes of sub-structural foundation failures of
reinforced concrete skeletal structures and discuss the role of the National Construction
Authority (NCA) in regulating contractors in a bid to mitigate against collapsing structures
5. Assuming you are a contractor who has been awarded a contract for the erection and
completion of a multi-storey office block on a site located in Nairobi CBD.
a. Identify the temporary works that you must have in place before and during the
construction of your proposed building before handing it over to the client
b. Compare and contrast the use of putlog and independent scaffolding as temporary
works for the proposed building
c. Give out reasons why it is important for the design team to carry out site surveys before
you start actual construction on site
6. a. What are scaffolds and why are they employed in the construction industry
b. Name the components of a tubular scaffold
c. Why do most Kenyan contractors prefer to use timber scaffolds as opposed to steel
scaffolds
d. Giving reasons, suggest which type of scaffolds you use or recommend for use in:
i. Construction and maintenance of external building surfaces for buildings adjacent to
public footpaths
ii. Internal ceiling maintenance works for a building with high ceilings like a church
d. Discuss the main factors that are considered during scaffold design
e. What hazards are likely to arise from the use of scaffolds during building construction
7. Formwork is a necessary process in concrete work.
a. What is formworks and why is it important in construction
b. Identify the formwork and falsework design principles that have to be taken into account
during concrete work for a typical multistorey building
c. Compare and contract the use of steel forms and timber formworks as alternatives
during concrete casting
d. Write short notes on the emerging technologies of plastic and aluminum with regards to
formwork as currently used in construction work
8. A developer wishes to put up a multi-storey mixed use urban development building in
Nairobi CBD. He approaches you for preliminary advice. With reference to the challenges
and limitations of a typical site in Nairobi CBD, advice the developer on:
a. Whether to use a steel skeletal structure or a reinforced concrete skeletal structure,
discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each system, including technique of
assembling
b. Whether to use in-situ concreting method or precast technology and pre-stressed
concrete (prefabrication methods), explaining the nature of each technology and
comparing them in terms of their advantages and disadvantages
9. Briefly explain the following:
a. Long span roofs
b. Flat span roofs
c. Shell roofs
ii) Domes and barrel vaults are examples of shell roofs. Give labelled diagrams to show:
a. Concrete barrel vault
b. Pendentive dome
iii) Portal concrete frames are used in the construction of industrial buildings. Briefly explain
five advantages and disadvantages of portal frame structures
iv) Research and write short notes on pneumatic membrane structures, briefly outlining their
advantages and disadvantages
v) Briefly describe the technology/ technique of steel concrete composite construction
vi) What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel concrete composite structures
10. Warehouses are ideal buildings for storing stockpiles of materials for distribution to various
locations and as such, they have large gross surface areas and roof coverings.
a. Discuss the factors that have to be taken into account when making decisions on the
appropriate long span roof structure of a warehouse
b. Identify and give reasons as to the type of material ideal for the construction of
warehouse long span roofs
11. Describe and illustrate using diagrams:
a. Bean and slab floor
b. Drop slab floor
c. Waffle grid floor
d. Flush slab floor
12. Differentiate between the following terms as they are commonly used in concrete:
a. Cast in-situ
b. Pre-casting
c. Pre-stressing
d. Post tensioning