1.

2 Alternative Building
Modern Method of Construction (MMC)
Volumetric construction
Panelized construction
Hybrid construction
Sub-assemblies and components
Materials used in MMC

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC):

Different type of MMC:

Volumetric Construction (often referred to as modular construction)– Three dimensional units

produced in a factory fitted out and dropped onto foundations to form a structure e.g. bathroom or
kitchen pods.
Fig. Volumetric Construction sample

Panelized Construction – Units produced in a factory and assembled into a three dimensional
structure on site e.g. concrete wall panels, structural insulated panels (SIPS), curtain wall etc.
Hybrid Construction – Volumetric construction integrated with panelized construction e.g. kitchen
pod as volumetric unit with the rest of the dwelling constructed using panels.
Fig. Hybrid Concrete construction

Sub-assemblies and components – Larger components that can be incorporated into either
conventionally built MMC structures e.g. prefabricated foundations, floor cassette systems,
preassemble roof structures etc.
Fig. Precast foundation

Fig. Precast Flat panel modules.

These are primarily wall and floor modules which are manufactured away from the actual site and
then transported to site for erection. Load bearing components like decorative cladding and insulation
panels can also be produced.

Also called cross-wall construction, the technology has gained momentum due to seamless
adherence to specifications and ease as well as swiftness of construction
Fig. Tunnel Formwork System

Tunnel Formwork system:

With this tunnel technique, construction is paced up for cellular structures of repetitive patterns
through the building of monolithic walls or units in a single operation per day.

Expeditious work is achieved by deploying formwork and readily mixed concrete with the
convenience and agility of factory conditions. Formworks in tunnel form are stacked and used at the
site with cranes.

Benefits of Modern Methods of Construction:

1. Quicker on site build time/ shorter programs/ reduced preliminaries

2. Reduced waste and better waste management
3. Reduction in defects and increased quality control
4. Increased health safety
5. Social benefits and reduced local impacts
6. Greater efficiency in the use of resources and transport

Materials Used in Modern Methods of Construction:

(Here are some of the materials used in Modern Methods of Construction)

Building Insulation.

Building Insulation refers broadly to any object used as insulation for any purpose.

Majority of insulation in building is for thermal purposes.

The term also applies to acoustic, fire and impact insulation (ex. Vibrations caused by
industrial application)

An insulation material shall be chosen for its ability to perform several of these functions at
once.

Fig. Thermal Aluminum Bubble Foil

Fig. Rigid Expanded Board
Fig. Acoustic Insulation
Fig. EIFS

Bulk Insulation

Used mainly to prevent the transfer of heat through conduction and convection. Samples are;
rockwool batts, glass wool batts, loose fill cellulose, polystyrene panels and polyester matting.
Fig. Glass wool blanket insulation
Fig. Glass wool batts

Reflective Insulation

Normally consists of layer of foil backed by paper or plastic. Protects against heat produced by
radiation, bouncing the heat back. Samples are; foil faced blankets, foil faced boards and multi-cell
foil products.
Fig. Foil-face insulation roll
1.3 Pre-engineered Building
Background:

Steel in construction

Steel was very expensive item in construction.

Early 1900’s, the concept of metal building originated in U.S.
Simple industrial structures using truss rafters, straight columns, sectional roof & wall. Wedge
pins for connections.
Mass production of housing and storage modules for U.S. army during ww2.
Metal building system recognized as a favorable method of construction over conventional
methods.
Late 1950’s and early 1960’s, computerized design allowed buildings to be tailored to individual
cut.

Fig. Wedge Pin

 Simple industrial structures using truss rafters, straight columns, sectional roof & wall. Wedge
pins for connections.

Mass production of housing and storage modules for U.S. army during ww2.

Fig. The Fleet House by Edward Larrabee Barnes

Fig. Dymaxion House by Buckminster Fuller

Definition: Pre-engineered Building

Pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) system is a building enclosure system that always
includes a structural system and often includes roof and wall cladding.
The structural system consist of “rigid frames” that are fabricated from steel and ‘cold formed’
into an ‘I’ shape through a manufacturing process.
Rigid frames consists of roof beams and columns that are field bolted together.
The frames can span large distances without intermediate supporting columns.
The frames are spaced at intervals between 15’ (4.5m) and 60’ (18m) and can span, column free
up to 300’ (90m) across a building
Primary framing: Moment resisting frames with pinned or fixed bases.
Secondary framing: Cold formed Z sections or C sections for purlins or girts designed as
continuous beams spanning over rafters and columns with laps.
Longitudinal stability: Wind load on building end walls is transferred through roof purlins to braced
bays and carried to the foundations through diagonal bracing.
Features of Pre-engineering Building:

PEB System is computer assisted, design to create a building for specific use.
The complete building system is Pre Engineered to facilitate easy production and assembly on
site.
Tailor made building based on the client’s requirements and actual design calculations using
tapered sections.
A combination of built-up section, hot rolled section, cold formed elements and profiled sheets.
Designing and fabrication or casting is done in factory. Connected together in factories by
welding.

Pre-engineered Building Insulation:

Insulation – The main purpose of insulating a building is to reduce the heat transfer coming through
the ceilings and openings. There are 2-kinds, the bulk and reflective insulation.

Bulk Insulation

-Rock wool

-glass wool

-loose fill cellulose

-polystyrene panels
- polyester matting

Reflective Insulation

-Foil faced blankets

-foil faced boards

-Multi-cell foil products (2 or more layers of reflective foil)

Polyurethane insulation – A panel manufactured by a press injection method to produce a

polyurethane core between exterior steel facings. Can be used on the wall and ceilings as cladding.

Fig. Sample of rolled Polyurethane insulation

Fig. Polyurethane foam

Fiber Glass Insulation – This can be used on the roof or wall and can be retrofitted on existing
buildings. The fiber glass insulation is fire safe and CFC free and does not emit toxic smoke. It is
laminated to the top and bottom steel facings with special chemical glue, hence, completely filling the
insulation cavity.
Sandwich Panel Insulation – Consist of two thinner metal sheets over a rigid core. Can be used on
the roof or wall.
Advantages of Pre-engineered Building Insulation:

Aesthetic appeal
Faster completion
Economical
Seismic resistance
Ease of expansion
Maintenance free
Large clear spans
Controlled quality
Building can be closed in and made water tight
Prefabrication are not affected by weather
Site works such as drainage, roads etc can be carried out until framework is ready for erection.

Disadvantages:

Subject to corrosion
It has poor resistance to fire as it bends easily when hot.
2.1 Portal Frame

Portal Frame

A construction method of building and designing structures, primarily using steel or steel-
reinforced precast concrete.
Can also be constructed using laminated lumber such as glulam.
The connections between the columns and rafters are designed to be moment-resistant to carry
bending forces.
First developed in the 1960’s and now become the most common enclosure for spans of 20-60m.
Designed for the following loads: roof load and wind load. While designing care should be taken
for proper: Joints, foundation and bracing.
Portal frames are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are usually made from steel, but can
also be made from concrete or timber. The portal structure is designed in such a way that it has no
intermediate columns, as a result large open areas can easily be created within the structure.

Portal Frames are generally used for single storey construction which require a large unobstructed
floor space ie

Factories

Shopping Centers

Warehouses

Anatomy of Portal Frame:

A portal frame building comprises a series of transverse frames braced longitudinally.

Columns & Rafters – Primary Steelwork

Walls & Purlins – Secondary Steelwork

The roof and wall cladding separate the enclosed space from the external environment as well
as providing thermal and acoustic insulation.

The structural role of the cladding is to transfer loads to secondary steelwork and also to
restrain the flange of the purlin or rail to which it is attached.
At this stage the floor is not in place.

Note the clear unobstructed floor area available.

With single storey buildings natural lighting is gained by placing clear sheets in roof layout.

These sheets will run from eaves to ridge at suitable intervals.

The legs or stanchions of the portal frame need connecting at the bottom to a foundation.

Here we can see the base joint connection in place.

Shown here is a ridge joint or apex joint.

It is Important that this joint is strong hence the use of wedge shaped pieces called gusset pieces to
strengthen and increase the bolt area.
Gusset pieces will be used to increase strength, give greater bolt area and prevent deflection
under load.
Again the knee joint must be strong to support the roof loads and prevent bending.
Diagonal Bracing

With all types of frameworks we must think on stability ie movement. To help strengthen the
framework and prevent movement diagonal bracing will be used.
Tie Cables

These wire and tubular ties are used to prevent sagging of the cladding rails which can add
considerable force unto the joints of the external cladding.

External Wall

Here we see the finish of the external cladding panels with the lower level facing brickwork.
The blockwork behind creates a protective wall or firewall.
2.2 Cable Tensile Fabric Structure
Cable Tensile Fabric Structure

Point Supported structure:

Point-supported structures are forms with a minimum of four points of attachment with either
straight or curved edges that produce a clear span with no center mast. An exterior frame, adjacent
building or perimeter masts with or without tie downs support the fabric. The classic point-
supported structure is the saddle shape or hypar. Point-supported structures can have a variety
of shapes depending on the number of anchor points and the position of the supporting elements,
however, double curvature is essential. Several point-supported structures can be combined by
sharing a common mast. The membrane can also be supported from above at specific points by
cables or rods coming off the perimeter masts or higher points on a building. They can also be
designed as repeated modular units and in combination with mast-supported or arch-supported
structures to create unique and larger spaces.

HYPAR OR SADDLE SHAPE

The boundaries could be sloped arches (even forming a circle in plan view) or place vertical.
The double curved membrane could be tensioned into a 3D curved ring or between two parallel
circles (polygons).
COMBINING SADDLE

Individual saddle could be placed in a grid, in this case they act as structurally independent units.
CONICAL SHAPE

Another basic form is the conical shape with an internal point out of the plane of perimeter support.

This shape has a double curvature.

The horizontal rings bear the load from inside to outside and radial lines bear the load from outside
to inside.

The high point can be supported by inner or outer compression elements.

2.3 Floor Systems

FLOOR SYSTEM

A FLOOR SYSTEM of a building refers to the beam, girder and floor slab. The floor slab carries both
live and dead load. Live load refers to the human occupants and other movable and moving objects
on the floor. Dead load refers to all fixed objects and the weight of the slab itself. The weight of the
slab transmitted to the beam then to the column.

BEAM is the structural member supporting the transverse load with each end resting on a support.
GIRDER is the term applied to a beam that supports one or more smaller beam.

Classification of beam

Simple beam – sometimes called semi-supported beam. It refers to a single span beam supported at
its end without restraint at the support. Restraint means a rigid connection or anchorage at the
support.
Continuous beam – a term applied to a beam that rest on more than two support.

Semi-continuous beam – refers to a beam with two span with or without restraint at the two extreme
ends.
Cantilever beam – a beam supported on one end and the other end projecting beyond the support
or wall.
T-Beam – When the floor slab and beams are poured with concrete simultaneously to produce a
monolithic structure where the portion of the slab at both sides of the beam serves as flanges of the
T-beam. The beam below the slab serves as the web member and is sometimes called stem.

Reference:

Max Fajardo; Simplified Methods on Building Construction pg. 276-278

Ribbed (Waffle) Slab System

Ribbed floors consisting of equally spaced ribs are usually supported directly by columns. They
are either one-way spanning systems known as ribbed slab or a two-way ribbed system known
as a waffle slab.
This form of construction is not very common because of the formwork costs and the low fire
rating.