Reference no: EM132165322

Objectives:

Incorporating and coordinating the programmes of specialist trade packages is the most important and complex part of the planning and scheduling of a project. The purpose of this assignment is to:

- Develop a process model that is sufficiently detailed to show the relative timing of the information flows between the specialist trade packages.
- Investigate the advantages and the barriers to implementing project management software and methods.

Tasks:
Based on the Concrete Floor Cycle Case Study produce a maximum 3000 word report as follows:

- Develop the scope of work of the concrete trade package.
- Formulate how the concrete trade package fits in the overall construction process. [10 marks] For one concrete floor cycle carry out the following tasks:
- Assemble the programme information that the concrete trade package requires from; and the programme information it supplies to; other packages.
- Develop a process map that shows the information flows within the concrete trade package and across the interface boundaries with other packages.
- Conclude the relative timing for the information flows identified above.

Appraisal

Taking into consideration the interfaces and the constraints of the case study project, investigate the following:
- MS Project software capability of encompassing your findings above for the following two programmes:
- The overall structural construction programme.
- The Steel Erection trade package programme.
- The advantages and barriers to the effective implementation of 4D BIM.
- Appropriate methods to ensure effective communication flows between all stakeholders in a collaborative BIM environment.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of just in time inventory management.

Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this assignment, students will be expected to:
1. Plan using industry-standard project management software
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of project management software
3. Summarise the principles of project management
4. Apply and evaluate project management strategies
5. Propose project management strategies to suit different project scenarios

Concrete Floor Cycle Case Study

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

This project was being built in a city centre location. It is a 50-storey tower built off of a three-storey podium deck. There are two levels of basement. The central core is of concrete construction and is being built ahead of the floor slabs. The system for the core is jump form. There is a central tower crane that is both used for the core construction and the floors. The floor slabs are following the core construction about six to eight floors behind. The whole building is of reinforced concrete construction.

THE FLOOR CYCLE CONSTRUCTION

The floors are supported on columns and attached to the centre core structure. A perimeter ring beam connects the columns and band beams span between the perimeter beam and the core. The basic floor plan is symmetrical and repetitive. Additional features to the end bays are that the corners are splayed but with projecting areas to allow a straight unit based cladding system to be attached. The end bays have a slight projection to add interest to the end elevation.
Construction elements of the concrete floor

To provide both fall protection, external access for column forming and protection to the public a three storey height perimeter screen has been used. This is lifted on its own jacks once the lower fixings have been disconnected. The screen also incorporates two hoists that are used to lift the struck forms from one floor to the next. (Figure 1)

The slab is 250mm thick and the beams are 1200mm wide x 300mm deep. The beam formwork is plywood and a special system is used to provide the needed support. A timber piece is nailed to the top of the beam side support to receive the metal floor deck. The floor deck is standard metal deck nailed to the timber plate and fixed to the beam sides. This is the only fixing for the deck until the concrete is cast. A system of frame supports from below the deck is provided. (Figure 2)

The splay ends and projections at the edge of the slabs are made from timber and ply. The metal deck is cut on site with power saws to shape the slab edge. (Figure 3)

The deck is lightly reinforced with the main reinforcement in the beams. These are post- tensioned by cables within conduit built into the beam reinforcement. Tensioning is done in two stages prior to the screen being finally moved from the floor (Figure 4). The forms are struck in a conventional way by lowering and dismantling the forms into the constituent parts.

Two decks of forms are in use. The crane is used for steel deck and reinforcement materials delivery to each floor. Reinforcement is supplied in steel boxes. Other materials are loaded onto the hoists and raised to the next floor.
Construction programme of the concrete floor

The floor construction cycle is a four-day programme. The target is to concrete the whole slab in one pour. The first two days are used to prepare the forms the third day final reinforcement and the final day concreting.

Contracting and management structure
The overall project is construction management project. The main packages are:
- Formwork
- Reinforcement
- Stressing
- Concrete
- Screens
- Crane

Issues and considerations

The screens

The screens have to be lifted by 11 am in the morning otherwise there is a whole day delay. To maintain the screens four men are needed. The screens are quite old and it takes three hours to lift to a new position and the hoists take two hours. The hoists are lifted every other lift of the screens.

Formwork

Because the steel floor deck is nailed to the beam sides there is a 30% to 50% remake of the beam sides on every floor. There is not a planned order for striking, collecting the used material and for sending it up to the next floor. Striking is the usual pull down into a heap that has then to be sorted, stacked and sits waiting for a suitable opportunity to be taken up on the form hoists (Figure 5). The stacking should consider the grouting operation to the stressing cables so that it will not get in the way.

Where the floor is steel deck the mould oil on the beam forms spreads onto the steel deck and makes it very slippery and dangerous. Therefore a major cleaning process should be conducted prior to concreting.

Concreting
The floor is concreted as a whole. This is dictated by the needs of the stressing system. There is an initial stress once the floor has been cast. The final stress must be completed before the third floor above is commenced.

Attachment:- Tasks.rar