The Structure Behaviour Of Ungrouted Interlocking Block Wall Masonry.

Fathi, Nordin, Wan Abd. Karim and Mirasa (2004) The Structure Behaviour Of Ungrouted Interlocking Block Wall Masonry.: "The Structure Behaviour Of Ungrouted Interlocking Block Wall Masonry."

Interlocking Block System

WAN MOHD NASRUDIN BIN WAN AB. KARIM — School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: "

KELAKUAN SAMBUNGAN PAPAK LANTAI DAN DINDING DALAM STRUKTUR KERJA BLOK GALAS BEBAN SALING MENGUNCI

Abstract :

This thesis concerns with a series of advanced experimental studies regarding the structural connections between cast-in-situ concrete slabs and interlocking load-bearing block walls. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has developed interlocking load-bearing blocks in two standard sizes, namely 400 x 200 x 150 mm and 300 x 150 x 150 mm. Before this, studies regarding the design properties of the block, compressive strength of prism and full-scale wall under concentric and eccentric loading was successfully conducted. The objective of this study is to ascertain the degree of the strength of the interlocking block wall – slab connections. The study also attempts to compare these strength values obtained from UTM interlocking block with other blocks, and to tabulate the structural behaviour of the blocks in terms of parameters such as axial load, block size and the structural nature of the wall itself – whether reinforced or unreinforced. The detailed experimental study involves the preparation of specimens, preparation of the necessary apparatus for testing purposes, preparation of detailed guidelines for the experimental"

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INDUSTRIALISED BUILDING SYSTEMS IN MALAYSIA

Ahmad Baharuddin Abd. Rahman, Wahid Omar
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
Skudai, Johor, MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT: The Industrialized Building Systems (IBS) Roadmap 2003-2010 published by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) outlines several well-thought strategies and aggressive steps to promote the use of IBS in Malaysia. The government is taking the leading role to persuade the construction industry to engage a more systematic approach and methodology in construction. It is a strategic change in the construction industry and the effort started in 1998. Besides the aim to gradually reduce the dependency on foreign labour and saves the country from losing out foreign exchange, IBS provides the opportunity for the players in the construction industry to develop a new image of the construction industry to be at par with other manufacturing industries such as car and electronic industries. With the present conventional methods of construction, the industry is always associated with many unprofessional practices. The adoption of IBS promises to elevate every level of the industry to a new height and image
of professionalism. By adopting IBS, efficient, clean, safe, professionally managed and handled by professionals and workers with relevant skills, proper coordination and management, precision, innovative and quality will be appeared as new attributes to be associated with the construction industry. The industry players are expected to venture internationally and one of the pre-requisite to compete globally is to offer quality, efficient and professional services and again IBS can be an excellent option. Although some of IBS have been introduced in Malaysia as early as in 1960’s, the industry as a whole seems quite reluctant to exploit the use of IBS. A recent survey carried out on the use of IBS in Malaysia reveals some of the issues and challenges, which require attention from different parties.

Sources: http://eprints.utm.my/529/1/AhmadBaharuddinAbd2006_IssuesAndChallengesInTheImplementation.pdf

Industrialized Building Systems Construction in Malaysia

Industrialized Building Systems Construction in Malaysia:

Industrialized Building Systems Construction in Malaysia

by Yuosre F. Badir, (Res., Housing Res. Center, Fac. of Engrg., Univ. of Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; presently, Res. Assoc. at Logistics, Economic, and Mgmt. Unit (LEM), Civ. Engrg. Dept., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technol.-Lausanne EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. E-mail: yuosre.badir@ieee.org), M. R. Abdul Kadir, (Assoc. Prof., Deputy Dean of Fac. of Engrg., and Assoc. Dir. of Housing Res. Center, Univ. of Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia), and Ahmed H. Hashim, (Doctor, Fac. of Human Ecology, Univ. of Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

Journal of Architectural Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 1, March 2002, pp. 19-23, (doi 10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0431(2002)8:1(19))

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Document type:

Journal Paper

Abstract:

Available literature indicates that considerable research efforts have been directed toward the “hardware elements” of the industrialized building systems technology. However, the hardware elements are only concerned with the structure itself. Nonetheless, to date, the “software elements” of the industrialized building systems, which are concerned with the data and information available on the system, users, clients, establishment of manufacturing and assembly layout and process, as well as allocation of resources and material, have received little attention. There is, therefore, a dire need to overcome the shortage in the software elements of the building system research. This paper reports a survey conducted on industrialized building system construction companies. The main objective is to present the building system technologies existing in Malaysia and to examine problems and constraints associated with these technologies.

Performance comparison between structural element of building systems in Malaysia | American Journal of Applied Sciences | Find Articles at BNET

Performance comparison between structural element of building systems in Malaysia | American Journal of Applied Sciences | Find Articles at BNET:

Performance comparison between structural element of building systems in Malaysia

American Journal of Applied Sciences, May, 2005 by M.R. Abdul Kadir, W.P. Lee, M.S. Jaafar, S.M. Sapuan, A.A.A. Ali

Abstract: The Industrialised Building System (IBS) was introduced in Malaysia in 1966, but it failed to establish itself on a continuous basis though there is a sustained large market for residential projects even since. One of the reasons behind this shortcoming is the lack of scientific data on labour productivity that could convince policy maker. Hence, the objective of this study is develop a standardised data collection methodology for measuring and comparing the conventional building system and IBS in term of labour productivity, crew size and cycle time. Labour productivity (manhours/[m.sup.2]) is defined as the manhours required to complete the structural element of one unit house. A total of 499 data points were obtained from seven residential projects constructed between January 2003 and April 2004. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that the labour productivity was significantly different between four structural building systems. The mean labour productivity for conventional building system was 4.20 manhours/[m.sup.2] followed by cast in-situ table form (2.70 manhours/[m.sup.2]), cast in-situ half tunnel form (1.88 manhours/[m.sup.2]) and precast concrete system (1.33 manhours/[m.sup.2]). Further, the analysis of crew size indicated that the mean crew size for conventional building system of 24 workers was significantly different from the IBS of 22 workers. However, the crew size within the IBS was found to be insignificant. The cycle time measured in days per house was found to be significantly different between structural building systems with the conventional building system of 4.9 days, cast in-situ table form of 3.9 days, cast in-situ half tunnel form of 2.9 days and precast concrete system of 2.3 days. The labour productivity obtained from this study could be used as a preliminary guideline for client or consultant to identify the most appropriate building system for executing a construction project and determining the labour requirement in the construction industry.

Industrialised timber frame housing: managing customisation, change, and information

Industrialised timber frame housing: managing customisation, change, and information:

TITEL
Industrialised timber frame housing: managing customisation, change, and information

FöRFATTARE
Bergström, Max

INSTITUTION
Samhällsbyggnad / Träbyggnad

SAMMANFATTNING
The overall aim of this thesis is to develop an increased understanding of industrialised timber frame housing (timber frame housing construction fully or partially conducted in a controlled environment utilising industrial processes and machinery). Of specific interest is how industrialised timber frame housing companies manage customisation, change, and information.

Three single case studies (at a medium-sized industrialised timber frame housing company), one multiple-case study, and one survey were conducted. The first single case study investigates how production can benefit from integrating a customer-oriented design and production. The second single case study illustrates the shift towards an enterprise resource planning (ERP) approach through a change process. The third single case study describes the ERP system implementation. The multiple-case study investigates the prospects and pitfalls among four small and medium-sized industrialised timber frame housing companies that manufacture complex products utilising advanced prefabrication. The survey, conducted among the vast majority of industrialised timber frame housing companies in Sweden, presents the industry structure and investigates the benefits and disadvantages of ERP.

The results demonstrate that matching customer requirements and an industrialised building system is facilitated through product and process development. Other findings suggest that ERP can meet the needs of industrialised timber frame housing, promote an organisation to be re- engineered through comprehensive change, and act as a driver for a more efficient internal and external supply chain. However, a lack of history regarding information technology (IT) systems for production processes and the timing of the system selection in the overall ERP adoption are both critical for the ERP system implementation outcome. With no previous history of IT systems for production processes, an ERP system implementation is a big step even if it is carefully conducted. Industrialised timber frame housing has increased in popularity on the market over the last years. An important reason for this is the increased customer focus. However, blind customer focus leads to poor utilisation of resources. By balancing customer orientation with internal efficiency, achieving an effective construction process seems possible. Communication between different actors in the construction process, finding a reasonable level of customer focus, and capacity limitations are current problem areas with the potential for improvement. Possible ways of improving the construction process are an increased integration between actors, a gradual increase in IT support, and finding the balance between project and process orientation. The survey demonstrates low ERP usage in industrialised timber frame housing with a low degree of strategic importance, while there are operational and managerial benefits. The results also show the potential of the ERP approach for industrialised timber frame housing, while its use is favoured by an increased maturity in IT.

The overall results show that customer orientation, change, and information management are important ingredients in industrialised timber frame housing. Customer orientation can act as a driver for change and for improved information management. Changes in business processes are needed to facilitate customisation and information management. Information management has a key role in the entire construction process to facilitate customisation, while the need of efficient information management can act as a driver for change.

ISSN 1402-1544 / ISRN LTU-DT--04/45--SE / NR 2004:45

Doctoral thesis / 2004:45

( PDF 9314 kb )

Manufactured Log Homes

Manufactured Log Homes:

Manufactured Log Homes

© 2008, Kenton Shepard

Manufactured (sometimes called "milled") log homes are built using wall logs which have been milled to a uniform diameter and shape. 8 inches is typical, but logs anywhere from 6 to 12 inches are not unusual. Manufactured log home may or may not be chinked.

Typical manufactured home look, logs of identical size and shape

Log Profiles

Interface Profiles

Logs often have an interface profile milled into the top and bottom which allows each log to interlock with logs in the rounds above and below. Interlocking profiles add strength to the wall and help prevent air leakage, moisture intrusion and insect infiltration.

Reveal Profiles

Manufactured logs also have reveal profiles. Reveal profiles are the architectural profile of the exposed log interior or exterior walls. Reveal profiles are typically round or flat on the interior, but may also be beveled on the exterior

Here is a chart of common interface and reveal profiles…

Source

D-LOG

“D”-shaped logs are commonly-used reveal profiles. They allow the installation of a conventional interior wall covering such as drywall while maintaining the log look at the exterior.

Note the tongue and groove profile designed to interlock with logs in the rounds above and below.

Source

This “D” log profile is designed to use a spline between log rounds which fits into grooves milled into the log top and bottom. At the extension the groove will catch moisture and should be probed for decay.

Swedish Cope

This is one of the most common log profiles. Inspectors should watch for and call as a defect logs installed upside down so that the grooves catch water.

Inspectors will often see much shorter log sections used in manufactured homes than are used in handcrafted homes. While logs continuous from corner to corner are desireable, the inspector must show cause to call this out as a defect. "Cause" might be a failure in the wall, a code or engineering with which the home is required to comply which states a minimum log length.

Typically, the log length would recieve no comment in the inspection report on a manufactured home.

Laminated Logs

Laminated logs are manufactuered by gluing dimensional lumber together to form a laminated beam, similar to a GluLam and milling the resulting beam to a log profile.

Source

All photos not cited are by Kenton Shepard

For more details or to schedule an inspection, Contact the Log Home Inspector!

Industrialised Building Systems Vertical extension of existing buildings by use of light gauge steel framing systems and 4D CAD tools

By

Susan Bergsten
Luleå University of Technology
Division of Structural Engineering
Steel Structures
Luleå, April 2005

Abstract

Extending buildings vertically is fraught with technical and managerial problems. Inevitably, many of these types of buildings will be located in areas with access restrictions and other physical constraints on the movement of materials, components, operatives and equipment. Industrialised construction methods and prefabrication could be a practical alternative to traditional construction methods for vertical extension projects. Industrialised construction methods are not much used in refurbishment projects and in this research project a case study with five vertical extensions projects is made. In this case study the extent of usage of prefabrication in these projects is studied. How these vertical extension projects have been conducted as regards to material handling and logistics planning are also studied.

Furthermore, the potential for utilising light-gauge steel framed system and its industrialised construction methods in Sweden is evaluated. This has been done by studying two projects, in which industrialised construction methods have been used. The use of light-gauge steel framed systems represents a practical and cost-effective solution to the problems created by these buildings. However, material handling and other logistical problems mean that the construction process is less than certain. A part of the study aims to understand the benefits from 4D CAD.
This research has three main areas, industrialised building methods with light-gauge steel framing system, vertical extension of existing buildings and 4D CAD. The results will include experiences from the studied cases and a comparison of the benefits over more traditional means for design and construction management when erecting vertical extensions to existing buildings.

Source: http://epubl.luth.se/1402-1757/2005/23/LTU-LIC-0523-SE.pdf