Advantages of cross wall construction

Cross wall construction stands for a building construction method. Under this system, the precast load-bearing walls are arranged perpendicular to the lateral axis of the building.

In cross wall construction, the load-bearing walls provide support to the floors, roofs and the beams. The structures built up with the cross wall method are structurally strong and cost-effective.

Given below, the construction details and the features of cross wall construction :-

Features of Cross Wall Construction: Under cross wall construction, the prefabricated walls are arranged in series. These load-bearing walls transmit the structural loads securely to the foundation devoid of any concrete or steel frame. They also serve as shear walls and safeguard the building against lateral movement.

Cross wall construction is ideal for the buildings which contain maximum of 5 stories where all the floors come with similar plans. The intermediate floor span among the load-bearing walls offers adequate lateral control.

If both the load-bearing walls and the floors belong to precast members, then a series of boxes should be created. This type of construction is normally defined as box frame construction.

Cross Wall Construction Systems:

1. Precast materials can be sent at the right moment.
2. The precast wall components are arranged both horizontally and vertically. They are grouted and attached according to the plan through hidden joints and ties.
3. Prior to finish the complete structure, mechanical & electrical installation works, finishing works and other multifaceted works on the walls should be finished.

The cross walls are attached with any of the following key connections:

1. Wall-to-wall by Horizontal Joints
2. Wall-to-wall by vertical joints
3. Wall to the base foundation

When the cross walls are placed along the floor, the front and the rear walls can be non-load bearing claddings. The connections among the non-load bearing walls and the cross walls should be designed and built up with a proper care to avoid moisture infiltration and other issues.

Advantage of Cross Wall Construction:

1. Cross wall construction forms a long-lasting structure.
2. The initial construction cost is fewer.
3. With regard to conventional construction method, cross wall construction method save huge time and cost.
4. The building built up is structurally strong that contains greater fire and acoustic separation among the nearby rooms.
5. The construction achieves good thermal mass.
6. Site co-ordination is simple at the time of providing cross wall construction.
7. The structure ensures superior security.
8. The maintenance cost of the structure developed with cross wall construction method is fewer.
9. No scaffoldings are required for cross wall construction.
10. The structure remains monolithic with good air tightness.

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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Reason for damaging & collapsing of concrete buildings

A reinforced concrete building gets damaged and collapses due to several reasons such as sliding of roofs, falling of walls, crushing of columns, short column effects, diagonal cracking, foundation sinking and tilting etc.

Types and Causes for Damage and Collapse of Concrete Buildings.

Given below, the details about the most common types of damages in reinforced concrete buildings:

1. Sliding of Roofs off the Supports: Where the beams are just supported on walls or columns, they are susceptible to slide if the severity of earthquake surpasses the frictional resistance and several times come out of the support and collapse, specifically when the bearing length is minor.

2. Collapsing of Infill Walls: The infill panel walls amid reinforced concrete columns overturn outer the framework when they are not firmly retained or secured with the frames.

3. Crushing of Column Ends and Virtual Hinging: When extreme shaking occurs, the column ends are susceptible to serious eccentric compressive stresses which compel the concrete to get crushed and broke down from the exterior surfaces. In frequent cycles, the damage proceeds interiors, consequently the effective section is shortened significantly. Both the column ends substantially function as pins and the entire framework falls down like a mechanism.

4. Short Column Effect: If infill walls having wide openings are joined to the columns, the sections of the columns to be deformed against lateral seismic loads turn out to be very short with reference to their normal height.

Such short columns develop into much harder as compared to other columns and pull greater shear forces under which they experience extreme diagonal tension which result in collapsing of the column.

5. Diagonal Cracking in the Columns: Columns are exposed to diagonal cracking resulting from large seismic shears occurred under extreme ground shaking. When the building also sustains the twisting action, the crack may change to a spiral form that decreases load bearing strength of the columns significantly.

6. Diagonal Cracking of Column Beam Joint: Several times, diagonal cracking happens through the intersection of the columns with the beams that considerably damages the strength of the frame.

7. Drawing Out of the Reinforcing Bars: Where the anchor length of the column bars or overlaps among the longitudinal bars are insufficient for producing full tensile strength of the bar, they are frequently drawn out because of tensions occurred in the column against reversal of stresses.

8. Collapse of Gable Frames: Reinforced concrete gable frames, frequently applied for school workshops, gymnasia and assembly halls, and cinema halls, may be expanded devoid of secondary resistance obtainable as soon as a joint fails. These are frequently found to fail and collapse if not properly designed and detailed.

9. Foundation Sinking and Tilting: Sinking or tilting of foundations of columns because of seismic shaking happens in loose soft soils and can result in extreme cracking of the superstructure and even fall down.



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Variations among Load bearing and framed structures

Superstructure is the section that situates over the ground. It comprises of walls, columns, beams, floors, roofs, doors, windows, lintels, staircases.

Types of super structures on the basis of load transmission

The super structures are categorized as follow :-

a. Load bearing structures
b. Framed structures

Load bearing structures:

Under this type of structure, the load on the structure is delivered in vertical direction through walls and then the wall transmits these loads and the self weight. These types of constructions are mostly found in residential buildings where the dimension of rooms is fewer. The residential buildings up to ground + 2 floors is constructed inexpensively with such structures.

Framed structures:

Under this type of structures, a frame work of columns and floors are constructed initially. Then the walls are erected to divide the living area.

The walls are dependent on self weight only. These types of structures are suitable when there are lots of stories in a building as well as when bigger areas should be covered free from walls.

Variations among load bearing and framed structures

Load bearing structure:

1. Construction cost is minimum
2. Best fit up to three stories
3. Walls are thicker and consequently floor area is curtailed.
4. Construction process is slow.
5. Once the construction is completed, it becomes difficult to modify the position of walls.

Frame structure:

1. The construction cost is higher
2. Ideal for different number of stories
3. Walls are thinner and as a result, more floor area can be utilized.
4. Rapid construction speed
5. If required, the location of wall may be modified.
6. Resistance to earthquake forces is good



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
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Give an elegant look and style to your house with these 17 various types of Roof Designs

While going to develop a new house or redecorating an existing one, it is important to select the exact type of roof but it is very complicated. Roofs not only safeguard a house and its occupants from outside harmful components but also arrange some extra space to transform your home more energy efficient, and facilitate delivering some natural light. Roofs also play a vital role in characterizing the overall look and style of a house.

This construction video highlights 17 various types of roof designs which are generally utilized in building designs, architecture and home construction. The video will provide great advantages to the architects, building designers and custom home builders.

Generally flat roofs and pitched roofs are very popular but there are various types of gradations and styles for each.

This video will assist you to ultimately recognize and detect the best type of a roof shape or structure for your home:

To get more design ideas on construction, visit  www.homebuildingandrepairs.com/design/index.html

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

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Time lapse construction video for a prefabricated modular house

This is a time lapse construction video on developing a prefabricated modular house.

A prefabricated building alias a prefab building, is a kind of building that is constructed with various factory-built components or units. These components are fabricated on-site to accomplish the unit. In recent times, various types of "green" materials are utilized for developing these prefab houses.

One can easily chose among diverse eco-friendly finishes and wall systems. Because these homes are constructed in parts, a home owner can conveniently insert supplementary rooms as well as solar panels to the roofs. Many prefab houses can be tailored according to particular location & climate as required by clients. So, prefab homes become much more flexible.

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

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