Designer – Page 23 – Civil Engineering Projects

Recession cannot stop the boom in Construction Industry

July 8, 2010 by Designer

The fact that India was very much on the periphery of global crisis was clear from the participant responses. Despite the apparent slowdown in the building construction sector, most respondents felt this had not affected either spending patterns or business, in the upper demographic to any significant extent. However, this is qualified by their noticing a degree of caution creeping into the overall spend, especially among the middle income demographics.

Hallmark Express Towers, Hyderabad, India

“The furniture market seems to be very promising in coming years and we expect 30% year on year growth in the furniture market. There is much awareness and Western designs are much liked by Indians who are keen to buy readymade furniture which they can change easily with the fashion.

The responses differed by segment with dealers and retailers noticing a change in purchase patterns, while architects said there was no visible difference in the spend. Builders felt that clients opted for fewer extras such as wooden flooring or appliances with the apartment, but the sales were not affected by more than 10 to 15%.

Guide to repair and waterproofing of Jack Arch Concrete Roof

June 28, 2010 by Designer

Jack Arch Roof

Jack arch Roof construction can be done in brick or concrete. The arch of the Jack arch roof is either made of brick or of concrete. The arch is supported on the lower flange of mild steel joists (RSJs). The rolled steel joists are supported at their ends on the walls or on the longitudinal girders. They are spaced at a distance of 1m to 1.5m centre to centre.

The rise of the arch is kept equal to 1/12th of the span. Layer of concrete is then poured over the roof to straighten the roof. The concrete layer thickness over the crown of the arch is not less than 15cm.

Due to the super-imposed load on the arch, tension develops at the ends of the arch. Steel tie rods are placed at the ends of an arch with a suitable spacing of 1.8m to 2.4m.

In this article, we are going to study the causes for leakages in a Jack Arch Roof and remedy to solve the problem of leakage.

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Direct Lighting | Ambient Lighting Techniques

June 24, 2010 by Designer

Lighting Techniques

Lighting enhances the ambiance of the place. It is the deliberate application to achieve some pleasing aesthetic effect. Lighting techniques differ from purpose to purpose. For example, for lighting up of the Dining Room, the kind of lighting technique and lighting fixtures used are different from that used in lighting up Water bodies such fountains, artificial lakes etc. because each one of these places creates a whole different feel of the space.

Pendant Lighting | Direct Lighting in a Restaurant

In this article, we will discuss Direct Lighting Techniques and the lighting fixtures that are used specifically for Direct Lighting System.

Here are some of the other lighting methods apart from Direct Lighting:

Direct Lighting
Semi-Direct Lighting
Indirect Lighting
Concealed Lighting
Semi-concealed Lighting

Dining Lighting makes use of Concealed Lighting, Semi-concealed Lighting, Direct and Indirect Lighting System.

Task Lighting makes use of Direct Lighting system.

Underwater Lighting makes use of Diffused Lighting system.

Spot Lighting is complete different system of Lighting but since it has focussed illumination, it can fall under the category of Direct Lighting.

Fixing and Repair of Ceramic tiles in Large Halls | Building Construction

June 22, 2010 by Designer

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic materials are an inorganic, non-metallic solid. They are prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous. Because of its crystalline nature, ceramic tiles have a tendency to crack when put under pressure.

A ceramic material is an inorganic crystalline oxide which is solid and inert and hence does not react with any chemicals. Since Ceramic is chemically inert, it can withstand chemical erosion that occurs due to other materials in the surroundings that react with acidic substances. Ceramic materials are brittle, hard, strong in compression, weak in shearing and tension.

In this article, we are going to discuss the method of fixing Ceramic Tiles over Large Floor Spans and the method of replacement of tiles.

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Semi-Direct Lighting | Ambient Lighting Techniques

June 18, 2010 by Designer

Semi-Direct Lighting Design

Semi-Direct Lighting is the kind of lighting provided from a source without reflection from other surfaces.

In daylighting, this means that the light has travelled on a straight path from the sun to the point of interest.

In electrical lighting it usually describes an installation of ceiling mounted or suspended luminaires with mostly downward light distribution characteristics.

Types of Lighting

One of the primary functions of a luminaire is to direct the light to where it is needed. The light distribution produced by luminaires is characterized by the Illuminating Engineering Society as follows:

Direct Lighting ( 90 to 100 percent of the light is directed downward for maximum use.

Indirect Lighting( 90 to 100 percent of the light is directed to the ceilings and upper walls and is reflected to all parts of a room.

Semi-Direct Lighting( 60 to 90 percent of the light is directed downward with the remainder directed upward.

Semi-indirect Lighting ( 60 to 90 percent of the light is directed upward with the remainder directed downward.

Highlighting Lighting( the beam projection distance and focusing ability characterize this luminaire)

Concealed Lighting

Task Lighting

Underwater Lighting

Spot Lighting

Cape Town Soccer Stadium, South Africa | FIFA World Cup 2010

June 16, 2010 by Designer

Cape Town Stadium, South Africa

The Cape Town Stadium is a stadium is a world class stadium. It is located in Cape Town, South Africa.

This Stadium has been specially constructed for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Another stadium existed on the same site called “The Green Point Stadium” which has been demolished for the construction of the new stadium.

Its an honour to be hosting the FIFA World Cup Matches 2010. There are other two stadiums in South Africa that are also hosting couple World Cup Matches namely;

Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium, Durban, South Africa
Johannesburg City Stadium, South Africa

Since the stadium on that site has been known as Green Point Stadium for a long time, so this name is also used frequently in during World Cup media coverage.

Design of Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium, Durban, South Africa

June 15, 2010 by Designer

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is a stadium is a world class stadium. It is located in Durban, South Africa, named after Moses Mabhida, a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will host one of the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Moses Mabhida Durban Stadium, South Africa

It has a capacity to accommodate 70,000 people during the World Cup but generally it can accommodate only 54,000 people. For this reason, special seating arrangements are done to increase the seating to 70,000 during the World Cup.

It includes an adjoining indoor arena, football museum, sports institute, and a transmodal transport station.

Design of the Durban Stadium

This stadium stands on the grounds of the Kings Park Soccer Stadium, in the Durban sports precinct in the suburb of Stamford Hill.

The design of the stadium is incredibly flexible. The stadium design allows the reduction or increment in the seating capacity as per the events carried on at the Stadium.

Guide to Foundation Design | Column Footings

June 15, 2010 by Designer

Foundation Design

Foundation is the base of any structure. Without a solid foundation, the structure would not hold for long. We have to be very cautious with the design of foundations because our entire structure rests on the foundation. The job of a foundation is to transfer the loads of the building safely to the ground.

The strength of the foundation determines the life of the structure. As we discussed in the earlier article, design of foundation depends on the type of soil, type of structure and its load. Higher the load bearing capacity of the soil, the larger the load it could safely carry.

Foundations are basically divided into Shallow Foundations and Deep Foundations.

In this article, we are going discuss the step by step guide to Column Footing Design for a shallow foundation.

Redesigning SAP – Chennai into a Convention Centre

June 7, 2010 by Designer

Aim of the Design Project

Generate cultural and social interaction in the convention centre and applying smart technology yet rendering the possible nature of activities limitless.

Context

Urban site that is commercially vibrant. Program manifestation is done to understand the nature of activities, their relation and required distribution. A layering of them was done to generate the form and space.

Program Clustering

Each individual block is sited in correspondence to their requires climatic conditions with an integration of programs and concepts of sustainability that gives them a holistic dependency that becomes intrinsic to the functioning of the building.

Programmatic Distribution

Programs zoning in accordance with the different user groups and user occupancy with primary functions of conventions zoned on the first floor and the second floors enabling privacy. The public facilities including the amphitheatre, auditorium, exhibition spaces zoned on the ground floor along site peripheries offering visual connectivity for passers.

Types of Foundations | Design of RCC Structures

June 1, 2010 by Designer

Foundations

Foundation of a structure is like the roots of a tree without which the tree cannot stand. The construction of any structure, be it a residence or a skyscraper; starts with the laying of foundations.

Before designing the foundation, the type of soil is determined. Depending on whether the soil is hard soil or soft soil, a specific type of foundation is adopted.

Shallow Foundations versus Deep Foundations

Foundations are made in various materials… They could be reinforced cement concrete foundations or brick foundations or stone rubble masonry foundations etc. The choice of material to be used in the construction of foundations also depends on the weight of the structure on the ground.

The bearing capacity of soil plays a major role in deciding the type of foundation. The safe bearing capacity of soil should be 180N/mm2 to 200N/mm2.

Foundations are broadly classified into shallow foundations and deep foundations. The depth of the foundation means the difference of level between the ground surface and the base of the foundation. If the depth of the foundation is greater than its width the foundation is classified as a deep foundation.