1. Man support structure
1.1 type of foundation system used
The type of foundation used in this supermarket was the screw piles foundation(Howard A. P., 2009). These are just the system of ground anchors that are made using various sizes of tubular hollow in the anchor or pile shafts. It is these shafts which then transfer the loads in the structure into the pile. In order to make it stronger, the shaft is welded properly using a helical steel plate. This pile was twisted into the ground the way a screw is turned inside a timber. They are made of steel. However, this should be done in accordance with the ground conditions intended to be accomplished. Meaning that the engineers must first evaluate the site to thoroughly get well acquainted with it. This is when they can be well placed to design a good plan as they did in the sample plans.
It can also compose of flat plates thoroughly mounted on the shaft of each pile. When doing all these, the constructor must put in consideration the minimum design of the structure, geotechnical parameters and the environmental parameters. This will be instrumental in helping the engineer to determine the number of helices, their position and the circumference (Glass, J., and August 2000).
It is important to note that it is not difficult to install this kind of foundation. Its installation is not very much different from installing the wood screw.
After making the right choice of the screw to use in accordance to the screw pile foundation, the engineer should be in the possession of the right equipments. For instance, for a good job to be done, the engineer should a specially made earth moving equipments.
The right choice of the equipment should be made from the available brands. However, the engineer should ensure to select the one which is fitted with rotary hydraulic attachments which is driven by a motor and is connected to a well made excavator. This is so multitasking and can perform such duties so efficiently at all the times.
Hence, because it is the foundation that determines the longevity of the supermarket, it should be carefully made. In this vital process, all the stakeholders should be involved and each and every one of them should thoroughly perform their role in order to ensure that the structure comes out as was professionally planned.
Similarly, it is paramount to ensure that the correct installation techniques are adhered to. If this is complied to, the building will not only achieve the pre engineered design loads, but also help to meet clearly set out settlement outcomes. Then concrete should be poured on the to make a strong screw pile foundation.
Otherwise, if all the installations are incorrectly made, the whole work will be considered to be overall poorly done. Hence, the building may end up being weaker and costly to the investor.
1.2 Type of structure used
The type of structure used in this building was the concrete slab. This is a common structure, an element, usually used in the construction of floors and ceilings of modern buildings.
There are two types of slabs that may be used in such construction processes: pre fabricated and the in situ concretes.
It is the in situ concrete slab that was used in this supermarket. It requires the investor to avail all the required materials (sand, cement and hardcore) together with the essential tools (spade, trowel, plump bob and others) and the necessary expertise required in this process. Unlike the fabricated type, these concretes are cheaper because they help to save the house owner extra finances that can be unnecessarily used for transportation of the already made concretes into the building site.
The choice of the in situ corrugated concrete slabs may be prioritized because it is more convenient and reliable since the investor will be in a position of instructing the engineers to build the slabs whenever needed. This will actually save him the pains of having to travel to make bids, orders and incur extra costs in storage, transportation and labor charges. Hence, it will be cheaper in the long run.
Despite all these, this supermarket can be well made if the engineers opt to use the in situ type. It will be more economical and conveniently made to make them do an uninterrupted work cut short by unreliable supply from the suppliers.
The slabs used in the interior was thicker and was measuring 300 m. particularly in the walls and the ceiling. However, thinner slabs measuring 150 m was used to construct the exterior of this supermarket. walls and the ceilings. This implies that the engineer must first make the correct choice of the type of slab to use for each and every section of the building in order to make the whole structure to be able to meet the demands of the owner. The right thickness to use is 140mm for the floor and 50 mm for the walls.
Because this is a commercial building, it is essentially important to use thick concrete slabs which should be directly anchored on the foundation or the sub soil. This will definitely help in establishing a very strong ground floor of this supermarket (Davis, Malcolm, 2005).
Meanwhile, the thinner concrete slabs which are pre cast should be slang between the frames purposely to form the ceilings and floors on each level of the supermarket. This will also help in generating a strong house that will be able to serve the commercial role it is to perform for quite a long time.
However, when making such a construction, proper planning should be made in all the stages. Concerning the slabs, the engineers should ensure that they produce well designed ones with all the properly measured dimensions to meet the demands of the building.
A well designed slab will help to improve the weight to strength ratio. Similarly, a good slab should have a flat top surface with a well modulated underside. This will help to improve their quality to ensure that the supermarket comes out properly as was intended by the investor.
On the other hand, the engineers should make thermal considerations whenever they are carrying out these duties. The slabs should be placed above a well established layer of expanded polythene. These polythene when used, act as insulators t5hat are meant to tame the environmental weather conditions at a given time of the year.
Hence, in hot areas, the slab will help to regulate the temperature by keeping the house cold at day time and warm at night when it is usually cold. This means the right quality of polythene should be used in order to help the investor to achieve all these.
1.3 The connection between the horizontal and vertical main members of the structure
. The most common type of joints used was the isolation, construction and contraction. Since this is a commercial building, these joints would be useful in holding the major members of the structure.
In this supermarket, the joints are created by the saw cuts. Hence, it enables the contractor to cut the joints thereby creating and preventing the random cracks that may occur. This actually increases the speed of the work done
The bolted joints were also used to support this connection. The bolts were either fastened on the torque to help in overcoming the weight that can bring undue pressure to the structure. This will help in reducing fatigue from other loads making these connections be in place and resistant for long.
On the other hand, The use of steel plates with headed studs help to tightly hold the slabs to the foundation. Because they were installed before the foundation, they ensure that connection between the roof and the floor is in the right place. Gussets, studs and the attachment plates which are located within the form help in embedding the concrete. These attachment points are welded or bolted.
