Touran, A and Ladick, D R (1989) Application of robotics in bridge deck fabrication. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 115(1), pp. 35-52. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Application of robotics in welding orthotropic steel decks for bridges is investigated. It is found that by using robot welders, savings of about 5.6% can be realized in the fabrication cost of the steel decks. Deterioration of the bridges' concrete decks at alarming rates has bridge engineers looking at alternative systems. Orthotropic steel decks are particularly attractive because they last longer than concrete, reduce the bridge’s dead load and can be replaced without major disruption of traffic. Traditional methods of steel deck fabrication are costly and labor intensive. Based upon the findings of the research described in this paper, if robotics technology is used in steel deck fabrication, the required man-hours and the fabrication costs may be reduced. This would reduce the initial cost of steel decks making them competitive with the cost of concrete decks. Considering life cycle analysis, orthotropic steel decks appear to be even more competitive with the concrete decks. In this investigation, a typical orthotropic deck module was designed using approximate methods. Several steel fabricators were contacted and price quotations for fabricating this module were obtained. A model of a robotics system for welding of this deck module was conceived, the robot’s specifications prepared and the cost of the system estimated. A comparison of the cost of the conventional and robotic fabrication and analysis of results are presented.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | welder, savings, investigation, deterioration, specification, life cycle analysis, robotics, fabrication, module, engineer |
| Subjects: | manufacturing engineering, material degradation and durability, economic analysis, practitioner, data collection methods, automation and robotics, contractual condition, profession, architectural elements, environmental impact |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Construction Materials, Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Design Practice, Contract Administration, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here