Lee, G H; Kim, J I; Koo, C and Kim, T W (2022) Automated generation of precast concrete slab stacks for transportation in offsite construction projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 148(8): 04022072, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In an off-site construction (OSC) project, how to transport the components has a significant impact on the project performance. During the transportation, slab stacks are usually generated in the process of loading precast concrete (PC) slabs on a trailer. Because there are various factors for consideration and numerous ways of composing the stacks, it is difficult for production managers to generate the stack quickly and effectively without the help of a computer. This study sought to formalize the process of generating PC slab stacks, which consists of the following six phases: (1) input data and parameters, (2) make a preliminary stack by tolerance, (3) refine the stack with stackability and installation sequence, (4) divide stacks by maximum layer, (5) check loadability of stacks, and (6) calculate and report metrics. As a result, a prototype developed based on the formalized process offered more stable and errorless stacking results that limit the reshuffling effort of site installers than experts (prototype: 93.0% stability, zero errors, and zero reshuffling work; experts: 88.6% stability, 1.5 errors, and 1.1 reshuffling work). This study contributes to the transportation theory of OSC by identifying considerations for PC slab stacking and formalizing the specialized stacking process reflecting them, which enables the development of an automated PC slab generation tool in OSC projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | off-site construction; PC slab; precast concrete; stacking problem; transportation |
| Index terms: | installer, construction project, prototype, manager, loading, precast concrete, project performance, stability, off-site construction, stacking |
| Subjects: | construction operations, building construction, project management theory and practice, practitioner, structural engineering, modelling and simulation, building materials, production management |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Project Management, Site Management, Construction Materials, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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