Advanced Structural
Designs ACN 097 789 87
92 Vasey Cres CAMPBELL ACT 2612 Telephone
61612171
Facsimile 61612170 Email mal@structuraldesigns.com.au
The
I was not
involved in the structural design until after the preliminary design was
completed. Andrew Spinelli, who was
working with the Acton Peninsula Alliance asked if I could look at the
structure with a view to reducing construction costs and bringing it back
within budget.
By simple
importing the node coordinates off the CAD drawing it was a simple exercise to
create a 3 dimensional model for analysis using a structural design package
(Spacegas).
Once the
model was in the computer, the wind loads were introduced from eight discrete
directions. A three dimensional
stability analysis was then carried out on all wind combinations. The wind drags used in the calculations were
independently verified by wind tunnel tests at
Discussions
with the fabricator led to splice points being selected at locations where the
bending moments were relatively low.
Once this had been achieved 8mm fillet welds were carried out using flux
cored MIG from cherry pickers. The tubes
were held in place by a series of clamps and backing/seating plates
specifically designed for the job. The
final weld was a compound fillet weld with the root runs and the final runs
being dye and magnetic particle tested.
Because the
root runs were all that was necessary before the panels went on the two cranes
required to hold the pieces in place were able to leave the site in less than
two weeks.
If you need
an innovative engineering approach to engineering design in Canberra ACT or the
surrounding district contact Mal Wilson from Advanced Structural Designs on 02
61612171.