The Engineers at Robert Bird Group - Report Writing - Engineering Assignment Help

Assignment Task

Executive Summary
The engineers at Robert Bird Group, a renowned global consulting engineering firm, had a goal to develop a modular system which would make volumetric modular construction possible for long-span, column free buildings. Through this the concept of ‘AUTOBOX’ was coined, which offers the opportunity to develop a volumetric modular system, which is not only suitable for road transport, but also transforms to create a long-span column grid of up to 12m x 12m on-site. Representing possibly the first time that such a system is suitable for construction projects such as large office/ commercial buildings, shopping centres or anything that requires a column grid of greater than 6m x 6m.
With an objective of designing a structure that can transform from what it needs to be during fabrication and transport to what it needs to be at its final destination. The concept design consists of a series of volumetric boxes, in which the posts that act as corners of the central boxes during transport, transform into truss members on-site to allow for long-span performance and creating a largely column free space, see diagram below. The system is designed to require minimal labour and temporary works and is fully de-constructable. Robert Bird Group have invited RMIT and some final year students to work alongside their engineers in the design of this technology.

Statement of Problem
Worldwide, construction industries have long been one of the primary contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, (M. Akan et. all, 2017). On top of this, even with more environmentally sustainable practices being implemented in recent history, these also generally are accompanied by a hefty price tag. As such, there is little incentive for firms to implement change. Thus, there is a clear need for not only more environmentally friendly, but also more economically sustainable construction methods.
Modular construction consists of volumetric modules manufactured off-site, ranging from partially to fully prefabricated (including façade and internal finishes), and on-site assembly. Compared with conventional on-site construction, modular construction technology offers faster construction, safer manufacturing, better quality control and lower environmental impacts.
Modular construction stands to offer countless solutions to new problems that are arising with the increasingly rapid modernisation of the world. For example, modular construction reduces the amount of equipment and personnel needed on-site, mitigating transportation complications in progressively urban environments. Also, the successful implementation of modular construction would likely lead to a considerable reduction in waste with more efficient practices being able to take place in factory environments as opposed to on-site.
However, still being a relatively new technology, it is important to consider the complications that may come with the implementation of modular construction. For example, the logistics surrounding time management of a modular construction project can easily get quite complicated, with extensive planning, scheduling and coordination required. Other complications can also be found when it comes to lifting and installation, design of effective inter-module connections and decreasing the limitations in customisability and standardisation.
The proposed concept design in this document has been named ‘AUTOBOX’. Developed by the engineers at Robert Bird Group, AUTOBOX offers the possibility to create modular construction technology suitable for use in long-span, column free construction. The group will aim to work together, in close conjunction with the engineers at Robert Bird Group in order to design this technology.
This document will outline the progress we have made so far working on this project. We will first look back over the design and research questions outlined in the project proposal before elaborating on the literature review, to accurately reflect the further research completed and knowledge gained whilst working on this project. We will then look at the methodology, engineering design and feasibility/ proof of concept to detail the processes we are following and work we have undertaken to ensure steady progress. This will lead into an analysis of some preliminary findings we have made as a group, and finally we will take a look at the project management and timeline to show how we intend to move forward with this project.

Design/ Research Questions

1. How will the volumetric modular systems be transported around considering the location from the site to the factory, road networks and loading.
2. How will the modular systems be properly installed and manoeuvred around the construction site meaning will cranes be required on site, certain machinery, or manpower?
3. What connections will be used in the construction phase to ensure structural stability and will temporary braces and reinforcements be required during the build.
4. How much of an issue will customisability play in prefabricated modular systems, hence, how will the design need to be adjusted accordingly for any changes in the design?
5. What role will the use of modelling software’s play in the design stage of these volumetric modular systems and how will they aid in optimising a digital structurally stable solution.

Background
The term "Modular Construction" refers to the methodology that aims to decompose a structure into smaller repeated sections, so that these components can be prefabricated and later assembled into a complete form. Modular construction consists of volumetric space units manufactured in facilities that mass produce these ‘building blocks’ (Lawson, Ogden and Bergin, 2012), that consist of individual load-bearing elements with varying levels of finishes. Prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) in its current form is an innovative modern technique that aims to maximise off site activities, intending to automate construction and installation processes that typically require significant materials, machinery, manpower and space (Wuni and Shen, 2019). Several nations and regions such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, China have utilised volumetric modular construction in various projects within the public and private sectors for more than two decades (Jaillon and Poon, 2019), a clear result of an increased awareness of its logistical and economic benefits.
 

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