NUCLEAR LAB

Design Proposal and

Construction Techniques
Prepared By:
Waqas Quraish 275666
Taimoor Shahzad 277972
Haris Rafiq 273432
Ali Murtaza 277388
Muhammad Saad
Asad Ali 277069
Ali Ahmed

National University of Science and

Technology, Islamabad. (NUST)
H-12, Islamabad. 44210

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Table of Content
SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 General .................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Client’s Requirement .............................................................................................................................. 5
1.4 Site Specification .................................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Objectives................................................................................................................................................ 6
2. Functional framing and load path.................................................................................................................... 6
3. Framing elements ............................................................................................................................................ 7
3.1 Columns .................................................................................................................................................. 7
3.2 Rafters ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.3 Flat rolled steel truss ............................................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Girts ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.5 Purlins ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Bracing in structure ......................................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Vertical bracing ....................................................................................................................................... 9
4.2 Horizontal bracing ................................................................................................................................. 10
5. Construction Technique ................................................................................................................................ 11
5.1 Fabrication............................................................................................................................................. 11
5.2 Transportation ....................................................................................................................................... 11
5.3 Handling and Storing ............................................................................................................................ 11
5.4 Erecting Truss Frames ........................................................................................................................... 12
5.5 Placing ................................................................................................................................................... 12
5.6 Aligning................................................................................................................................................. 12
5.7 Bracing .................................................................................................................................................. 13
6. STABILITY .................................................................................................................................................. 15
7. Foundation..................................................................................................................................................... 16

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SUMMARY
This report presents the initial design proposal of a nuclear laboratory. Keeping in view
the client’s requirements, portal steel structure is proposed. Load transfer mechanism and
stability of a structure to both gravity and lateral loads have been thoroughly discussed
for the proposed functional framing. Considering the high load structure might be
subjected to and the poor properties of underlying soil, bearing pile foundation is
recommended. Furthermore, some useful construction techniques and procedures are laid
down to avoid inconvenience during construction.

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1 Introduction
1.1 General
This project report presents the structural solution, functional framing, load transfer,
stability aspects and construction technique for proposed NUCLEAR laboratory.
Considering the client’s requirement of no obstacle at the center of building and maximum
working area, Steel Structure Building’s solution is proposed.
For the completion of this project Civil Engineering Software like AUTOCAD has been
used.

1.2 Background
A client named Dr. Azam approached our firm ABC dated September 18,2019. He
demanded to propose a design model for the Nuclear laboratory to be constructed on XYZ
location. For this project the following team of Structural Engineers is constituted:
Taimoor Shehzad
Haris Rafiq
Waqas Quresh
Ali Murtaza
Muhammad Saad
Ahmed Ali
Asad Ali

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1.3 Client’s Requirement

1.4 Site Specification

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1.5 Objectives
• Suggesting a structural solution
• Identifying functional framing
• Determining load transfer mechanism
• Stability of Structure
• Site construction procedure
• Preparing a prototype

2. Functional framing and load path

Structure engineer has some main factors in mind while design, keeping those factors
alive he designs a structure which should be efficient enough to perform its intended
function over anticipated time.
The functional framing of our structure is portal. In which all connections are rigidly
connected and don’t allow any moment to take place

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Figure 1 Functional frame of Nuclear Lab

3. Framing elements
3.1 Columns
HSS square section are utilized to take compression load and erect building vertically.
Keeping critical factors in mind one column height is limited to 22 feet. 6 sections are
connected together to reach a height of 131 feet.
The connections of the columns are to be rigid so for that purpose welded options should
be considered to have enough rigidity.
HSS square section are efficient shapes for multiple-axis loading as they have uniform
geometry along two or more cross-sectional axes, and thus uniform strength
characteristics. This makes them good choices for columns. They also have excellent
resistance to torsion, whereas I shaped sections are very efficient in taking both shear and
moment but has reduced capacity in transverse direction and also inefficient in torsion.
Keeping the height and sensitivity of building like blast loading it is necessary to have
less slenderness ratios and HSS square section is preferred.

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3.2 Rafters
W-section (wide flange beams) are employed to carry roof load and make portal frame
complete. The 8 rafters spanning 20 feet in length and connected rigidly through bolts.
The end rafters having bigger cross-section as large moments are coming on them. Rafter
are connected to columns through fully restrained connection and do not allow any
moment.
W-section is most widely used in beam sections as it is very efficient in taking shear and
moments together. The slenderness ratio h/d >14 is considered in deciding the length of
rafter length of 20 feet.

3.3 Flat rolled steel truss

This truss spanning 160 feet is provided in the middle frame and very 1st frame to support
the central point load of 50 tones and huge gate of 98ft * 128ft. The length of the truss is
within the limits as it can be provided 40 – 250 feet. The spacing of truss and size is
decided after detailed calculations. This truss will also have the lateral stability of
structure.

3.4 Girts
These are the components of secondary frame of metal building. They work in
conjunction with columns and wall panels to support the vertical load and improve
strength and stability. They also attach and support the wall cladding.
C-section cold formed steel so it can be employed in our structure of span length of 27.1
feet at 6 feet c/c. Stiffeners are used to prevent local buckling, distortional and lateral
displacement. The connections of girts with columns are pinned connections.

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3.5 Purlins
They are used to provide additional roof support, creating a horizontal diaphragm that
supports the weight of the roof. They run parallel to the building eave and are supported
by rafters. Purlins add rigidity to the roof and mid-span support to allow longer spans for
a wider building.
C-section are provided at 10 feet c/c perpendicular to the rafters through bolts.

4. Bracing in structure

4.1 Vertical bracing

Double angled star bracing is provided at 2nd and 5th frame of the structure. It will result
in the entire lateral stability of our structure. They are connected through pin connection
with columns. It can be seen in image below

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4.2 Horizontal bracing

Double angled star bracing is also provided in the roof of the structure in the 2 nd and 5th
frame. It will enhance the lateral stiffness of our structure. They are connected through
pin connections with rafters.
Application of load on structure are as follows.
Roof load = 60 psf
Central point load = 50 tonnes
Internal blast pressure = 100 psf
Lateral wind load = 90 miles/hour
suppose wind load effecting our structure in east west direction. Both scenarios should
be considered windward side as east and west and correspondingly leeward side. The
internal pressures and external pressure develops in structure. This pressure is exerted on
the roof rafters which transfers load to the columns through fully restrained moment
connections. The Sway is controlled by star shaped bracing in the roof which will be in
compression and tension and transfer this load to vertical bracing and then through
connection to foundation.
However, if wind strikes our structure in north south direction then portal frame play its
role a moment is transferred through moment connections to columns by rafter beams and
then to foundation. The additional stiffness is provided by flat rolled steel truss which
span in north south direction and not allow any sway in structure.
For blast load consideration it will exert pressure outward so columns are kept limited in
their sizes to have less buckling ratio and these pressure is transferred from rafters to
columns through moment connections and horizontal and vertical bracing helped in
structure intact in its position as possible.
The central point load is lifted through the flat rolled steel truss which will cause tension
in rafters and have tendency to bulge column outward so horizontal girts play its role in
keeping column intact in place.

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5. Construction Technique
5.1 Fabrication
Truss frame will be fabricated by a truss manufacturing
plant under the truss plate institute or similar design and
fabrication specifications. If plants do not have
equipment to fabricate our required height, then section
will be prepared in plants and these sections will be
assembled on site.

5.2 Transportation
Due to truss frame configuration and size, Special
consideration will be account for transportation of the
structure which are given below
Truss frame should be loaded in vertical or inclined
manner to improve road clearance.
If shipping option is available, then it is good for
transportation of truss frame structure.

5.3 Handling and Storing

It is very difficult to handle and storage of truss frame
configuration. During placing and storing, connection can
be damaged so strength of whole structure will be
reduced. Truss frame configuration can be stored by
placing in horizontal or vertical manner but special care
is required in both the cases.

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For placing in horizontal, truss frame should place on supports to protect from moisture.
While for placing in vertical manner, configuration should be braced to prevent top piling.

5.4 Erecting Truss Frames

The most important benefit of the steel construction is the time saving construction
technique. In this technique, floor, roof and wall framing can be operated in a single row.
The erecting task includes three operations which are given below
• Placing
• Aligning
• Bracing

5.5 Placing
Prepared section can be placed from stock pile on the
desired position by following resource without any
distortion in the building
• Carrying and tilting up in to the position. A crew of five is required to avoid unnecessary
distortion in the truss frame.
• Mechanical erection with a light crane can also be used
Safety can be improved by using a ling handled quick disconnection clamp.

5.6 Aligning
The task of aligning truss frame is very simple, but it is essential that each step should be
executed carefully. First end wall shall be erected, squared and anchored to the
foundation, and ensured to brace the structure precisely. Subsequently erected truss-
frames are spaced and squared by means of precut spacer blocks installed near the top and
bottom of each stud. The lower spacer blocks are cut shorter than actual truss-frame
spacing to allow for the thickness of truss plates and/or anchor plates. Matching edges
and corner of wall sheathing panels is helpful in aligning truss-frame studs, but every

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truss-frame should be checked for alignment with a carpenter’s spirit level. Every fourth
truss-frame erected should be plumbed at the center and at both walls to assure that
accurate alignment is being maintained. Flat metal shims may be applied to correct
spacing, or over- or under length spacer blocks can be cut. If nonstandard spacer blocks
are precut, they should be prominently marked to identify their different lengths. Reusable
spacing fixtures can assist in aligning floor trusses while the floor sheathing is applied,
however they should not be used as substitute for accurate location marks along each sill
plate. Small inaccuracies in location can be either compensating or cumulative. In the
absence of direct layout marks, cumulative errors could creep in.

5.7 Bracing
Temporary bracing is applied for following purpose
• To placed truss frame in required position without any distortion
• To prevent potential erection disaster of plane structures

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Steps for construction

Step 1 and 2: Erecting the main frame and bracing

Step 3 and 4: Fabrication of roof and placing door

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Step 5: Placing Roof

6. Stability
The high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratios of structural steel often results in
relatively slender members and systems in which stability is a primary design
consideration. Furthermore, use of pinned connection in steel structures should be dealt
carefully (unlike RC structures) considering the aspects of structural stability against
lateral loads.
In our case, all the connection is made fixed by welding joints. Joint connections were
selected considering the importance of building as pinned connection requires highly
skilled labor and are more vulnerable to installation error.
Bracing are provided across the structure at two different locations to transfer the lateral
load in y-direction while the trusses would provide the lateral stiffness against the load
coming in x-direction.

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For a point load of 50 tons at the center and a hanging gate at the front end, a special type
of truss is designed to transfer the load to the columns which would eventually be taken
by the ground through raft foundation.

7. Foundation
The construction of steel framed structure begins with
foundation. Generally, the soil bearing capacity
determines the type of foundation to be used. The
investigation of the soil includes surface and subsurface
exploration to assess the soil condition on which steel
frame structure is be constructed.

For example, when moderate or low loads are imposed, then it is advised to use reinforced
concrete bearing pads or strip foundation. These foundation types transfer loads to soil
capable of supporting transferred loads. If the imposed load is large and strength of the
soil is poor, then pile foundation is recommended. The pile foundation would transfer the
load of the structure to the stiff soil.
Considering the poor ground condition and higher loads provided in our case it is
therefore recommended to use bearing pile foundation.

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