CASE STUDY

Theory of Structures (SEAA 3243)

2022/2023-Semester II

Failure of a 5-Story Car Park Building

Prologue

The design and construction of a five-story car park included long post-tensioned beams. These
beams formed the part of an unbraced concrete frame supported by 600 mm square columns;
floor-to-floor height of the building was 2.7 m. The beams included six 15.6 m spans that were
cast in one pour. They were stressed at 3 days to the full required post-tensioned force. The
beams were 575 mm deep and 2000 mm wide, with rebates in the top corners to take 150 mm
deep hollow core units. The hollow core units spanned between the beams which were at 7.2
m centers. Figure 1 shows the arrangement of beams and columns in the car park building. The
construction period for the car park was 8 months and all the post-tensioning work was carried
out under a tight schedule. Figure 2 shows a typical beam of the structure when it was under
construction. Unfortunately, 5 to 6 days after the transfer of post-tensioned load for the first set
of beams, cracks appeared in many parts of the frame. The cracking was widespread in both
the columns and beams and exceeded 0.7 mm in places. Figure 3 shows the different types of
cracking that occurred.

Figure 1. Layout of the building and structural elements

 Figure 2. A typical beam under construction.

Figure 3. Observed cracks on beams and columns.

INVESTIGATION INSTRUCTION

Assume that you are appointed as the consultant company to investigate the failure of the car
park building. Below is the scope of work that you are expected to fulfill.

1) Determine what type of material and structural tests you need to conduct in order to carry
out your investigations

2) Consider one frame of the car park building with rigid beam-to-column connections and
fixed supports as shown in Figure 4. Analyze the frame for the following conditions and draw
the bending moment, shear force, and axial force diagrams.

Case I) The frame is subjected to gravity load on its beam. The gravity load can be assumed as
a uniform load. The value of the gravity load can be calculated based on the given information
and logical assumptions.

Case II) The frame is subjected to the gravity load similar to the Case I together with post-
tensioned force applied on the frame’s beam. The amount of post-tensioned force can be
assumed based on the size and the span length of the frame’s beam.

3) Compare the obtained bending moment, shear force, and axial force diagrams from Case I
with that of Case II and answer the following questions:

3-1) to what extent the post-tensioned force can be the reason for the observed cracks and
damages?
3-2) to what extent the time in which the post-tensioned force is applied to the frame’s beam
can be the reason for the observed cracks and damages?
3-3) what kind of corrective actions can be made in order to avoid such cracks and damages in
the future?
3-4) what are your suggestions for strengthening the car park building?

15.6 m
2.7 m

Figure 4 selected frame for analysis

FULL REPORT INSTRUCTION

This is a group project. Each group can have the maximum of five (5) students. 10% of the
total marks from the report and presentation will be carried into the final mark for the course.

LEARNING OUTCOME

After finishing this group project, the students are expected to be able to:
1. Appreciate the role of engineers in solving complex engineering problems through case
study.
2. Learn and practice good presentation skill
3. Write professional technical report

REPORT

In this case study project you are required to write a group report. The maximum length of the
report must not exceed 8 pages of A4 paper, 1.5 line spacing, and 11 font size including figures,
pictures and references. The components of the report should include the scope of works given
by the client while at the same time professional report writing need to be followed. The report
should include citation and list of references. You are allowed to make any logical assumptions
for the information that has not been provided for your work.

PRESENTATION AND SUBMISSION

Prepare the slides for a maximum of 10 minutes presentation about the case that your group is
reporting. Submit the report by the date specified by your lecturer. The presentation will usually
be held in week 15 (or any other date as decided by your lecturer).

MARKS

The marks for the case study project will be based on the following components: