TOP-DOWN CONSTRUCTION

In top-down construction permanent structures are built from the ground up, beginning with a deep
basement excavation. This method is the inverse of the more common bottom-up approach. This
method involves constructing the basement levels in layers as the excavation continues. The
concrete floors in basements act as lateral bracing for surrounding walls. Slabs from the ground floor
and basement are poured into the excavation holes. Since all subsequent below-grade levels have
been completed, the floors can now act as lateral bracing for the perimeter walls.

Diaphragm walls, or “D” walls as they are more commonly known, are a type of perimeter wall that
provides a foolproof answer to any problem that may arise during underground building. D walls are
ideal for controlling groundwater movement and maintaining stable earth retention.

Because of its capacity to support the building’s superstructure can be used even before the
substructure is finished, speeding up construction. The top-down approach is useful for large scale
deep-digging projects like building a metro system, a tunnel, or an underground parking garage. It
could be the solution in cases when it desirable to limit soil movement, but no tieback installation is
available. (…)

Advantages of top-down construction:

Basements allow ground-level foundations. The pilling rig does not need to be demobilized between
basement wall construction and foundation building if piles are offered as the foundation solution.
The piling equipment doesn’t need to be craned into the basement hole or pushed down long
temporary soil ramps.

When the basement excavation is covered, rain and other moisture are less of a hindrance to the
construction crew working below ground, which is especially helpful in wetter regions and seasons. In
terms of public safety, a basement built from the top-down is preferable. Before beginning the
basement excavation, the completed ground floor slab acts as a protection lid preventing
unauthorized entry.

One major advantage of top-down building is its time savings, given that the soil conditions, building
heights and building geometries are all suitable.

Dust and noise from the digging can be muffled by closing the basement entrance.

Disadvantages of top-down construction:

Due to plant’s size limitations and restricted access, the excavation operations and substructure
construction take longer and cost more.

Permanent slabs need to be supported vertically in the temporary condition. For excavation, holes
may need to be left in the slabs.

More weight is concentrated in the final structure due to the stiffer development during the
transitional stages. There is no way to build exterior waterproofing.

Conclusion: In top-down construction, the permanent structure is built reverse, from the surface up,
beginning with basement and proceeding downward through extensive underground excavations.
The basement floors are built while the excavation is still in progress. Top-down construction has
sped up projects’ delivery to the client, lowered capital costs dramatically, and improved the quality
of the build’s finish. It has also made better use of resources, lowered costs and cut pollution.
DIFFICULT WORDS:
Top-down construction: Construction descendante

Ground up: Base, foundation, assise

Basement: Sous-sol

Bottom up construction : Construction ascendante

Basement levels: Les niveaux du sous-sol

Layers : Les couches

Concrete floor in basement : Les planchers en béton en sous-sol.

Bracing : contreventement, support, renfort

Slab : Dalle, tranche, plaque

To slab : Tailler en bloc

Ground floor: Rez-de-chaussee

Roadway: Carriageway, pavement: Chaussee

Pavement, paving stone: Pave

To pour : Couler, verser

Below-grade levels : Niveaux inférieurs ultérieurs

Foolproof answer: Une reponse infaillible

Underground building: la construction souterraine

Groundwater: les eaux souterraines

Large-scale projects : Les projets de large envergure

Tieback :Tirant, ruban pour attacher un rideau

I-COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A/Wh-question :

1/How is done up-down construction?

2/What approach is the inverse of up-down construction?

3/What is the role of concrete floors in basements when we are dealing with up-down construction?

4/What is the definition given to diaphragm walls in this text?

5/For what are ideal diaphragm walls?

 B/True of False questions: Put “T” in front of statements that are correct and “F” in front of those
that are incorrect.

1/Top-down construction is the opposite of bottom-up one.

2/ In top-down construction, there is no way to build exterior waterproofing.

3/There is no utility for concrete floors in basements in top-down construction.

4/Top-down construction has lowered costs and decreased pollution.

5/One major advantage of top-down building is its time wasting.

II-VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR :

A/Vocabulary: Match words or phrases from column “A” with those of the column “B” so as to make
pairs of synonyms.

Column A Column B

1-Concrete a-A mixture of lime and/or cement with sand

and water.
2-Foundation, drainage, levelling and other b-Floor
building operations involving digging.
3-Building codes c-Legal requirements designed to protect the
public by providing guidelines related to given
building
4-Mortar d-Groundwork
5-The inside bottom surface of a room, e-A mixture of water, sand, gravel and a binder.
sometimes to a story in a building

b/ Grammar: Put the following sentences in the simple future.

1/Ali and his sister came yesterday from Paris.

2/There, they had taken part to an international conference about green building procedures.

3/This man has made much money when he got the new bridge construction contract.

4/Architects and civil engineers have always worked hands in hands.

5/According to many specialists building codes had not been respected in Turkey that was why
thousands of houses had collapsed by the recent earthquake.

III-TRANSLATIONS:
A/Translate into English:

1/L’Ingénierie est un terme utilisé pour la profession dans laquelle une connaissance des sciences
mathématiques et naturelles, acquise par l’étude ou l’expérience est appliquée à l’utilisation efficace
des matériaux et des forces de la nature.
2/Les ingénieurs sont ceux qui ont reçu une formation professionnelle en sciences pures et
appliquées.

3/Avant le 18 -ème siècle les travaux de construction de grandes échelles étaient confiés aux
ingénieurs militaires.

4/Le génie civil est le plus vastes des domaines de l’ingénierie.

5/Les ingénieurs en génie civil construisent les infrastructures du monde. Ce faisant, ils façonnent
discrètement l’histoire des nations du monde entier

B/Translate into French:

1/Construction equipment have evolved as per changing requirements in the industry.

2/Earlier for one job many equipment were required, but now one equipment can do multiple jobs.

3/Appropriate use of equipment contributes to completion of projects on time, work speed, quality
and most importantly economy.

4/It is not always possible for the contractor undergoing construction works to own each and every
type of construction equipment required for the project due to its complexity and many other
reasons.