NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

(Semester I: 2017-2018)

CE 5610 - ASSESSMENT AND RETROFIT OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES

ASSIGNMENT (20%)

14 September 2017

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Answer any ONE question.

2. All questions carry equal marks.

3. Completed assignments should be submitted by 11:00 PM 9 October 2017 via the

IVLE, Module CE 5610 in a folder named <student submission>. Late submissions will
be penalized.

4. Indicate your name CLEARLY in the file name. Your name and matriculation number
must be clearly indicated on the top right hand corner of each sequentially numbered slide.

OBJECTIVES

To enhance further understanding of the underlying correlation principles of the various

techniques used in the assessment of concrete structures in service and to develop abilities to
apply basic principles of structural mechanics and advanced tools to accomplish rational
designs for the retrofitting of concrete structural components and their assemblies.

SUBMISSIONS

1. You are required to submit your assignment in the form of a self-explanatory

“PowerPoint” presentation file of not more than 15 slides (font size for text should not
be less than 18 points for presentation). The assignment is to be submitted in a softcopy,
“ppt” or “pdf” format through IVLE.

2. You may refer to the lecture notes and other reference materials. You need to search for
resources and references in the library and on the internet. Direct facsimiles and
copying of these materials will be penalized.

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3. Copying among students is strictly forbidden.

4.   Your ability to raise important issues, analyse them, and suggest solutions is important.
Submissions will be assessed based on how well you are able to:
(a) convince the owner that your plan for inspection and evaluation (including possible
laboratory and field tests to be carried out) can provide adequate information for a
full assessment of the in situ condition;
(b) convince the owner that the proposed assessment methods will be adequate to
enable a decision to be made on an appropriate repair technique to be carried out
later is necessary;
(c) show that your proposal has potential cost benefits.

5. Grading will be based on:

(a) Originality and level of difficulty
(b) Approach to problem and coverage of submission
(c) Organization and presentation.

ASSIGNMENT

You have been engaged by the owner as a consultant to evaluate ONE of the following
structures and to provide recommendations for structurally appraising the structure’s
structural integrity so that a repair and retrofit solution may be proposed at a later stage if
necessary. You are required to present your plan of inspection and evaluation in your
presentation slides addressing the owner’s concerns on durability and for the inspection to be
carried out with minimal disruption to the users of the structure. Show how the results of the
appraisal exercise, will enable you to propose one or more alternative repair methods to be
adopted. You are not required at this stage to propose the repair methods. Detail how the
appraisal will be carried out, specifications needed and how you would assess the condition
of the repaired structure.

You may make assumptions as appropriate regarding the structural details of the structural
members in the structure and the connections between them. If needed, explain how the
overall building loads are being supported and transferred to the foundations. Assume that the
foundations are not be retrofitted to resist any overall increase in loading to be carried by the
retrofitted structure.

If you decide to attempt Question 1, the free documentation from the following website is
compulsory reading:

https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/publications/technical/conservation-publications

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Question 1

The structure shown in Figure 1-1 and 1-2 is a two-storey CONSERVATION building. The
owner raised some concern about some columns as shown. The space is being used as a
training centre.

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Question 1 (Cont’d)

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Question 2

The building shown in Figure 2-1 is a seven-storey office block for general use. The 7th
storey is column free to keep the floor space as flexible as possible for multiple types of
occupancy. Permanent internal partitions are not allowed. Only a single row of columns in
the offices from the 1st to the 6th storey are present.

The external frame dimensions and the distances between external columns are specified as
shown. All internal frame dimensions, the types of floors, structural toppings, types of beams
and walls, and column sizes, may be assumed as appropriate. Shear walls are only provided
in the staircase, lift shaft and services core areas. The external facade to the main office areas
and the gable end staircases is in glass curtain walling, supplied by a proprietary sub-
contractor and fixed to the perimeter beams. The perimeter beams have a maximum depth of
1200 mm. The outside walls to the toilet rooms and the lift shaft are overclad in insulation
and decorative façade panels.

The building owner intends to replace the existing steel roof construction as shown in Figure
2-1 and a new floor is to be added with a flat roof. The new 8th storey will have a layout
similar to the 7th storey i.e. column free. Staircases and lift access to the new floor will also
have to be provided.
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Figure 2-1 Plan and Sectional View of Seven-Storey Concrete-framed Building

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Question 3

The 5-storey office building shown in Figure 3-1 measures approximately 40m x 40m on plan
and is divided into 8m x 8m column grids. The 1st storey plan and typical office floor plans
are illustrated in Figure 3-1. Structural column positions are at the grid intersections, except
at the 1st storey where there are no columns along Grid 3 and 4. This is where there is a large
column free atrium. The appraisal exercise is to confirm that building is structurally sound.

Figure 3-1 (a)

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Question 3 (Cont’d)

Figure 3-1 (b)

Figure 3-1 (c) (Dimensions are in mm)

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