Weekly Tutorial Sketches

Below are some sketches that were set during the tutorials. They are sections through a portal frame warehouse building, highlighting the major components required to make it stand up.

Site visit #3

By chance I gained access to the construction site on the corner of Settlement and Breakwater Roads, and was able to take some comprehensive photos.


The site was originally home to a Go Kart track, however Guilfoyle Wreckers took care of that. Lyons Construction is undertaking the erection of the building.


No idea what its purpose is yet, but did hear a whisper that Beacon Lighting could be involved, but that is yet to be confirmed, the source isn't to reliable.


The construction is of the tilt up concrete panel type with universal beams bolted on to form the roof structure covering a reinforced concrete slab. Not sure what the plans are for the site but it appears as though there is still a fair amount of concrete to still be poured.




View from atop the parapet roof.






Some tilt up concrete panels still need to be supported by the struts as steel framing hasn't been completed inside.






The panels are held together by welded steel plates and bolts. The bolts seem to be missing at this connection, however the above connection at the apex, of a circular beam, steel bracing, z-purlins and 90 degree members would help to do the job. Can also see the insulation and safety mesh.






During the manufacture of tilt up concrete panels steel connections are set into them to help with transportation and erection. These are used to crane them into place.






Shows a universal beam connected to a tilt up concrete panel. The UB is bolted onto a steel plate which is welded onto a plate set into the concrete panel. The UB supports the z-purlin and the c-purlin which make up the box gutter. Can also see on top of the UB, Lysaght Spandeck the support for the box gutter.

An unfinished section of the box gutter, from above this time, can see the mounting of the box gutter. Can also see the connection of the safety mesh to the end z-purlin.

A finished section of the box gutter, showing flashing covering the concrete,left, a down pipe inlet, front and the roof covering, right.

Profile of the Kilp-lok roof cladding.






Connection of the Kilp-lok roofing to the z-purlin using clips




Damproof membrane and reinforcing ready for slab pour.




Close up of cage and deformed bar possibly for footings.

End of pretensioned concrete slab with protruding steel reinforcement bars.

Site Visit #2

As part of my study of portal frames I headed out to Bunnings Warehouse in Waurn Ponds. It was good to see in practise the elements of the portal fame which we have covered in class, as well as investigating slight variations on the applications, for example due to the massive span, columns are required to support the roof. On the visit I also inspected how the cladding was connected to the portal frame.

Knee joint of portal frame. Haunching is required to extend the span of the UB.

Centre column and roof bracing between rafters.

Detail of centre column connection and apex of roof. Can also see the connection of the rafters to z-purlins to roof cladding, with safety mesh inbetween.

Internal view from below of a box gutter and downpipe.

The below image shows the connection, from the interior, of the cladding to the supporting universal columns via a z-gurt.

Site Visit #1

For this week’s blog I ventured out to photograph a commercial building under construction. I came across Pakington Central, located on the corner of Pakington Street and Gordon Avenue, West Geelong. It is a double storey construction consisting of 10 boutique shops on the lower level and 700 sq metres of floor space on the upper level which has been divided into four different office spaces. Tilt up concrete panels were used as part of the construction. It was designed by local architect Peter O’Riely, whose practise is located in La Trobe Terrace, and the construction has been undertaken by Lyons Construction. The complex is due to be completed by the 1st June 2007. According to Simon from Knight Frank restate, the project may run slightly overtime, but is mostly on track for the completion date.

This image shows the external clading of the building, the universal beam supporting the first floor slab and the combined use of structual steel and timber stud walls.

In the above photo you can see the use of z-purlins supporting the roofing, consiting of safety mesh, insulation and the external cladding.

The photo below shows the first floor slab connected to a tilt up panel by a welded 90 degree bracket, reinforcement jutting out of the concrete and the services which will be hidden by the timber framed ceiling.