Structural Depth
The alternative prestressed concrete structure featured within The Medical Center will utilize the existing column grid (within reason) as well as typical bay dimensions (within reason) of the current design (30’-4” x 32’-0”). In order to investigate a more economic option, the design of the alternative prestressed concrete structure will eliminate the infilling structural elements. A two-way prestressed concrete system was selected as a viable design alternative for its anticipated high strength and resilience as well as improved span-to-depth and section utilization ratios.
The lateral system will utilize a concrete moment frame scheme. In the event that an ordinary moment frame system cannot be realized, an intermediate moment frame system will be investigated. The structure of The Medical Center will utilize this type of lateral force resisting system in both the N-S and E-W directions.
The alternative prestressed concrete structure will affect the entirety of the general structural design of the building, inclusive of particular consideration to the building foundation. The consideration of deep foundation alternatives will be investigated and executed as a component of the Schreyer Honors College senior thesis study.
Precast – Construction Breadth
Due to the use of an alternative prestressed concrete structural system, the use of a precast concrete system will be investigated in order to determine the effectiveness of constructability and sequence of the building project. A revised construction sequence schedule will be produced to determine the revised critical path. Additionally, a cost analysis of the alternative structure will be performed in order to determine the economic impact of redesign. Both the critical path analysis and cost analysis will be presented in a comparative study against the critical path and cost of the original design.
Façade – Daylighting Breadth
A façade investigation and alternate façade proposal will be executed, altering the daylighting scheme of the building envelope. An alternative daylighting scheme will be proposed, and an analysis of the proposed scheme will be conducted, prioritizing task-oriented and occupant comfort parameters over other additional considerations. A seasonal solar study, with respect to the building site, will be performed, ultimately driving the design of the alternative daylighting scheme.
MAE Requirements
The execution of design of an alternative prestressed concrete structural system will require the utilization of graduate level coursework. The redesign of the gravity force resisting and lateral force resisting systems will require the execution of three-dimensional modeling, using computer-aided techniques learned in AE 530 – “Computer Modeling of Building Structures.” ETABS and ADAPT will primarily be used as an analysis and design software to construct the three-dimensional model. Due to the alteration of structural material within the design of the gravity force resisting and lateral force resisting systems, knowledge learned in CE 543 – “Prestressed Concrete Behavior and Design” will be utilized to design the alternative prestressed concrete structural system. The coursework within AE 530 being applied to this thesis study has been learned prior to the commencement of redesign. The coursework within CE 543 being applied to this thesis study will be learned concurrently throughout the duration of redesign.
Schreyer Honors College Requirements
In a response to the proposal of an alternative prestressed concrete structural system, consideration of deep foundation alternatives will be investigated and executed. Building upon the research performed prior to and during the investigation of an alternative composite steel structural design, deep foundation techniques will be utilized to select and design the most appropriate structural foundation system, complementary to the design of the above grade structural system. Structural modeling techniques will be utilized to further analyze, and if necessary redesign, the deep foundation structural system utilized within The Medical Center. Priority will be given to strength and serviceability requirements set forth by the governing code, but other factors, such as durability and environmental impact, will be considered in the analysis and selection of an alternative deep foundation system. CE 397A – “Geotechnical Engineering for AE Majors” will be taken concurrently with AE 897G; therefore, coursework from this course, as applicable, will be applied to this Schreyer Honors College thesis study.