UNIT 7 Slipform Construction

Read, translate the following text and be ready to fulfil the tests:

Slipform construction is an economical way of working with the concrete. It works well for any kind of construction, be it working with plain concrete, reinforced concrete, or pre-stressed concrete. Accuracy and continual casting for constructing a monolithic structure are its greatest advantages. The slipform method is an efficient way of working with concrete because it reduces the overall construction time considerably. Slip forming is most commonly used for tall structures such as chimneys, silos, water towers, and building cores as well as horizontal structures such as roadways. The slipform technique of construction allows for the continuous pouring of concrete into walls of a structure and only stops when the full required height of the structure has been reached.

A major cost of concrete structure construction comes in the form of the required formwork to retain the concrete while it retains the necessary shape and gains the necessary strength till it can be able to support itself and other imposed loads. It also requires the formwork to be continually removed to newer locations and then re-erected. All this requires the continuous use of manpower and lifting equipment like cranes. In the case of slipform building, the formwork is erected only once and remainsintact until the entire structure is completed.

A slipform assembly can only start after the foundations of the walls have been correctly laid and a starter for the walls laid out in its correct alignment with all the necessary steel for the walls already in position. The slipform shuttering is then firmly aligned to this starter with the means of yokes on each side of the shuttering that help to keep the panels in position. The yokes are all connected by horizontal crossbeams. Hydraulic jacks are then installed rigidly to the crossbeams that can all act simultaneously so that the entire slipform shuttering moves upwards. The heights of such slipform shuttering will normally be between 1.1 meters to 1.5 meters in height. The design of the working deck and the yokes and horizontal crossbeams are a very vital part of efficient slipform construction. It is very important that the entire structure be such that its rigidity and shape is maintained at all times. It is quite normal for the two sides of the shuttering to be inclined towards each other at the top with the correct wall dimension available at the center.

This allows the shuttering to move easily and eliminates any drag that concrete can cause on the shutters to prevent its free upward movement. The rigidity of the supporting platform is also essential so that all parts of the structure move simultaneously. If there is any lag from one part to the other, this can cause the shuttering to drag and make it difficult to be pulled up. It is also possible to reduce wall thicknesses as the construction gains height and arrangements have to be made in the slipform structure that will enable such reduction at regular intervals.

Slipform methods of construction can also be adapted to horizontal structures and are used for paving, canals, and tunneling. The technique is more in use for structures that have continuous walls like silos, chimneys, and piers for very tall bridges. It has also been successfully used for construction of buildings, although this requires the manner of leaving inserts for openings like doors and windows to be decided well in advance, as well as also any necessary inserts to support floor slabs after the walls are constructed.

Read and memorize the active vocabulary to the text:

Active Vocabulary

1. slipform construction строительство (железобетонных) сооружений с использованием скользящей опалубки

2. pre-stressed предварительно напряжённый

3. casting литье, отливка

4. to reduce уменьшать, сокращать

2. pouring заливка, разливание

3. to remain оставаться

4. intact неповрежденный, целый

5. re-erected вновь возведенный

6. shuttering опалубка, ставень, затвор

7. to impose налагать, заключать, спускать

8. alignment выравнивание

9. yoke (здесь) скоба, хомут

10. crossbeam поперечная балка

11. rigidly жестко, прочно

12. to connect соединять

13. inclined наклонный

14. dimension измерение, размер

15. to eliminate ликвидировать, устранять

16. to cause вызывать, причинять

17. to drag тянуть, тащить

18. arrangement расположение, установка

19. pier (здесь) столб

20. insert вставка; вставлять

21. upward вверх

22. lag задержка; задерживать

CONTROL TESTS

TEST I

Decide whether these statements are true or false:

1. a). The slipform method is an efficient way of working with concrete because it reducesthe overall construction time considerably.

b). The slipform method is an efficient way of working with concrete because a major cost of concrete structure construction comes in the form of the required formwork.

c). The slipform method is an efficient way of working with concrete because the formwork is erected only once and remains intact.

2. a). The slipform technique of construction allows the formwork to be continually removed to newer locations.

b). The slipform technique of construction allows for the continuous pouring of concrete into walls of a structure.

c). The slipform technique of construction allows the formwork to remain intact.

3. a). A slipform assembly can only start after the formwork is established and re-erected.

b). A slipform assembly can only start after the yokes are all connected by horizontal crossbeams.

c). A slipform assembly can only start after the foundations of the walls have been correctly laid.

4. a). The slipform shuttering is then firmly aligned to the starter by horizontal crossbeams.

b). The slipform shuttering is then firmly aligned to the starter with the means of yokes.

c). The slipform shuttering is then firmly aligned to the starter with the means of hydraulic jacks.

5. a). It is normal for the two sides of the shuttering to beinclined towards each other at the top.

b). It is normal for the two sides of the shuttering to be installed rigidly to the crossbeams.

c). It is normal for the two sides of the shuttering to moveupward freely.

TEST II

Match words in columns A and B (synonym match):

A B

1. advantage a). innovation b). benefit

c). protection d). transmission

2. continual a). excessive b). hollow

c). particular d). permanent

3. considerably a). greatly b). accurately

c). actually d). fully

4. to eliminate a). to decide b). to exchange

c). to liquidate d). to analyze

5. alignment a). estate b). masonry

c). length d). leveling

6. simultaneously a). concurrently b). safely

c). independently d). quickly

7. vital a). solid b). essential

c). specific d). single

8. available a). final b). usual

c). visual d). accessible

9. entire a). total b). professional

c). stable d). static

10. in advance a). in private b). beforehand

c). in particular d). notably

TEST III

Select the best possible answer out of the choices from the list to the statements (multiple choice):

1. In the case of slipform building, the formwork … .

a. is firmly aligned to the starter with the means of yokes.

b. is installed rigidly to the crossbeams.

c. is erected only once and remains intact until the entire structure is completed.

d. is continually removed to newer locations and then re-erected.

2.It is very important that the entire structure … .

a. can all act simultaneously so that the whole slipform shuttering moves upwards.

b.could have inserts to support floor slabs after the walls are constructed.

c. could have inserts for openings like doors and windows.

d.be such that its rigidity and shape is maintained at all times.

3. …………………… are a very vital part of efficient slipform construction.

a. Accuracy and continual castingfor constructing a monolithic structure

b. The design of the working deck and the yokes and horizontal crossbeams

c.The cohesive characteristics between the steel and concrete

d. The rigidity of the supporting platform and availability of lifting equipment

4. Slipform methods of construction can also be adapted to … .

a. building of driveways and sidewalks.

b. finishing of concrete floors and pavements.

c.inserts for openings like doors and windows.

d. horizontal structures such as paving, canals, and tunneling.

5.This allows the shuttering to move easily and eliminates any drag that concrete can cause on the shutters to prevent … .

a. its free upward movement.

b. inclination towards each other at the top.

c. any lagfrom one part to the other.

d. deflection from the correct alignment.

TEST IV