Complete the sentences by filling in the correct word that fits a statement (gap fill). Choose the appropriate words from the word bank given below

A. traditionally B. exclusive C. limitations D. range

E. preparation F. parameters G. exterior H. aircraft

I. agricultural J. expensive K. steel L. interior

1. Steel building manufacturers have created prefabricated systems for a wide …… of applications.

2. Now steel is used very successfully for structures as small as toll booths and vending machine shelters, and as large as barns and …… facilities.

3. Clear span is an …… space of a building where the roof is supported by the bordering structural walls and framework.

4. Prefabricated steel buildings can also be erected more quickly than …… constructed buildings.

5. The project's design phase is reduced considerably with the use of the …… building system.

6. Site …… and construction phases for larger steel buildings are normally comparable with similarly sized tilt-up structures.

7. Prefabricated steel building kits are generally less …… than custom-designed structures built using traditional construction or even tilt-up construction.

8. The use of steel in building is not necessarily …… of concrete or blocks.

9. A large steel office building or retail center may use tiltwall concrete panels for interior fire walls or …… facades.

10. Steel buildings used to be limited to storage facilities and …… hangars.

UNIT 18 What is Tilt-up Construction? (Part I)

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

In a tilt-up construction project, the building's walls are poured directly at the jobsite in large slabs of concrete called "tilt-up panels" or "tiltwall panels". These panels are then raised into position around the building's perimeter forming the exterior walls. The tilt-up panels are poured into forms that provide the exact size, shape and door openings to meet the design specifications. The largest panel used for a tilt-up construction project weighed just over 150 tons. In some regions the term tiltwall is used interchangeably with the term tilt-up. Tilt wall is a compound word using the terms "tilt-up" and concrete "wall" panels.

A tilt-up construction project begins with job site preparation and pouring the slab. During this phase of the project, workers install footings around the slab in preparation for the panels. The crew then assembles the panel forms on the slab. Normally, the form is created with wooden pieces that are joined together. The forms act like a mold for the panels. Next, workers tie in the steel grid of reinforcing bars into the form. They install inserts and embeds for lifting the panels and attaching them to the footing, the roof system, and to each other. The slab beneath the forms is then cleaned of any debris or standing water, and workers pour concrete into the forms to create the panels. Now comes the point where tilt-up construction, or tiltwall construction, gets its name.

Once the panels have solidified and the forms have been removed, the crew connects the first panel to a large crane with cables that hook into the inserts. The size of the crane depends on the height and weight of the panels, but it is typically two to three times the size of the largest panel. The crew also attaches braces to the panel. The crane lifts, or "tilts up," the panel from the slab into a vertical position above the footings. Workers help to guide the panel into position and the crane sets it into place. They connect the braces from the tiltwall panel to the slab, attach the panel's embeds to the footing, and disconnect the cables from the crane. The crew then moves to the next panel and repeats this process.

It's easy to be amazed as you watch the mobile crane tilt up a panel from the ground and set it into its place. Massive panels weighing 50,000 to 125,000 pounds or more dangle from the crane's long lines. The crew works as a team, setting the braces and guiding the panel with remarkable precision. The speed of the process is also remarkable; an experienced tiltwall crew can erect as many as 30 panels in a single day. Once all the panels are erected, the crew applies finishes to the walls with sandblasting or painting. They also caulk joints and patch any imperfections in the walls. From this point the crew moves to the installation of the roof system and the trades begin their work inside the building.

Precast construction is similar to tilt-up construction, except that the concrete wall panels are formed at a manufacturing facility and transported to the job site by trailer, rather than fabricated directly at the site. This prefabricated panel process provides a more controlled environment for consistent quality, insulated panels and weather protected scheduling.

Read and memorize the active vocabulary to the text:

Active Vocabulary

1. tilt-up construction строительство зданий методом поворота монолитных железобетонных плит, изготавливаемых в горизонтальном положении и поднимаемых в проектное положение после затвердевания

2. tilt-up panels подъемно-поворотные панели

3. exact точный, аккуратный

4. to weigh весить, взвешивать

5. interchangeably взаимозаменяемо

6. compound составной, сложный

7. preparation подготовка

8. slab плита

9. footing опора, основание, фундамент

10. grid решетка, сетка

11. debris обломки, развалины, осколки, строительный мусор

12. to solidify затвердевать, застывать

13. to remove удалять, устранять, перемещать

14. brace скоба, скрепа

15. to attach присоединять, прикреплять

16. to dangle качаться, свисать

17. precision точность, четкость, меткость

18. sandblasting пескоструйная очистка (обработка)

19. to caulk замазывать, изолировать

20. to patch исправлять, латать, заделывать трещины

21. to fabricate производить, собирать из стандартных частей

22. insulated изолированный

CONTROL TESTS

TEST I

Decide whether these statements are true or false:

1. a). The tilt-up panels are poured into forms that provide obtaining panels with remarkable precision.

b). The tilt-up panels are poured into forms that provide the exactsize, shape and door openings to meet the design specifications.

c). The tilt-up panels are poured into forms that provide a more controlled environment for consistent quality.

2. a). A tilt-up construction project begins with installing footings around the slab.

b). A tilt-up construction project begins with assembling the panel forms on the slab.

c). A tilt-up construction project begins with job site preparation and pouring the slab.

3. a). Once the panels have solidified and the forms have been removed, the crew attaches braces to the panel.

b). Once the panels have solidified and the forms have been removed, the crew connects the first panel to a large crane with cables.

c). Once the panels have solidified and the forms have been removed, the crew applies finishes to the walls with sandblasting or painting.

4. a). The size of the crane depends on the height and weight of the panels.

b). The size of the crane depends on the desired speed of the construction process.

c). The size of the crane depends on the necessity of the installation of the roof system.

5. a). Workers help to disconnect the cables from the crane.

b). Workers help tocaulkjoints and patch any imperfections in the walls.

c). Workers help to guide the panel into position and the crane sets it into place.

TEST II

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

A B

1. to pour a). to subject b). to cast

c). to process d). to occur

2. compound a). mortar b). mold

c). cinder d). composite

3. preparation a). arrangement b). molding

c). availability d). production

4. to assemble a). to strengthen b). to last

c). to mount d). to produce

5. wooden a). industrial b). timbered

c). building d). intense

6. remarkable a). expansible b). compressible

c). perpendicular d). amazing

7. mold a). pipe b). cable

c). casting-form d). weight

8. imperfection a). defect b). adaptation

c). creativity d). safety

9. to attach a). to utilize b). to accredit

c). fastend). to install

10.to solidify a). to develop b). to emerge

c). to retain d). to harden

TEST III

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

1. In a tilt-up construction project … .

a. the crew assembles the panel forms on the slab.

b. the largest panel weighs just over 150 tons.

c. the form is created with wooden pieces that are joined together.

d. the building's walls are poured directly at the jobsite in large slabs of concrete.

2.During the initial phase of the project, workers … .

a. clean the slab beneath the forms from any debris or standing water.

b.attach braces to the panel.

c. install footings around the slab in preparation for the panels.

d.pour concrete into the forms to create the panels.

3. Precast construction is similar to tilt-up construction, except that … .

a. the walls are created by assembling forms and pouring large slabs of concrete called panels directly at the job site.

b. the concrete wall panels are formed at a manufacturing facility and transported to the job site.

c. no transportation of panels to the job site is required.

d. there is a substantial limitation on how wide or tall each panel can be.

4. Prefabricated panel process provides … .

a. a more controlled environment for consistent quality, insulated panels and weather protected scheduling.

b. a great deal of flexibility in planning and creating buildings.

c.contractors with exemption from climatic conditions.

d. manufacturing panels that can sometimes be extremely wide and/or tall.

5. Tilt-up panels are raised into position around the building's perimeter … .

a. into a vertical position above the footings.

b.with remarkable precision.

c. forming the exterior walls.

d. and the crew begins to apply finishes to the walls with sandblasting or painting.

TEST IV