Part 1 - Steel Frame Construction key technologies:
● Mini mill, traditional mills, and Rolling mills
● Shape of beam
● Riveting, Bolting, Bearing-type connection, slip-critical connection, welding
● Erection process
When it comes to steel frame construction every part of producing the steel to erect it is
important. So the first key technology in the construction process is just the ability to produce
the steel frame members. The steel frame members are constructed in a mini mill, traditional
mill and or in rolling mills. Most steel members are created in “mini mills”. In this process they
use recycled scraps to form steel beams using the technology of electric arc furnaces. In electric
arc furnaces the scarp is inserted then the amount of electrodes is also lowered which causes
an electric current to flow through the electrodes which then creates an arc. Mini mills are less
expensive than traditional mills or rolling mills. In a rolling mill the scrap is heated and then
rolled out to flatten it. The metal undergoes this process until it is formed into desired shape.
Which leads into the next key technology which is the technology we have improved overtime
and that is being able to create and form beams in any shape. With this being the case buildings
are more secure and are often cheaper due to not needing excess steel frame members. Steel
frame members are able to be erected faster due to this and are ultimately a very good thing for
the overall construction process. I would say another key technological advancement is the
process in which the steel frame members are connected. So riveting is an exciting technology
used in which, a very hot fastener is inserted into the holes and then hammered to produce a
head which fastly secures the supports. Bolting is also used which is used for lighter weight
support steel beams but is an extremely easy and fast process. Bearing-type connection, which
is the worn body of the bolt , resists movement between connected members by bearing directly
against the sides of the bolt holes. This causes the bolt to be stressed in shear. Slip-critical
connection is where Bolt is tensioned to such an extent that movement in the joint is resisted by
friction between the adjoining surfaces of the members themselves. In this process the bolt is
very stressed but there is no tension. So both of those bolt connections are very important
technology that has been developed in the steel frame construction process. On top of that the
most widely known and probably common technology used is welding. Welding is when the
steel surfaces are heated to a molten state. Electrodes are then shared between each molten
state and so when cooled and hardened steel is connected by a joint created. Last but not least
the actual erection of the steel frame member process requires a lot of technology. The erection
process requires skilled workers each with their own tools and ppe. Cranes are usually used in
the erecting of a steel structure due to the great weight of the steel members and the vast height
they need to be transported to. Big trucks are needed in order to transport the steel members
from the mill to the jobsite. With all of that said there are many key technologies that are needed
in order to construct a structure using steel framing.
Part 2 - technologies used in concrete construction:
● Plant
● Transportation
● Tools and equipment used
● Rebar and forming
When it comes to the construction process of using concrete, it requires a lot of different
technologies whether it be small or big. The plants in which the concrete is created is probably
one of the biggest factors of quality of concrete but is also an important technology part of the
process. Sand, water, aggregate and cement are the 4 main ingredients and like we have
learned and written reports about before each of those ingredients plays some role in the quality
of concrete. So the process of heating up the materials to a certain temperature and then mixing
them in a quality ratio is very important. It is important so that the concrete is workable, strong,
etc. but also so that the materials don’t segregate. Then from the plant the technology of
concrete trucks is extremely impressive. It mixes the concrete as it’s being transported to the
jobsite so that the concrete is ready to be poured immediately and so that the concrete doesn’t
harden or so that the materials don’t segregate like I said before. The concrete trucks contain
water so that they can be adding water throughout the whole journey. Now there are plenty of
tools and equipment used when handling concrete. If you are pouring concrete on a building
then the concrete pump will be needed. It is a big pump that is sort of controlled like a crane but
when concrete is put into the pump it will pump the concrete to wherever it needs to be. On top
of that hand held tools are also used like cum-alongs to pull concrete, strike offs which are used
to level the concrete, bull floats which are used to smooth the concrete and typically a radial
concrete power float which has an engine and is a faster way to finish concrete. With all that
being said the simple technology of rebar is probably the key to concrete. Rebar supports the
concrete and allows concrete to have a higher tensile strength. Concrete is also formed using
wood or plastic. The way in which concrete is formed is so very important to how it will look. All
in all their is so many important technologies that go into the construction of concrete and the
process in which it is created and poured and finished.
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