Warwick University
CCL optimizes schedule with real-time insights
“Using the Maturix system we get an accurate, real-time indication of the concrete strength“
Luke Kani Zihni
Senior Precast Engineer, CCL
The world-known Warwick University in England is growing over the next five years, including a new Faculty of Arts building. The 8-story building provides up to 15.000 m2 of floor space for research, teaching, office, and social space purposes. The design was created by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios architects and constructed by Bowmer + Kirkland. CCL has been engaged to develop a solution to replace the steel beams using concrete, thus converting reinforced slabs to post-tensioned ones.
Challenges
Keeping the schedule is always key on extensive construction projects. This is a challenge especially for parts of the construction, where a specific strength is required to continue with the following working steps. The strength development depends on many factors and knowing exactly how far the concrete is in the curing cycle is a helpful insight.
CCL has been hired to replace steel beams with post-tensioned ones. The aim is to reduce cost and material consumption as less material is required when using post-tensioning.
Key Challenges
- Replace reinforced concrete with post-tensioning to cut material costs
- Reducing risk of damage
- Optimizing the post-tensioning time
- Reduce test specimens for less manual work
- Keeping the tight schedule
Before Maturix
Before CCL integrated the maturity system, test specimens were used to mimic the concrete curing process of elements on site. However, this approach only allowed them to gain insights into the retro perspective and did not accurately reflect the same curing behavior as in the large elements on site. Their common practice has been to cast several additional test cubes per element to then do compression tests in an external lab. The additional work has been time-consuming and the measured compression strengths did differ from the actual element on site.
Solution
With Maturix and real-time monitoring of the strength development, CCL knows exactly when they could start with the post-tensioning process. This insight gives them the ability to optimize their schedules and reduce redundant waiting time. As CCL could reduce the number of test specimens, less manual work is needed on site. The real-time insight enhances CCL’s ability to coordinate tasks efficiently and maintain the integrity of the concrete.
With alarms, the workers are automatically updated via SMS and/or email and the status can be checked on the web platform from a computer or smartphone.
The option to add an unlimited number of users to the software further allowed CCL to enhance the communication between the workers on-site, the project managers and the concrete quality team.
Key Benefits
- Optimize post-tensioning time and reduce the risk of damage
- Replace additional samples with smart technology
- Share insights in the team with unlimited user access
Results
With real-time insight into the curing process, the contractor could optimize the time of the post-tensioning. Based on the monitored data, the CCL team is confident that the required strength has been reached and that they can start with the post-tensioning without any risk of damage.
CCL could reduce the number of additional test specimens they cast and save manual work and time, while real-time insight is provided.
Overall, CCL uses Maturix as a tool to improve project management on-site, as they can optimize their schedule based on real-time measurements. As they are specialized in the time-sensitive post-tensioning method, they save a lot of manual work otherwise needed to gain insight into the curing process.
Key Results
- Time savings compared to initial simulations
- Determine the optimal post-tensioning time based on data
- Eliminate the risk of too early tensioning
- Reducing additional sample cubes
- Better communication between teams on-site and in the office
”With built-in features such as SMS notifications and predicted curing times, the system reduces reliance on the costly use of the conventional cube test methods of compression crushing to determine the strength at a certain point in time. It delivers cost savings and eliminates several risk factors to improve build quality and reduce future maintenance costs.”
Luke Kani Zihni
Senior Precast Engineer, CCL
Learn more about Warwick University
Video from: FCB Studios.
Read more: FCB Studios: Warwick University – Faculty of Arts
About CCL
CCL, an expert in post-tensioning to cut down material costs in large projects, focuses on delivering innovation and quality. They specialized in engineering techniques for the best results and with their 80 years of experience with sites on five continents, their expertise has helped them to create iconic construction projects across the globe.
Get in contact with
Marc Cox
You can contact Marc by phone or email if you want help finding out whether Maturix is the right solution for you.