The Leadenhall Building The Steel Frame Structure 2002—2014
1
Site Photo by Brandon Whitwell-Mak Example of a Leadenhall Steel node Construction of the prefabricated steel com- ponents Example of another the prefabricated Steel component and joint to the window panes. Photo by Brandon Whitwell-Mak, taken at the Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out exhibition The Leadenhall Building 2002—2014 References: http://www.laingorourke.com/media/news-releases/2013/europe/the-leadenhall-building-topping-out.aspx, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013. http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/render.aspx?siteID=1&navIDs=1,4,25,361,366, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013. http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/city-icon-showcases-steel/?print=1, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013. http://www.steelconstruction.info, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013. The Steel Frame Structure The steel structural elements which envelope the building uses prefabricated nodes. This allows for a less complex site assembly as welding is not needed. The nodes are manufactured off site and then delivered to site once complete. Due to the large scale components and limit access of the site, the prefabricate pieces which could be bolted together made the construction very efficient. Prefabricated nodes: Process Steel is an alloy of primarily iron and other chemicals, such as carbon, manganese, niobium and vanadium to tailor its strength and durability for a project. An alloy of mild steel would have been produce for the structural purposes of the Leadenhall building, containing 0.1% to 0.33% of carbon, as it is very tough, high tensile strength and can go through a hardening process. Also, this explains the finishing seen on the steel because it is a ferrous metal it is not naturally corrosion resistant. Due to some of the nodes of the Leadenhall building transferring forces of up to 6000 tonnes in at least three different directions simultaneously the need for joints which can withstand high tensile and compression forces is vital. As these components were fabricated off site, they may have been ‘rolled’ because this process refines the grain size and improves the mechanical properties, in particular toughness. After the steel is rolled at around 750°C, it would be cooled naturally. Due to the exposure, location and design of the Leadenhall building, it is corrosion and fire protected. The whole struc- ture is sprayed prior to site assembly with a marine standard, epoxy intumescent coating in layers of 3-12mm, depend- ing on the thickness of the steel. This gives 90 minutes of fire protection. To make the structure and building maintain its structural and aesthetic standards the structure will contain 500 tonnes of paint at the end of construction. When the finishing process is complete, the nodes are typically 6m x 3m and weigh up to 30 tonnes (crane limitations also determine this). They are then taken to site and bolted to the columns and diagonals of the main structure. Brandon Whitwell-Mak Second Year TS: Materials Week 2, Site Photo exercise
Transcript of The Leadenhall Building The Steel Frame Structure 2002—2014
Site Photo by Brandon Whitwell-MakExample of a Leadenhall Steel nodeConstruction of the prefabricated steel com-ponents
Example of another the prefabricated Steel component and joint to the window panes. Photo by Brandon Whitwell-Mak, taken at the Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out exhibition
The Leadenhall Building2002—2014
References:
http://www.laingorourke.com/media/news-releases/2013/europe/the-leadenhall-building-topping-out.aspx, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013.http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/render.aspx?siteID=1&navIDs=1,4,25,361,366, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013.
http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/city-icon-showcases-steel/?print=1, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013.http://www.steelconstruction.info, accessed 26 Novemeber 2013.
The Steel Frame Structure
The steel structural elements which envelope the building uses prefabricated nodes. This allows for a less complex site assembly as welding is not needed. The nodes are manufactured off site and then delivered to site once complete. Due to the large scale components and limit access of the site, the prefabricate pieces which could be bolted together made the construction very efficient.
Prefabricated nodes: Process
Steel is an alloy of primarily iron and other chemicals, such as carbon, manganese, niobium and vanadium to tailor its strength and durability for a project. An alloy of mild steel would have been produce for the structural purposes of the Leadenhall building, containing 0.1% to 0.33% of carbon, as it is very tough, high tensile strength and can go through a hardening process. Also, this explains the finishing seen on the steel because it is a ferrous metal it is not naturally corrosion resistant.
Due to some of the nodes of the Leadenhall building transferring forces of up to 6000 tonnes in at least three different directions simultaneously the need for joints which can withstand high tensile and compression forces is vital.
As these components were fabricated off site, they may have been ‘rolled’ because this process refines the grain size and improves the mechanical properties, in particular toughness. After the steel is rolled at around 750°C, it would be cooled naturally.
Due to the exposure, location and design of the Leadenhall building, it is corrosion and fire protected. The whole struc-ture is sprayed prior to site assembly with a marine standard, epoxy intumescent coating in layers of 3-12mm, depend-ing on the thickness of the steel. This gives 90 minutes of fire protection. To make the structure and building maintain its structural and aesthetic standards the structure will contain 500 tonnes of paint at the end of construction.
When the finishing process is complete, the nodes are typically 6m x 3m and weigh up to 30 tonnes (crane limitations also determine this). They are then taken to site and bolted to the columns and diagonals of the main structure.
Brandon Whitwell-MakSecond Year TS: Materials Week 2, Site Photo exercise
