Construction Management and Economics

ISSN: 0144-6193 (Print) 1466-433X (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rcme20

Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam and

reinforced concrete slab construction

Surinder Singh

To cite this article: Surinder Singh (1991) Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam and
reinforced concrete slab construction, Construction Management and Economics, 9:2, 205-215,
DOI: 10.1080/01446199100000017

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446199100000017

Published online: 28 Jul 2006.

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 Construction Management and Economics, 1991,9,205-215

Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam

and reinforced concrete slab construction
SURINDER SINGH
Visiting Professor, Building Construction Program, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0155 and Associate Professor, School of Building & Estate Management, Faculty of
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Architecture and Building, National University of Singapore, Singapore 0511

A n interactive computer model has been developed for approximate cost estimation of prestressed concrete
beam and reinforced concrete slab construction in high rise commercial buildings. A number of design
variables like different structural schemes, grid sizes, number of storeys, grades of concrete, grid location
and section of beams have been incorporated in the model to assess their effect on cost and quantities of
constituents of concrete construction.
The use of the model is recommended for comparative cost estimation to determine the effect of design
parameters on structural cost; for approximate structural cost estimation of an overall project; for
checking of estimates for structural works; for calculation of quantity index for structural schemes and
system; for budgeting of materials and finally for use in various studies in building economics.
Keywords: Cost estimation, computer model, cost model, concrete construction, structural systems,
economic evaluation

Introduction
In the last two decades, the emphasis on research relating to building cost techniques
especially on mathematical modelling and availability of cheap computer power have
provided openings to develop computer models for repetitive use in the building industry.
Trimble and Jupp (1973) at Loughborough University of Technology have developed cost
models using regression techniques for various facets of building work. Gould (1970)
produced a cost model which deals with the capital cost of heatin,g, ventilating and air
conditioning. Badby (1971), Wood (1976), Baker (1974), McCaffer (1975), Newton (1982),
Tucker (1984), Schofield et al. (1982) and Singh (1987) also produced cost models related to
various aspects of building.
An effort was made by the author to develop an interactive computer model for
approximate cost estimation of structural system in high rise commercial buildings using
prestressed concrete beam and reinforced concrete slab construction, up to 50 storeys high.
This paper describes the computer model developed and illustrates its numerous
applications.

Structural schemes, analysis and design

Figure 1 shows the structural schemes considered for prestressed concrete beam and
reinforced concrete slab construction. The sizes of the square column grids ranged from 10 to
0144-6193/91 $03.00+.12 0 1991 E. & F.N.Spon Ltd.
 Sinyh

SCHEME A 2 SCHEME 82
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SCHEME A3 SCHEME 83

NOTATION MB - MAIN BEAM

SB - SECONDARY BEAM
SBC - SECONDARY BEAM OVER aXUMNS

Fig. 1. Designation of structural schemes and components

14 m. The analysis and design were in accordance with the limit state design proposed in the
British Code of Practice CPI 10: Part 1: 1972, the service loads being taken from the British
Code of Practice CP3: Chapter V: Parts I and 11: 1972. Frame-shear wall interaction was
considered in the analysis for lateral loads, sub-frame, grid beam and continuous beam
analysis being carried out for gravity load analysis depending on appropriateness.

Quantities of constituents and statistical relationships

Detailed charts for quantities of constituents in individual elements for different grid
locations, number of storeys, structural schemes, grid sizes, grades of concrete and section of
beams were developed by Singh and Murthy (1980, 1981). Regression analysis was then
carried out to establish statistical relationships between quantities of each of the constituents
of construction in the different structural components and the number of storeys of
construction.

Computer model
An interactive computer model (program) was developed using the results of 45 charts and
450 statistical relationships by the author (1986). The model elements for which quantities
and costs can be computed by this program are solid slab, beams, columns, shear walls and
total structure. The program was perfected to run on a IBM 3081 mainframe computer and a
microcomputer version of the same was also made. The program runs in 51 normal computer
print-out pages and uses 10 subroutines for different model elements. Due to the size of the
program it is not possible to present the program listing.
 Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam

T S T A R T

READ THE ELEMENT OF

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR
WHICH QUANTITIES I COST
ARE YEEDeD VU. SQlD
PRESTRESSED BEAM. C W M N
SHEAR WALLS AND
SLAB.

TOTAL
.
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-METRE RELEVANT
SELECTED E L E M E N T FOR
wnlcn THE E F r E c T ON
O U A N T I T I E S I S NEEDED .p.
ORlD SIZE. SCHEME, NUMBER
OF S T W V S . GRID LOCATIOII EX.

QUANTITIES/COBT ARE K E D C D .
AN0 RELEVANT UNIT RATES

WORK OUT NECESSARY COST

AN0 RELEVANT QUANTITIEY

COST FOR ALL SETS OF W U E S

GIVE NECESSARY EXRANATARY

NOTES

COMPUTATIONS

SETS I N THE S4YE

MODEL ELEMEN

Fig. 2. Skeleton flow chart for the computer model - prestressed concrete beam and RC
slab construction
 Singh

S T A R T

OF THE STRUCTURAL
SYSTEM FOR WHICH T H E
I Q U A N T I T I E S I C O S T ARE 1
NEEDED /
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Fig. 3. Skeleton flow chart indicating model elements of prestressed concrete beam and
RC slab construction

Flow charts
A skeleton flow chart of the model is shown in Fig. 2 and another one for the model elements
in Fig. 3. The latter indicates certain links which in turn are referred to in subsequent flow
charts for other model elements. The concept adopted for all elements is substantially
uniform; hence flow charts for only one element, namely total structure, is presented in
Fig. 4. For each model element in the main program (Fig. 4) certain subroutines are called, in
which have been incorporated the statistical relationships and the logic of their appropriate
use. Detailed flow charts for all such subroutines were worked out and as an illustration only
one subroutine for the main beams (MBEAM) is shown in Fig. 5.

Applications of model and comparison of results

The application of the computer model developed can be made for comparative cost
estimation to determine the effect of design parameters on structural cost; for approximate
 Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam

11110 THE SETS OF VALUE8

FOR WATCH QUANTITIES/ COST
ARE NEEDED.
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READ ORID S2L, SCHEUE, NUMBER

or n o R m Are OR l o mnov
FOR EACH SET OF VALUES.

READ UNIT RATES FOR

CONCRETE, RKINFORCDIENZ =ST-
-RESSINO STRANDS 8 FORMWORI

CALL MBEAM a COMPUTE

QUANTITIES FOR MAIN BEAMS'
CONSTITUENTS/ UNIT A R E I .

1
CALL SBEAM a COMPUTE
QUANTITIES FOR SECONDARY

w n T l T l e s FOR CONSTITUEYTII
OF SECONDARY BEAMS OVER

DETERMINE COST BASED

RATER

YEEOEO FOR OTHER

f END 1
Fig. 4. Flow chart for the model element -beams
 Table 1. Effect of grid size and grid location on quantities of constituents/cost for slab in
prestressed beam and RC slab construction (quantities/cost per m2 of slab area)
Grid No. of Gridb Concrete Steel Formwork Costc
size Schemea storeys location (m3) (kg) (m2) (%)
10.3 x 10.3 1 50 1 0.1055 4.7 0.75 37.78
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 1 0.1200 5.3 0.76 41.53
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 1 0.1400 6.1 0.73 46.05
10.3 x 10.3 I 50 2 0.1055 4.7 0.75 37.78
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 2 0.1200 5.3 0.76 41.53
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 2 0.1400 6.1 0.73 46.05
10.3 x 10.3 1 50 3 0.1055 5.4 0.75 38.56
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 3 0.1200 6.2 0.76 42.52
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 3 0.1400 7.1 0.73 47.14
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10.3 x 10.3 1 50 4 0.1055 6.3 0.75 39.48

12.1 x 12.1 1 50 4 0.1200 7.4 0.76 43.85
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 4 0.1400 8.4 0.73 48.56
--

Notes: "1 Indicates scheme A2 hl Indicates interior grid

2 Indicates scheme B2 2 Indicates first interior grid
3 Indicates scheme A3 3 Indicates exterior grid
4 Indicates scheme B3 4 Indicates corner grid
(refer Fig. 1)
'Unit rates for constituents:
Concrete Steel Formwork
($/m3) (%/kg) ($/m2)
200.00 1.10 15.50

Table 2. Effect of grid size and grid location on quantities of constituents/cost for beams in
prestressed beam and RC slab construction (quantities/cost per m2 of floor area)
Grid No. of Gridb Concrete Steel Strands Formwork Costc
size Schemea storeys location (m3) (kg) (kg) (m2) ($1
10.3 x 10.3 1 50 1 0.0884 11.6 2.03 0.71 51.10
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 1 0.1061 13.0 2.48 0.70 58.10
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 1 0.1291 17.0 3.47 0.7 1 71.50
10.3x10.3 1 50 2 0.0884 12.3 2.03 0.7 1 5 1.70
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 2 0.1061 14.1 2.48 0.70 59.40
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 2 0.1291 18.8 3.47 0.71 73.50
10.3 x 10.3 1 50 3 0.0965 13.4 2.12 0.77 55.90
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 3 0.1159 13.9 2.85 0.76 63.50
14.0x14.0 1 50 3 0.1408 20.7 3.95 0.76 8 1.OO
10.3 x 10.3 1 50 4 0.1046 12.8 2.22 0.83 58.30
12.1 x 12.1 1 50 4 0.1256 15.3 2.72 0.81 67.50
14.0 x 14.0 1 50 4 0.1525 20.6 3.79 0.82 83.70
Notes: "I Indicates scheme A2 b l Indicates interior grid
2 Indicates scheme B2 2 Indicates first interior grid
3 Indicates scheme A3 3 lndicates exterior grid
4 Indicates scheme B3 4 Indicates corner grid
'Unit rates for constituents:
Concrete Steel Strands Formwork
($/m3) ($/kg) ($/kg) ($/mZ)
20.00 1.10 4.00 15.00
 Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam 21 1
structural cost estimation of an overall project; for checking of estimates for structural
works; for calculation of quantity index for structural schemes and system; for budgeting of
materials and finally for use in various studies in building economics. Tables 1 to 5 illustrate
some of these applications while the model developed is capable of generating valuable and
voluminous quantity/cost information.
Cost studies of completed projects were made with the object of comparing actual
quantities of constituents taken from their bills of quantities with the ones obtained by using
the computer model developed. The comparison, by the author (1986), has indicated that the
actual quantities consumed in different projects are always more than those computed from
the computer model. The differences are due to the fact that the statistical relationships used
in developing the computer models are based on exact analysis and design while the
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engineer's calculations often tend to be approximate and on the safe side. The difference
varies from project to project, the overall range being 4.8-16.3%. This suggests that an
allowance of about 5-18% should be added to the computer predicted quantities.

Table 3. Effect of grid size and number of storeys on quantities of constituents/cost for columns in
prestressed beam and RC slab construction (quantities/cost per m2 of floor area)
Grid ConcreteNo. of Columnb Concrete Steel Formwork Costc
Size Scheme" grade storeys location (m3) (kg) (m2) ($1
14.0 x 14.0 1 30 5 1 0.0232 3.5 0.08 8.95
14.0 x 14.0 1 30 10 1 0.0259 5.1 0.09 11.51
14.0 x 14.0 1 30 15 1 0.0308 6.9 0.10 14.85
14.0 x 14.0 1 30 20 1 0.0373 9.1 0.1 1 19.17
14.0~ 14.0 1 30 25 1 0.0448 11.5 0.12 24.10
1 4 . 0 ~14.0 1 30 30 1 0.0528 14.3 0.12 29.70
14.0x14.0 1 30 35 1 0.0610 17.3 0.13 35.98
14.0 x 14.0 1 30 40 1 0.0692 20.4 0.14 42.69
14.0~ 14.0 1 30 45 1 0.0775 23.7 0.15 49.53
14.0x14.0 1 30 50 1 0.0860 26.9 0.16 57.38
Notes: "1 Indicates scheme A2 bl Indicates interior grid
2 Indicates scheme B2 2 Indicates first interior grid
3 Indicates scheme A3 3 Indicates exterior grid
4 Indicates scheme B3 4 Indicates corner grid
(refer Fig. 1)
'Unit rates for constituents:
Concrete grade Concrete Steel Formwork
(N/mm2) No. of storeys ($/m3) ($/kg) ($/m2)
30 5 190.08 0.99 13.22
10 195.78 1.02 13.62
15 201.48 1.05 14.01
20 207.19 1.08 14.41
25 212.89 1.11 14.81
30 218.59 1.14 15.20
35 224.29 1.17 15.60
40 230.00 1.20 16.00
45 235.70 1.23 16.39
50 241.40 1.26 16.78
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 Cost estimation ofprestressed concrete beam 213

Table 4. Prestressed beam and RC slab construction (quantities/cost per m2 of floor area)
Project title: Park View Plaza
Salient features
Grid size: 14.0 x 14.0 Grid locationb: 1
Number of storeys: 45 Schemea: 2
- - -- -

Concrete grade Concrete Steel Strands Formwork Costc

Element (N/mm2) (m3) (kg) (kg) (m2) ($1
Slab 0.1605 8.5 - 0.82 54.27
Main beams 0.0227 7.9 1.2 0.11 20.23
Secondary beams 0.0396 8 .O 1.7 0.24 27.69
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Secondary beams
over columns
Columns
Shear walls
Total structure 170.57
Notes: "1 Indicates scheme A2 bl Indicates interior grid
2 Indicates scheme B2 2 Indicates first interior grid
3 Indicates scheme A3 3 Indicates exterior grid
4 Indicates scheme B3 4 Indicates corner grid
(refer Fig. 1)
'Unit rates for constituents:
Element Concrete Steel Strands Formwork
($/m3) ($/kg) ($/kg) ($/m2)
Slab 200.00 1.10 - 15.50
Beams 220.00 1.10 4.00 15.00
Columns 250.00 1.10 - 15.00
Shear walls 230.00 1.15 - 15.00

Conclusions

Based on the comparison of the results with some of the local projects and the numerous
useful applications illustrated, it is concluded that the computer-based cost model developed
is of immense practical value to the industry and can provide the desired information with
speed and reliability.
It is not claimed that the computer model developed can invariably be used in all countries
since the design requirements may vary from country to country and even in the same
country from region to region. However, the methodology adopted in establishing the basic
data and the algorithm used in developing the model may be of interest to those in the related
professions and these can be utilized in carrying out similar research in other countries.
 214 Singh

Table 5. Prestressed beam and RC slab construction (quantities/cost for overall structure)
Project title: Tanglin View Plaza
Floor area (m2): 180 000.00
Shear wall area (m2): 39 000.00
Salient features
Grid size (m) Grid locationb Numbers
12.0 x 12.0 1 450
12.0 x 12.0 2 400
12.0 x 12.0 3 200
12.0 x 12.0 4 200
Number of storeys: 50 Schemea: 2
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Concrete grade Concrete Steel Strands Formwork Costc

Element (N/mm2) (m3) (ton) (ton) (m2) ($ m)
Slab 30 26 199.8 1 595.4 150 376.0 9.33
Main beams 30 5 071.0 1 765.0 29 946.0 4.65
Secondary beams 30 5 776.2 1 310.9 41 971.0 4.37
Secondary beams
over columns
Columns
Shear walls

Notes: a l Indicates scheme A2 b l Indicates interior grid

2 Indicates scheme B2 2 Indicates first interior grid
3 Indicates scheme A3 3 Indicates exterior grid
4 Indicates scheme B3 4 Indicates corner grid
(refer Fig. 1)
'Unit rates for constituents:
Element Concrete Steel Strands Formwork
($/m3) ($/kg) ($/kg) ($1m2)
Slab 200.00 1.10 - 15.50
Beams 230.00 1.10 4.00 16.00
Columns 230.00 1.10 - 15.50
Shear walls 230.00 1.15 - 1 5.00

References

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and doors of a building. MSc. Thesis, Loughborough University of Technology, England.
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University of Technology, England.
Gould, P.R. (1970) The development of a cost model for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning
installation of a building. MSc. Thesis, Loughborough University of Technology, England.
McCaffer, R. (1975) Some examples of the use of regression analysis as an estimating tool. Institute of
Quantity Surveyors Journal, December, 81-6.
Newton, S. (1982) ACE: Analysis of construction economics. Internal Report, University of
Strathclyde, UK.
 Cost estimation of prestressed concrete beam 215

Schofield, D., Raftery, J. and Wilson, A. (1982) An economic model of means of escape provision in
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