Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
celebrating structural
steelwork excellence
Conceptual design of
structures for seismic loads
Cape Town to host
SEMC 2007 in September
Setswana 39 MONTHS TO FIFA 2010
ON THE COVER
SGE offers a range of cost-effective, quality
solutions to a host of industries. Sourced
from leading international suppliers, the
ISO 9001 compliant range encompasses
A quarter-century of celebrating structural steelwork excellence 4
graders, compactors, forklifts, tractors, and
cranes. Robust and rugged, the machines
are ideally suited to operating in Africa’s OPINION
harsh conditions from construction sites to Designing for safety – civils and crime 3
mining operations ( see page 39)
LEGAL
Reserving ownership 37
IN BRIEF 38
Arup appointed as independent certifier on Gautrain
project Woman on the mine Vuk’uphile
learnership project SGE partners with Chinese
group Special cladding for Cradle of Humankind
Published by SAICE/SAISI
Block 19, Thornhill Office Park, project New GMBA move to secure funds for
Bekker Street, Vorna Valley, Midrand
Private Bag X200, Halfway House, 1685 training Conjet assists in reskinning concrete arch
STRUCTURAL
Tel 011-805-5947/48, Fax 011-805-5971
http://www.civils.org.za bridge Bridge-tunnel to South Korean holiday
civilinfo@saice.org.za
island World’s biggest wind turbine generates new
Editor
ENGINEERING
Sarie Moolman developments in large-shaft bearing technology
smoolman@netactive.co.za
Tel 012-804-2754, Cell 082-376-2652
Editorial Panel
Elsabé Kearsley (chair), Irvin Luker (vice-chair), Sam LOOKING BACK IN SETSWANA 45
Amod (president), Wally Burdzik, Johan de Koker,
Huibrecht Kop, Jeffrey Mahachi, Jones Moloisane, Eben Conceptual design of structures
Rust, Marco van Dijk, Michelle Theron, Sarie Moolman
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
for seismic loads 12
(editor), Barbara Spence (advertising), Verelene de Koker
(secretariat), Dawie Botha (executive director)
dbotha@saice.org.za Past Masters 9 and 10: George Pilkington
and Charles Davidson Bell 46
A dream come true 18
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A magic cube 24
SA
AS IO
S O C I AT
OPINION
A quarter-century of
celebrating structural
The South African Institute of Steel Construction’s 25th Steel Awards ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS
The Clothing Design and Distribution
competition drew an exceptionally good quality group of entries, Centre in Durban was the winner in the
section Architecture for Buildings for
leaving the team of judges with the unenviable task of separating the Industrial Clients.
What categorised this industrial green-
exceptional projects from those just ‘very good’ projects. fields project was the use of simple, mun-
dane, ordinary structural and non-struc-
In recognising excellence in the use of structural steelwork, awards tural steel elements to elevate the structure
to the extraordinary, converting what could
were made in various categories, two for architecture (one for have been a simple warehouse into a brand
image but, more importantly, into a place of
industrial type buildings and one for commercial (hotel in this joy within which work activities occur.
In their attention to detail and skill
case) type buildings), one for engineering type structures, one for in the use of materials without adding
unnecessary structure or decoration, the
innovation, one for recycling of old structures, one for tubular steel designers have successfully linked fashion
and form. The cladding of the building has
construction and, of course, an overall winner been cut away to expose, highlight and
elevate the structure to a new aesthetic
importance. Standard materials commonly
used for buildings of this type are juxta-
posed in unusual combinations of texture
and structure.
The use of hot-rolled sections, tubes,
angles, paint colours, expanded metal
for standard elements, pre-coated metal
cladding and flashings – some of it run
horizontally in the façades – and careful
attention to detail make the end product
special.
The second architectural award was for
additions to an existing structure, not just
any existing structure, but a building well
over 200 years old. The carefully consid-
ered use of steel to renovate and add sub-
stantially to the Residence of Lady Anne
and Andrew Barnard, which was origi-
nally constructed in 1799, demonstrates the
unique possibilities for steel construction in
heritage conservation.
Using clues from the old buildings, Entries were received for all sorts of heavy industrial projects in the
the classically proportioned additions have,
evolved from masonry buildings mining, petrochemical and materials handling fields. This type of work
to the use of steel as the primary
aesthetic, even as the sensitivity of the is very often the reason for existence for many of the specialist structural
additions became more crucial.
The indoor gymnasium, indoor pool steel contractors
and poolside café, whose glazing in a
steel frame, supporting a light-weight Japanese minimalist look. Similar attention all sorts of heavy industrial projects in the
concrete roof, is constructed in a manner to ‘hidden details’ is used for rainwater mining, petrochemical and materials han-
reminiscent of garden conservatories and down pipes in the steel columns. dling fields. This type of work is very often
orangeries. With remarkable restraint and This subtlety has been extended to the the reason for existence for many of the
the complete and refined control of archi- Porte Cochère, where the old and the new specialist structural steel contractors. The
tectural and structural detail, a minimalism have been married, the sophistication of a exceptional project, calling for engineering
has been achieved, which has resulted in modern glass-lad structure with the classic skills of an extremely demanding nature,
an extraordinary subtle form and scale and historical old Cape structure, windows and was for a series of ship-to-shore container-
extremely elegant and entirely appropriate gable ends are only metres away. handling cranes built in Durban docks.
addition to the hotel. Shallow roof con- These monster cranes are the so-called ‘Post
struction has been hidden within the depth ENGINEERING TYPE PROJECTS Panamax’ capacity that can handle con-
of the edge beams leading to an almost In this category, entries were received for tainers up to 50 m away from the quay edge.
Conceptual design of
structures for seismic
Although South Africa is not consid- these events are far from being as serious Figure 1 Prevent ‘soft storeys’ at ground level
ered a region of high seismic activity, there as those caused by the larger earthquakes,
are nevertheless identified regions within extensive damage has occurred in one or
the country where structures need to be de- two cases.2 The largest event recorded to
signed for earthquake action. The challenge date in South Africa was the main shock of
is not to provide overly conservative and the Ceres earthquake of 29 September 1969,
expensive facilities, but economical and safe which registered a magnitude of 6,3 on the
structures. Richter Scale.
The correct conceptual layout and atten- Table 1 gives a summary of the most
tion to detail can significantly enhance the significant events recorded over the last 300
behaviour of structures in zones of moderate to 359 years.3
seismic activity. This article gives informa- In view of the magnitude of events
tion and practical guidelines on conceptual shown in table 1, it may be of interest to
layout for structures in seismic regions. note that an earthquake measuring 6,1 on
the Richter Scale shook western Iran on
EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT STRUCTURES IN 31 March 2006, killing at least 70 people
SOUTH AFRICA and devastating several villages. More than
Background on seismicity in South Africa 1 200 people were injured. On 27 May design for earthquake action is the expected
The southern African region is known for 2006, an earthquake measuring 5,9 on the nominal peak ground acceleration with
its relative seismic stability, and only a small Richter Scale struck Indonesia’s island of a probability of exceedance of 10% in 50
number of medium-intensity earthquakes Java. On 8 June 2006 the death toll stood years. An updated seismic map for South
have occurred since the 17th century. On at 57. The effects of these events should, Africa was published in 2003 by the South
the other hand, between 40 and 60 tremors however, be considered in the light of the African Council for Geoscience.4 The pub-
occur monthly, focused primarily in the type of construction in the region of the lished map shows values of nominal peak
gold-mining areas of Gauteng, North West earthquake. ground acceleration with magnitudes as
and the Free State. Although the effects of Internationally the basis of structural high as 0,20 g in some areas.
The seismic-event catalogue used to
compile this map for South Africa is based
It can be shown that appropriate detailing of structures and on many different sources, covering a pe-
riod of time from 1620 to December 2000.
correct conceptual layouts will go a long way towards The catalogue consists of natural, as well
as mining-induced seismicity.5 To provide
providing safe seismic-resistant structures in areas of a perspective on the magnitude of these
values, it may be of interest to note that the
moderate seismicity corresponding design value is 0,40 g for
areas of high seismicity in regions such as
California and Japan.
Table 1 Summary of historic record of seismic events in South Africa (Council for Geoscience, 2006) It is important, however, to recognise
that some parts of South Africa can at most
Location Date Magnitude (Richter) Effects be considered to be located in regions of
Ceres 1969 6,3 12 killed moderate seismicity (and not high seis-
micity). Care must be taken not to over-
St Lucia 1932 6,0–6,5 Serious damage react by providing conservatively resistant
Welkom 1976 5,2 Building collapsed and expensive buildings. The challenge is to
base the design of structures on appropriate
Stilfontein 2005 5,0 Damage to buildings estimates of expected seismicity, and to pro-
Figure 2 Prevent ’soft storeys’ at higher levels Figure 3 Provide symmetrically arranged stiffening elements
vide designs which are appropriate for the Design of structures subject to seismic loads needs careful consideration
expected level of activity. It can be shown
that appropriate detailing of structures and already at the conceptual stage. It is during this stage that the structural
correct conceptual layouts will go a long
way towards providing safe seismic-resistant engineer should advise the architect in order to conceptualise a structure to
structures in areas of moderate seismicity.
meet the necessary requirements to resist earthquake loads
Seismic design in South Africa
The current provisions for the design of
structures against earthquake actions Western Cape to report to the SAICE com- understand that sophisticated calculations
were introduced into the South African mittee for the revision of the loading code cannot redeem a flawed structural system’.9
Loading Code for buildings in 1989.6 The SABS 0160,8 a draft of which will soon be Considering the possible magnitude of
code distinguishes between two zones of published for public comment. The sub- seismic events in South Africa, it is impor-
earthquake activity, namely Zone I areas for committee on seismic loads consists of aca- tant to realise that the correct conceptual
those regions with natural seismic activity, demic staff from Stellenbosch University and design of buildings together with correct de-
and Zone II areas for those regions with representatives from consulting engineering tailing of structural elements can go a long
mine-induced seismic activity. firms in the region. The chosen process en- way in providing safe earthquake-resistant
The code requires that conceptual layout sures that designers become involved in the structures in regions of seismic activity
of buildings in both zones follow certain process themselves, thereby creating legiti- in South Africa. For this reason engineers
recommendations, but only Zone I areas mate support for any revisions to the code. should be taught what constitutes an accept-
(natural seismic activity) required seismic able conceptual layout for seismic actions.
design of buildings for a specified nominal SEISMIC DESIGN OF STRUCTURES IN The following paragraphs provide valuable
peak ground acceleration. SOUTH AFRICA information which should, amongst others, be
Following a meeting with designers and In 1999 the Erzincan earthquake in India, used when conceptual layout of buildings is
clients in the Western Cape, a need was with a magnitude 6,8 on the Richter Scale, considered in seismic-active regions.
established in 2003 to re-evaluate the 1989 resulted in more than 500 lives lost and
code7 provisions. 3 200 residences collapsed or heavily dam- Conceptual layout for seismic resistance
In 2004 a sub-committee on seismic aged. In a report of an investigation after the Design of structures subject to seismic loads
loads was subsequently formed in the event, it was advised that ‘[e]ngineers must needs careful consideration already at the
CORRECT INCORRECT
conceptual stage. It is during this stage that phase is therefore required. It must be rec- design of structures. Further to these con-
the structural engineer should advise the ar- ognised that a modus operandi of ‘the one ceptual matters, there are rules on structural
chitect to conceptualise a structure to meet works after the other’ cannot be allowed in detailing (reinforcement in concrete and
the necessary requirements to resist earth- the design of a building located in a seismic- details in structural steelwork) which need
quake loads. It must be remembered that if active region. It is the task of the structural to be adhered to. These details are required
the layout and concept of a structure are not engineer to advise the architect on all as- to provide structures with sufficient ductility
correct, then a large amount of calculations pects of the layout which may improve the to accommodate the imposed deformations.
may not be sufficient to enable earthquake- seismic behaviour. Further information on detailing of struc-
resistant behaviour of a structure. In the figures, some basic guidelines are tural elements to provide sufficient ductility
A close collaboration between architect, presented to demonstrate important layout can be found in international design codes,
engineer and client during the conceptual considerations when it comes to the seismic and are also included in the Draft SANS
10160,10 which will be issued for public columns with no or limited shear walls, Provision and layout of stiffening elements
comment later in 2007. thereby forming a so-called ‘soft storey’ In regions with moderate seismicity, two
The figures and information were underneath stiffer upper storeys. Typical shear walls in each direction are often ad-
obtained from Tracés.11 These are also con- examples are parking areas underneath equate. Such walls should extend to the top
tained in a publication by Professor Hugo apartment blocks and shopping areas of the building. The shear walls should be
Bachmann12 which can be downloaded from under office blocks. This type of arrange- located symmetrically and preferably at the
the Internet. ment easily leads to the collapse of the extremities of the building in order to re-
‘soft storey’, even under moderate earth- duce and prevent torsional effects (figure 3).
Provision of soft storeys quakes (figures 1 and 2). Ideally, struc- L-shaped and U-shaped shear walls are not
Structures in South Africa are often con- tural systems should be continuous from favourable as they are not easily designed
structed on a bottom storey consisting of the foundations to the top of the building. with sufficient ductility. Rectangular sec-
HIGH BENDING
MOMENT
GRADIENT
M+
M-
FAILURE BY
SHEAR
tions, on the other hand, are easily provided seismic forces. However, masonry construc- An oversight in seismic design is often
with adequate ductility. tion is brittle and does not allow much secondary elements such as façade panels.
If stiffening elements which provide dissipation of energy. Ideally, masonry struc- Façade elements and their fixities must be
resistance to lateral loads are not arranged tures should be reinforced with steel rein- designed for horizontal accelerations.
symmetrically, then torsional modes develop forcement. This is, however, not a preferred
(figure 4) which can place high stresses on construction method in South Africa, and CONCLUSION
stiffening elements, and can also result in where necessary it is necessary to stabilise Correct conceptual layouts and attention
unwanted high lateral displacements on col- non-reinforced masonry construction with to structural detailing can go a long way in
umns, resulting in high eccentric moments reinforced concrete shear walls (figure 7). constructing earthquake-resistant struc-
in columns. The shear walls should be dimensioned tures.
with sufficient rigidity, and must be able to
Damage by masonry infill panels resist the seismic forces by staying elastic Notes
Reinforced concrete frames are flexible and without plastifying the reinforcement. The 1 T his article is an extract from a paper by the au-
relatively ductile, whilst masonry panels are horizontal displacement of the structure thor presented at the Steel 50 Conference held
rigid and brittle. During an earthquake, the must not exceed the possible displacement on 8 and 9 November 2006 at the Sandton
stiff members will carry the loads. If suf- of masonry walls. Convention Centre, titled ‘Steel construction
ficient movement is not allowed between the and seismic provisions for the proposed SANS
structural frame and masonry infill panels, Shear in columns 10160 Loading Code’.
then the masonry panel will act as a stiff dia- Special attention must be paid when a 2 R V Milford and D J W Wium, The impact of
phragm which can cause high shear forces building structure has some columns shorter seismic events on buildings in mining areas, The
acting on columns. Column shear capacity than others, as these columns will be sub- Civil Engineer in South Africa, December 1991.
needs to be verified as well as masonry jected to higher bending moments and shear 3 Council for Geoscience, Pretoria, March 2006,
panels which need to be verified for local forces than the other columns. Short col- http://www.geoscience.org.za/seismo/.
damage and lateral instability (figures 5 and umns attract high moments because of their 4 A Kijko, G Graham, B Bejaichund, D L Roblin
6). Ideally, masonry infill panels should be high rigidity, as well as high transverse shear and M B C Brandt, Probabilistic peak ground
isolated from the structural frame, and walls forces (figure 8). acceleration and spectral seismic hazard maps
should be stabilised against out of plane Furthermore, partial infill of frames for South Africa, Report 2003-0053, Council for
failure. with rigid building elements (masonry), for Geoscience, Pretoria, 2003.
Results from an initial investigation at example when windows are built in-between 5 Ibid.
the University of Stellenbosch indicated columns, can create shear failure or high 6 SABS 0160, 1989 (rev 1993), Code of practice
that lateral movement of structures with bending in columns (figure 9). Infill material for: The general procedures and loadings to be
reinforced concrete shear walls are relatively should only be used partially (and fully) if adopted in the design of buildings, South African
small, and the usual 10 mm gaps between sufficient allowance is made for lateral move- National Standards, Pretoria.
structural frame and infill masonry panels ment by provision of suitable joints. 7 Ibid.
may be sufficient to isolate the masonry in The ability of the structural frame to 8 Ibid
most cases. However, larger gaps will be deform must take into account the type of 9 Earthquake HazardCentre Newsletter, 3(1):4,
necessary in structural frames designed as infill material used for non-structural panels July 1999. Wellington, New Zealand.
moment-resisting frames where columns if no joints are provided (figure 9). Even 10 Draft SANS 10160, Section 11 Seismic loads,
and beams are designed to resist lateral small earthquakes can cause significant South African Institution of Civil Engineering
loads. In such a case, it is important that damage if the structural frame deforms more Loading Code Committee, Johannesburg,
lateral drift be calculated and isolation joints than what brittle panels can accommodate. 2006.
be provided with adequate movement capa- The size of panel should be dictated by the 11 Tracés, Journal of the SIA, 128th year, 20 March
bility. relationship between storey displacement 2002, pp 18–28, Swiss Society for Engineers
and storey height. and Architects, Zurich.
Load-bearing masonry structures 12 Hugo Bachmann, Seismic conceptual design of
Buildings of masonry construction are Other conceptual layout considerations buildings – basic principles for engineers, archi-
relatively stiff and have a high first natural Pre-cast floor slab panels are often used tects, building owners, and authorities, Swiss
frequency (low period), so that their lowest in South Africa on load-bearing masonry. Federal Office for Water and Geology and Swiss
modes of vibration are located in the high Designers must pay attention to supports of Agency for Development and Cooperation
region of the design response spectra. these prefabricated elements to prevent it (downloadable as a pdf file at
Masonry structures are thus subject to high sliding from supports. www.bwg.admin.ch), Biel, 2003.
GEOLOGY OF THE
marine and terrestrial sediments are represented, opened up and thus lowered the river’s base level
including fossilised sand dunes from an extinct from that of large inland lakes to sea level.
GRAND CANYON
desert. Wetter climates brought upon by ice ages
Uplift of the region started about 75 million starting 2 million years ago greatly increased ex-
years ago in the Laramide orogeny, a moun- cavation of the Grand Canyon, which was nearly
The geology of the Grand Canyon area ex- tain-building event that is largely responsible as deep as it is now by 1,2 million years ago.
poses one of the most complete sequences of for creating the Rocky Mountains to the east. Also about 2 million years ago volcanic activity
rock anywhere, representing a period of nearly Accelerated uplift started 17 million years ago started to deposit ash and lava over the area. At
2 billion years of the earth’s history in that part when the Colorado Plateaus (on which the area least 13 large lava flows dammed the Colorado
of North America. The major sedimentary rock is located) were being formed. In total these River, forming huge lakes that were up to 600 m
layers exposed in the Grand Canyon and in the layers were uplifted an estimated 3 000 m, which deep and 160 km long. The nearly 40 identified
Grand Canyon National Park area range in age enabled the ancestral Colorado River to cut its rock layers and 14 major unconformities (gaps in
from 200 million to nearly 2 billion years old. channel into the four plateaus that constitute this the geologic record) of the Grand Canyon form
Most were deposited in warm, shallow seas area. But the canyon did not start to form until one of the most studied sequences of rock in the
and near ancient, long-gone sea shores. Both 5,3 million years ago when the Gulf of California world.
KEY PLAYERS
Skywalk at Grand Canyon West 1 219 m
Owner Hualapai Nation
General Contractor APCO Construction
Empire State Building 881 m
Architect M R J Architects
Petronas Towers 452 m
A magic cube
The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, sors at Dublin’s Trinity College) proposed
also known as the ‘Water Cube’, will be one solution to the problem of ‘What shape
of the most dramatic and exciting venues would soap bubbles in a continuous array of
to feature sporting feats for the Beijing soap bubbles be’.
Olympics in 2008. This problem was both initially posed
Enclosed within the blue bubble walls and tentatively answered by Lord Kelvin at
are the pools for the Olympic swimming the end of the 19th century, but it would be
and diving competitions, along with seating one hundred years before the Irish profes-
and facilities for 17 000 spectators. sors proposed a better one.
It has five pools, including one with a Arup structural engineers realised that
wave machine and rides that are six times a structure based on this unique geometry give this effect when cut by the building
the size of an Olympic pool. There is also an would be highly repetitive and buildable surface planes.
organically shaped restaurant area carved whilst appearing very organic and random. The square shape of the complex reflects
out of the bubble structure. Indeed, such space filling patterns are the Chinese philosophies of the square
Designed specifically for the 2008 regularly observed in biological cells and representing Earth, and circles representing
Olympics in Beijing, after the event it will mineral crystals and they are probably the the heaven. The resulting structure is a very
continue as one of Beijing’s premier recrea- most common structure in nature. simple regular building form, but with very
tion centres. Though seemingly fragile, in fact the complex geometry in the façade which cre-
The US $100 million dollar project sits structure is very robust and the ductile ates a transfixing and beautiful effect.
next to the glowing bird’s nest of the spec- space frame that is generated from this
tacular main stadium designed by Herzog geometry is ideally suited to the seismic GIANT GREENHOUSE
& de Meuron – the two opposing shapes conditions found in Beijing. Beijing has an extreme climate. It can swing
sitting together in yin yang harmony. from –13 °C in winter to around 36 °C in
THE STRUCTURE summer.
THEORY BEHIND THE WATER CUBE The Water Cube is essentially a structure The Water Cube is designed to act as
The structure was inspired by cells and soap made from an organic network of steel a greenhouse. This allows high levels of
bubbles. The skin of the swimming centre, tubular members and clad with translucent natural daylight into the building and, as
which covers both the inside and outside of ETFE pillows. The huge complex measures swimming pools are predominantly heating
the structure, is clad with over 100 000 m2 177 x 177 x 31 m. driven, allows the scheme to harness the
of ETFE foil cushions – making it the largest The cube is composed of a series of steel power of the sun to passively heat the
ETFE-clad structure in the world. tubes welded to round steel nodes, which building and pool water. It is estimated that
ETFE (ethyl tetra fluoro ethylene – a vary according to the loads placed upon this sustainable concept has the power to
strain of fluoro polymer) is a tough recy- them. There is therefore a huge variety in reduce the energy consumption of the lei-
clable material with a durability of more sizes, with around 22 000 steel members sure pool hall by 30%.
than 20 years. It weighs just 1% of an and 12 000 nodes in total. If all the steel Swimming centres require a lot of
equivalent-sized glass panel. This plastic members were lined up in a row the line heating, but by cladding the building in
material is strong, lets in more UV light would travel for more than 90 km! high-tech ETFE cushions, it is a very ef-
than glass, and thoroughly cleans itself with The two internal compartments and the ficient greenhouse. Twenty per cent of
every rain shower. It is also a better insulator roof structure are designed around a steel the solar energy falling on the building is
than glass and is much more resistant to the space frame never previously used for an trapped within the building and is used to
weathering effects of sunlight. architectural or engineering construction. heat the pools and the interior area. This
The design of the structure is based on a Four thousand bubbles make up the is equivalent to covering the entire roof in
common natural pattern, the most effective Water Cube, some as large as 7,5 m wide. photovoltaic panels.
sub-division of three-dimensional space The roof comprises seven bubbles and By cladding the building in ETFE
– the fundamental arrangement of organic the walls 16 bubbles, which are repeated cushions, the centre will be well lit during
cells and the natural formation of soap bub- throughout. The key to the randomness the day, with appropriate levels of internal
bles. Arup based the structural design on of the façade is that the repeating cells are daylight, visual connection and visual com-
Weaire and Phelan’s (Irish physics profes- made up of two different size cells, which fort. Up to 55% savings on lighting energy
Cultivating a
marketing mindset
Around the world representative their businesses they have do more than capture the essence of what structural
firms of the structural steel industry are convince steel fabricators to purchase ma- steel brings to the marketplace. Instead
recognised for the expertise they bring to terial from their warehouse as opposed to we agreed on a simple statement – ‘There’s
building projects. Yet, structural steel pro- their competitors, but to market upstream always a solution in steel.’ What does this
ducers (mills), warehouses (steel service and increase the demand for structural mean? Simply put … for whatever chal-
centres), detailers, fabricators (steelwork steel. Fabricators must begin to realise lenge being faced on a project with respect
contractors) and erectors are notoriously that good marketing is not being asked to the structural framing system – struc-
shy when it comes to promoting their to submit a competitive bid on a fully tural steel can and has addressed that
industry and marketing the services they designed project or respond positively to a challenge. We believe this … our member
provide. All too often the competition is request for participation in a design-build mills, service centres and fabricators be-
seen more as similar companies providing project, but to communicate the value that lieve this … and if you are going to grow
the same services than competing struc- a structural steel solution can bring to a the structural steel market in your locale,
tural materials. project while it is in the conceptual design you need to believe it as well.
Within the industry we speak of phase. But belief is only as good as the facts
ourselves as ‘sales’ organisations and To many individuals in the structural that it is based on. Believing that ‘there’s
marketing is viewed as something that steel industry the term ‘marketing’ is remi- always a solution in steel’ is not blind
someone else does. The end result is that niscent of a trip to the local dentist. But faith, it is personally coming to grips
we compete for projects designed in steel, the cultivation of a marketing mindset and with the reality of the value of structural
rather than influencing projects to be the influencing of critical decision-makers steel in the construction marketplace. It
designed in steel. Yet, every individual can be not only painless, but an enjoyable is answering the question ‘Why is there
involved in the structural steel industry aspect of the everyday activities of every always a solution in steel?’ The answer to
can become a positive force impacting the organisation at any point along the struc- that question is four fold. As an industry
there is always a solution in steel because
of our material, our expertise, our ability
Believing that ‘there’s always a solution in steel’ is not blind faith, it is to deliver projects and our attitude.
So what about out material? Have you
personally coming to grips with the reality of the value of structural steel in thought about structural steel the mate-
rial recently? Have you ever sat down and
the construction marketplace listed out the benefits that structural steel
brings to a project?
Perhaps the best way to recognise the
design and construction marketplace and tural steel supply chain. benefits that structural steel brings to a
increasing the demand for structural steel. What does the staff of a typical fabri- project is to simply ask the question, ‘If I
The key is not to hire more marketing cator, mill or service centre believe about could develop a material that would best
professionals, but to make marketing part structural steel construction? In the US, satisfy the requirements for building con-
of the organisational culture of every seg- the tagline of AISC (the American Institute struction, what would it be like?’
ment of the structural steel supply chain. of Steel Construction) has recently been The answer would be that it would:
Mill producers need to recognise that their debated. What simple, memorable message ■ Be the benchmark against which all
ultimate customer is not the warehouse do we want to send to the marketplace? other materials are compared
or structural steel fabricator that they sell Are we the lowest cost material? The ■ Be strong in both compression and ten-
mill material to, but the decision-makers fastest material for construction? The most sion
in the design-construction process who flexible material? The material easiest to ■ Be sustainable in every sense of the
influence the selection of a framing system design with? The highest quality mate- word
for a building. Warehouses need to see rial? These are all true in most situations, ■ Be shop-fabricated for enhanced produc-
that to positively impact the growth of but none of those statements seemed to tivity and high tolerances
Reserving ownership
It is increasingly important to ensure faced another claim in respect of which The liquidators further argued that there
that building contract entered into provides the items supplied by the contractor from was no mechanism whereby it could be
sufficient protection for the interests of a third party. This claim came about as a determined which portion of the contract
the parties to avoid financial losses. One result of a general notarial bond that had price pertained to which movable asset and
example that has become an all too familial been registered over the movable assets of consequently which items the employer
scenario in the construction and engineering the employer. Should it be found that the had paid for. The court also rejected this
industry is the insolvency of an employer ownership of the items supplied by the argument and relied on clause 31.4 of the
before payment is made after a contractor contractor had passed onto the employer, it JBCC agreement where it provides that a
has supplied a product. would effectively mean that the third party reasonable estimate of the value of the work
In the judgment of A D Pellow NO & became entitled thereto in terms of the gen- executed and value of materials and goods
S Williams NO vs Club Refrigeration CC the eral notarial bond. be separately specified in an interim pay-
Supreme Court of Appeal considered the The contractor therefore had to apply ment certificate. Clause 31.7 stipulates the
effect of a clause in a contract aimed at to court for an order declaring it to be the contractor remains the owner of goods until
reserving ownership of movable property owner of the goods in question. paid for while clause 31.9 provides that the
between a building contractor and an em- The liquidators argued that the contrac- employer only becomes the owner once the
ployer that became insolvent prior to the tor’s tender document did not form part of goods are paid for.
works being completed. the agreement. They argued that the JBCC Although the agreement between the
The employer accepted the tender agreement alone governed the contract employer and the contractor was a lump
submitted by Club Refrigeration CC (‘the between the contractor and the employer, sum agreement, the order of the employer
contractor’). It stipulated that the contract referring to clause 1.8 of the JBCC, which specifically required that payments be made
terms would be as per the JBCC Principle stipulated that: in terms of the JBCC agreement and there-
Building Agreement, that the contractor’s fore it was possible to determine the value of
ownership in the supplied equipment would ‘This agreement is the entire contract be- the goods the contractor was not paid for.
be reserved until it was paid for in full. The tween the parties …’ In its judgment, the court recognised
fixed price of the equipment was also speci- that the contractor’s claim was based on
fied in the tender. The court rejected this argument since its ownership of the goods and that it was
The employer was liquidated before the contractor incorporated its tender docu- therefore also entitled to payment of the
the final outstanding amount due to the ment into the JBCC agreement by reference. proceeds of the sale held by the liquidators
contractor was paid. The contractor then The tender document was also attached since the goods never formed part of the
submitted a claim to the liquidators for the as a schedule to the order placed by the employer’s assets in the first place.
movable goods based on its reserved owner- employer, thereby incorporating it into the The court accordingly found in favour of
ship in the goods supplied. The liquidators order. the contractor and dismissed the appeal.
ARUP APPOINTED AS
pendent certifier in South Africa on a PPP project. breakdowns, bottlenecks and processing delays
at goods yards and ports is severely impacting
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIER
growth.’
‘Solving these problems will mean a lot more
ON GAUTRAIN PROJECT
building,’ Geraghty concludes. ‘Something that,
like mining, can only add to our business as the
VUK’UPHILE
groups of local consultants to assist the company before mine inspections.
on the project. These include a QS joint venture, Geraghty began her career in insurance
LEARNERSHIP PROJECT
headed up by David Langdon, with Crane and straight from school, something she would like to
LDM assisting them, an architectural sub-con- see more of these days. ‘A major challenge in the
sultant, ADA and a mechanical and electrical joint underwriting industry in South Africa today is skills
venture between Spoormaker and DTM. development.’ Focus Engineering has recently been ap-
Arup project director for the Gautrain project, ‘While Alexander Forbes is good at producing pointed as mentors for the Department of
Ric Snowden, notes that the Gautrain project is and retaining talent, and certainly exports skills Public Works’ EPWP Vuk’Uphile Learnership
the largest public-private partnership (PPP) project to other sectors, the industry is still not attracting project in the Southern Cape and have since
in the Southern Hemisphere, being an agree- enough youngsters. At the same time it is loosing entered into negotiation for a landmark merger
ment between the concessionaire, Bombela, and the valuable experience of seasoned over-50s, with P D Naidoo & Associates. The company has
Gauteng Province. Effectively there is joint owner- mainly to greener pastures abroad or other impressed with their innovative business thinking
ship of the project whereby Bombela is responsible sectors.’ and their commitment to supporting emerging
for designing, building and operating Gautrain for Geraghty argues that, ‘In the past too much contractors in the marketplace.
15 years. Bombela has two main handover dates: emphasis was placed on graduates. But once a Civil Engineers André Wessels and Gerhard
after 54 months the service from Sandton to O R BCom has been around a few years they want to Vivier started Focus Engineering with the aim of
Tambo must be running and after 66 months the become CAs and move on.’ delivering mentoring and project management
full service between Park Station in Johannesburg Instead Geraghty believes that, like her, services to contractors. ‘We had, through our
and Pretoria must be operational. Arup’s appoint- ‘Getting people straight from school and pro- past experience in business, identified the need to
ment is for the full 66 month development period. viding them with skills directly appropriate to the support contractors in South Africa because they
The role of the IC is an interesting one. As the underwriting industry is more likely to see people lacked the experience to do main contractor’s
name states, the role of IC requires the company stay in the industry. work and therefore had to occupy sub contractor
to be independent; therefore, Arup is not allowed ‘This will also ensure that we control the positions,’ explains André.
to have any other conflicting role in the project. quality of the skills acquired while keeping skills When André and Gerhard combined their
Arup has to certify all the work that is carried out development relevant to industry needs.’ strengths in March 2005, the duo were able to
on the project. Arup’s basic responsibilities, in Skills aside, growing the business remains offer a broad range of consulting engineering,
terms of the IC agreement, includes: certifying a major challenge. ‘With a lot of South African project management and construction manage-
milestones, high-level monitoring of construction miners going global Alexander Forbes often loses ment development services, aiding their quest to
and review of designs, certifying that operating business to big global operators. Competition establish a one-stop consultancy practice. With the
commencement dates for phases one and two with major global underwriters, however, presents Vuk’Uphile Expanded Public Works Programme
have been achieved, and issuing a certificate on as many opportunities as challenges in that (EPWP), the team could apply their full spectrum
final completion. Alexander Forbes gains ever-wider global exposure of services. ‘This initiative will help to transfer and
Of these, one of Arup’s responsibilities is cer- and experience.’ also sustain vital skills in order to create a qualified
tifying milestones. Snowden explains that once a More recently Department of Minerals and pool of contractors,’ says André.
month, Bombela submits a statement in which the Energy (DME) legislation has limited foreign The programme addresses the shortage
company claims the milestones that they believe investment in the mining industry in South Africa. of work opportunities and qualified contrac-
are complete and due for payment. Payment to In response investors are increasingly looking tors by identifying candidates throughout the
Bombela is based on more than 1 000 milestones north for more investment friendly environments country who will undergo a thirty month training
over the duration of the contract. A typical ex- as ‘Africa sees a proliferation of exciting new ven- programme. The role of Focus Engineering in the
ample of a milestone could be that the company tures’. Southern Cape is to support 12 of the learner con-
has placed the order for railway tracks. Once they ‘The growing presence of global mining tractors throughout their thirty month course by
believe this milestone is reached, Bombela will players in Africa makes for an interesting market. performing the function of mentor.
submit the relevant documentation to the IC. Arup The establishment of Afrinet in Africa, working But what does the future hold for Focus
is responsible for going through the milestones through local consortiums, but sourcing un- Engineering once the merger with P D Naidoo &
that are put forward for approval and interrogating derwriting expertise through Alexander Forbes Associates has been concluded? ‘Besides forming
them by looking at the criteria for achievement in in South Africa, has enabled us to service these one company and sitting on the board of directors
SPECIAL CLADDING
Alistair Morgan, of Swart Tromp & face at an angle of 70 degrees to horizontal. The
Associates, decided that the 45 degrees slope be angled front face and the BioMac facilitate the
FOR CRADLE OF
specified with reinforcement lengths of 1,5 m. As establishment of natural vegetation of the Green
these were not standard Green Terramesh sizes, Terramesh cladding.
HUMANKIND PROJECT
Maccaferri had to manufacture special products Schäffner says Green Terramesh was selected
to meet the new specifications. for the Tumulus Building cladding because of the
‘The empty Green Terramesh units were product’s versatility, ease of construction, and
Maccaferri’s Green Terramesh, the envi- placed in position and laced together to form a the technical support provided by Maccaferri.
ronmentally friendly soil reinforcement system, continuously connected, monolithic structural
was especially adapted to serve as the cladding of unit. A top soil layer of about 300 mm was Adriano Gilli
the striking Tumulus Building at Maropeng, the placed directly behind the front face of the soil Maccaferri
Cradle of Humankind. reinforcement units to allow for the establish- Durban
Martin Schäffner, of the Johannesburg ment of vegetation. The units were then back- T 031-700-8456
branch of Maccaferri, says: ‘Our company was filled with a 4% cement-stabilised structural fill
approached by Swart Tromp & Associates, con- to the engineers’ specifications.
BRIDGE-TUNNEL
face to a depth of 40 mm to 50 mm, depending duce driving time to just under an hour, fostering
on the scarified surface irregularity and levelled by the development of a thriving year round tourism
TO SOUTH KOREAN
hand trowelling. Hydrodemolition has produced a industry and allowing the region’s aquacultural-
very rough scarified surface to give a good bond ists to transport their produce cost effectively by
HOLIDAY ISLAND
for the new sprayed concrete, which after levelling road to mainland markets.
is covered with a 1 mm thick polymer paint ap- Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co
plied with a roller. Ltd (Daewoo E&C) has been tasked with over-
The faces on the remaining top section of the An 8,2 km combined bridge and immersed- coming the twin challenges of an unforgiving
arch are also pressure washed at 800 bar and tunnel motorway is set to cut the journey environment and demanding technical specifi-
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
one of South Korea’s leading construction com- Germany at the coastal city of Brunsbuttel and
panies and has successfully completed a diverse came on stream in February 2005 as a pilot
IN LARGE-SHAFT
array of projects, ranging from liquid natural gas project to evaluate the total turbine design.
terminals, harbours and dams to commercial That’s because the designers of the 5M believe
BEARING TECHNOLOGY
buildings, highways and bridges both in South that wind at sea is a much better source of power
Korea and around the world. than wind on land. They believe that you can
The challenges associated with such a project get double the electricity from the wind at sea
are immense. But the most important by far has Designing a bearing system for a giant wind compared to land because wind speed at sea is
been ensuring that the immersed tunnel’s joints turbine with an unusual rotor shaft lead to the slightly higher and the wind frequency is much
are watertight. biggest ever CARB® toroidal roller bearing, new higher. Consequently the Brunsbuttel installation
The tunnel, comprising 18 prefabricated bearing assembly techniques and a new method is only a ‘dry run’ in preparation for the series
concrete elements with each element consisting of axial fixation for large bearings. installation of 5M turbines out at sea.
of eight segments measuring 22,5 m in length, All wind turbines are large but the Repower The first proposed site is 25 km from the
is positioned in a dredged trench at a depth of 5M wind turbine is huge. Scottish coast in 44 m of water. The site is part of
50 m and then covered. To get the job done, Manufactured by Repower Systems AG the Talisman DOWNVIND project supported by
Daewoo E&C invited Trelleborg Bakker to supply from Hamburg, the 5M stands 120 m above the the European Union.
Omega seals and injectable waterstops, one of ground and produces 5 MW of electrical power.
the biggest assignments in the history of the With its three-bladed 126 m diameter blade span, Minett Media
company. the 5M is the largest and one of the most efficient www.skf.com
Although Trelleborg’s injectable waterstop
makes the seals between concrete segments wa-
tertight, by forcing injection fluid through pipes
placed every 4 m, the rubber sponge at the ends
of the seals are compressed, creating a channel
filled by injection fluid that seals fissures or gravel
spots, thereby ensuring impermeability. As the
tunnel is in a seismic zone some of the injectable
waterstops are also secured using a secondary
Omega seal.
The project completion date is 2010.
Minett Media
Text and photo: John Scott-Marchant
Early days same village. I completed matric at Kgomotso for a national diploma in civil engineering at
I was born and bred in the rural village of High School in Pampierstad in 1989. the Peninsula Technikon, and later on a mas-
Thotayatau (Taung), North West Province, the ter’s degree at the Institute for Infrastructure,
fourth of five children in the family. I grew up in an Academic training Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering in
environment rich with indigenous knowledge, but My interest in engineering started in Standard the Netherlands, specialising in water resources
with limited possibilities for economic development. 9, when I became exposed to career exhibitions management.
I began my primary schooling at and learned how many opportunities exist. After I draw my inspiration from engineers who are
Retshegeditse Primary School in Losasnang, and a few applications, I received a bursary from the passionate about their profession and teachers
then moved to Batlanang Middle School, in the Department of Water Affairs towards studying who take their pupils beyond the classroom.
ture to his design. were split and Bell was promoted to the the Grand Parade. The town of Bellville,
In the mid 1850s negotiations began former. He proved to be an energetic and which grew up around the station serving
in earnest for the first railway line in the competent officer who set the standards Durbanville, was named in his honour.
colony and a proper harbour for Cape for the meticulous work carried out by his Bell also made an independent survey
Town. No doubt the Colonial Engineer department from then onwards. to check the viability of Andrew Bain’s
had a role to play in these discussions, and His main contribution to civil engi- proposed Bain’s Kloof location. In the wake
despite his advancing years, Pilkington neering derives from the fact that when of the copper boom of 1854, he spent an
did the first flying survey of the route for the Colonial Engineer George Pilkington exhausting four months in Namaqualand,
the railway from Cape Town to Wellington (PM 9) died in office in 1858, Bell com- ostensibly settling mining claim disputes,
(which was built shortly after his death). pleted the accurate survey and location of but in fact producing a comprehensive
He was still active in the field at the age the railway from Cape Town to Wellington. report on the geology and the mining and
of 74, and in 1858 he surveyed a route Later, when John Scott Tucker (PM 11) was agricultural potential of the region, and
through Du Toit’s Kloof and provided an relieved of his duties as client engineer for in particular, an appreciation of the land
estimate of £45 000 for its construction the railway, Bell took over and adminis- rights of the indigenous peoples. The report
– but it would be some 80 years before the tered the contract with common-sense and included an initial survey of the route for
project went ahead. a fair mind, without letting the railway the copper railway down the escarpment
But time took its toll, and Pilkington company or the contractor off the hook in to Port Nolloth, which was implemented in
died suddenly at Green Point in July 1858. any way. In the words of a contemporary, 1869 after he had overruled Andrew Bain’s
He and his wife, Charlotte Clara, had five he was the only one in the colony who proposal for a line to Hondeklip Bay.
children, and there are several descendants ‘could lay out railway curves, build bridges, Apart from his official duties, Bell’s rep-
spread around the country today. raise embankments, bore tunnels, inspect utation as a water colourist and cartoonist
Pilkington has a marble plaque erected locomotives’ – and, in a word, save the con- flourished, and he is perhaps the best
in his memory in St George’s Cathedral, tract. (Michell must have been an excellent regarded of the several competent amateur
Cape Town. mentor!) In the process he made a decision artists – including some early engineers
which has had an enormous influence on – who worked at the Cape. Many of his
Graham Ross the shape of Cape Town – he moved the scenes of Cape life, landscapes and charac-
ters are preserved in premier South African
Past Master 10 collections, and are an important contribu-
Charles Davidson Bell tion to South African history. He designed
Bell was born in Scotland in 1813 and as a the famous Cape triangular postage stamps
16 year old emigrated to the Cape, where which are nowadays prized by philatelists.
his uncle, Sir John Bell, was the Colonial He was a founder member and third
Secretary. He was energetic, blessed chairman of the board of Old Mutual and
with an enquiring mind and possessed a designed the ‘crossed anchors’ motif which
prodigious artistic talent, and he was soon was used until recently and, in modified
accepted into Cape society. In 1834 he was form, is still the basis of the company logo.
a member of Sir Andrew Smith’s scientific The well-known badge of the South African
expedition which ventured north beyond College (now UCT) is also his work.
the Tropic of Capricorn, and he returned to Bell retired in 1872 and returned to
Cape Town over a year later with a splendid Scotland, where he died in 1882, in Crail.
record of the trip in the form of some three Like many of his countrymen, he made an
hundred sketches and paintings of life in enormous impression on his adopted land.
hitherto unexplored Africa. The full story of his achievements is re-
He joined the Surveyor-General’s de- corded in a splendid book, The life and work
partment as a clerk and was taught land of Charles Bell, by Phillida Brooke-Symons,
surveying by Charles Michell (PM 2). which was published by the Fernwood
Very soon he became his chief assistant, Press in 1998.
spending extended periods in the field sur- Charles Davidson Bell
veying the troublesome Eastern Frontier. Tony Murray
After Michell retired in 1848, the posts of site of the proposed railway station one
Surveyor-General and Colonial Engineer block closer to the sea, thereby saving
Three score
years for Dawie!
SAICE Executive Director Dawie Botha turned 60 on
1 February. Friends and colleagues joined the family for a
birthday breakfast at SAICE House
Son Jac and Dawie A useful present from the staff at SAICE House Dawie and wife Ria
!
9 May – East London
is
13 June – Gauteng
h
6–8 March 2007 e-Transport conference: CSIR International Convention info@sasits.com
t
Sustainable Public Transport for Centre www.sasits.com & www.e-transport.
e
Soccer World Cup 2010 org
is
12–14 March 2007 Environmental Management for S Ballot sarfuse1@acenet.co.za
r
Roads Pietermaritzburg
ia
12–16 March – Gauteng The Application of the Finite Element Roland Prukl Dawn Hermanus
D
18–22 June – Gauteng Method dhermanus@saice.org.za
9–13 July – Cape Town
23–27 July – Durban
10–14 September – Gauteng
26–28 March 2007 Contract Documentation T Ashford sarfuse1@acenet.co.za
26 April 2007 Water Law of South Africa Hubert Thompson Dawn Hermanus
dhermanus@saice.org.za
14–18 May 2007 CIB World Building Congress: Cape Town International Convention cdejager@saice.org.za
Construction for Development Centre http://www.cib2007.com
23–24 May 2007 Technical Report Writing SAICE House, Sharon Mugeri
Midrand Cpd.sharon@saice.org.za
17 & 18 September 2007 – China 5th International Conference ICE Dayle Long
on Current and Future trends in Dayle.long@ice.org.uk
Bridge Design, Construction and
Maintenance
For more information on courses, venues and course outlines please visit http://www.civils.org.za/courses.html