Structural Review of a Commercial Building near Biyagama Free Trade Zone

     This commercial building was proposed to design with 3 reinforced concrete slabs and structural design has not done earlier. The masons and the client together have planned the construction works and first floor slab was casted. The ground floor part and the first slab soffit was finished and they were about to start a food city type shop in the ground floor area. At that time they have noticed several cracks formed under several beams and they have propagated further.
    In that stage client requested to visit the site and he request a remedial measure advice for the issue. Chartered Engineer Isuru S. Amarasena visited the site and took the measurements of the cracks and observed the nature of the cracks. According to the available information amount and types and lengths of the reinforcement  used were noted down. 
    Then he did a structural analysis using a structural design & modelling software and came to know that the adequate reinforcement has provided to the sections (If only their information is correct). Then he believed that should be an issue with the construction material used or the construction method or quality controlling. However according to the available budget frame, further core tests or any quality checking test were avoided by the client. 
    Then he inquired about the further propagation of cracks and after a duration noticed that the propagation has stopped and cracks are still. So he recommended a repairing the cracks using a special non shrinkage grout. 
Below shown is a image of the structural modal used by the structural engineer for the analysis.

A 2 story House included with an adorable bridge in Awissawella, Sri Lanka.

    This awesome house is constructed in Avissawella, is a township in Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council, situated on the A4 route from Colombo to Ratnapura, Colombo District, Western Province, Sri Lanka, approximately 59 km east of capital Colombo. The awsome architectural design is done by the Chartered Architect: Jagath Jeewantha. Structural design was done by Chartered Structural Engineer, Isuru S. Amarasena. 
     Previously built old house was situated here and it was demolished and the debries were removed from the site initially. In ones side an embankment was there with a height of 6-8 feet. A reinforced concrete wall was proposed for that side with the appropriate waterproofing system. A small basement part was inside the design by utilizing the available ground levels. For that place a Retaining wall was proposed and designed with waterproofing as it was utilized as a room. 
    Although this house is a single unit, it was separated as 2 units and interconnected by an adorable bridge. Bridge was designed as a one-way spanning reinforced concrete slab. The foundations were connected with RC Tie beams on the rubble wall parts. But the client was so significant about the avoiding cross tie beams according  to the astrological advice. So the two foundation units were not interconnected by tie beams. But the slab itself connected the two units. As similar loading were available in the two units, differential settlement was not expected here. If a crack formed, it should have to be repaired after inspecting the termination of the settlements.

    All the foundations were Pad foundations and 4'x4', 3.5'x3.5' and 3'x3' sizes were used in different places. 9"x9" RC columns were used everywhere. Slab thicknesses were 5" except few places. T10 reinforcement bars in 9" spacing were used for the slab reinforcements. 
    This unique design is now about be completed and then it will become an amazing living space.

Shown below is a photo of the architectural modal done by the Architect.

Below shown is a photo of the structural Modal done by the Structural Engineer.

Below shown are the Axial forces on each column of the building taken during the structural design.

Below photo is taken during the construction of the first floor slab.

Columns are lifted as two concrete pours and connected with barraemulsion.

These are few from Structural Drawings.

Retaining wall for basement room with waterproofing.

This is how it looked like, before start constructions. The debris are from the previous house which was demolished just before the construction started.