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Precast concrete is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mould or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into place. In contrast, standard concrete is poured into site-specific forms and cured on site. By producing precast concrete in a controlled environment (typically referred to as a precast plant), the precast concrete is afforded the opportunity to properly cure and be closely monitored by plant employees. The production process for Precast Concrete is performed on ground level, which helps with safety throughout a project. There is a greater control of the quality of materials and workmanship in a precast plant rather than on a construction site. Financially, the forms used in a precast plant may be reused hundreds to thousands of times before they have to be replaced, which allows cost of formwork per unit to be lower than for site-cast production.
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located.
The term is used to distinguish this process from the more conventional construction practice of transporting the basic materials to the construction site where all assembly is carried out.
Mixed systems
b. Pre stressed slab-column system Another type of precast system is a slab-column system that uses horizontal pre stressing in two orthogonal directions to achieve continuity. The precast concrete column elements are 1 to 3 stories high. The reinforced concrete floor slabs fit the clear span between columns. After erecting the slabs and columns of a story, the columns and floor slabs are pre stressed by means of pre stressing tendons that pass through ducts in the columns at the floor level and along the gaps left between adjacent slabs
Advantages - economic use of auxiliary materials (formwork, scaffolding) - several repetition (at least 30 identical casts /mould) -reduced construction time - larger quantity of components is possible at the same time -less skilled labor is required Limitations -size of the units -location of window openings has a limited variety -joint details are predefined
Precast at a plant:
-transportation and elevation capacity limits the size -higher, industrialized quality less affected by weather
Design considerations -final position and loads -transportation requirements self load and position during transportation - storing requirements self load and position during storing (avoid or store in the same position as it transported / built in) - lifting loads distribution of lifting points optimal way of lifting (selection of lifting and rigging tools) - vulnerable points (e.g. edges) reduction of risk (e.g. rounded edges)