https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4860-7357
Abstract
Prefabrication of modular units is a modern construction technique that allows the efficient manufacturing of modules offsite. However, regarding the construction and transportation processes, the most common challenge of modular prefabrication construction is the weight of the modular unit, which leads to additional lifting and transportation costs. Increased costs discourage the use of this modern technique compared with conventional construction. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the satisfaction rates of different lightweight composites through a survey, to develop structural lightweight concrete composites by reducing their weight while maintaining their strength performance, and to implement the concrete mixture in a prefabrication plant. The results indicated that kaolin (KL) concrete and expanded polystyrene foam-steel concrete composites have similar satisfaction rates reported by users. For large-scale implementation, a concrete mixture with a KL replacement level of 100 % coarse aggregate and 50 % fine aggregate resulted in a weight reduction of 26 %, whereas its 28-d compressive strength was 33.5 MPa and its water penetration depth was 2 cm. A structural lightweight concrete composite for a modular prefabricated floor unit was adopted in this study to broaden the adoption of modular prefabrication construction.
Issue Section:
Technical Papers
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