April_1971 — Page 17

world

news

Noiseless method of constructing basement walls

A noiseless, vibration-free method for con- structing basement walls has been developed and successfully tested by a Japanese company, Taken- aka Komuten of Osaka.

By this method, known as the TBW process, continuous ferro-concrete walls are built by pour- ing mixed concrete into deep cavities dug by special excavator. Once in position the walls act

The new method does away with sheet-pile driving in framing a basement structure. Tests are said to have shown that it can be applied to any type of ground, regardless of whether it is hard or soft. The machine digs trenches to a maximum depth of 30 metres and requires a minimum space to the nearest building of only 200 mm.

Lightweight construction system

developed in Britain

A new lightweight building system which a Bri- tish company has developed adapts to many func- tions, sizes and shapes, with the exception of rec- tangular. 'Corners' must be rounded with a radius of about 42 ft. (13 m).

The model of the riding school illustrated shows the system after it has been manufactured in

TBW excavator

both as sand stoppers and actual basement walls on which a building is constructed.

The specially built excavator is a multi-purpose machine which uses a rotary cutter to dig rectan- gular holes to precise dimensions. Removed earth and underground water are pumped out for dis- posal by a special suction system incorporated in the machine.

After the digging, the holes are filled with a chemical solution for stabilization of their surfaces before steel reinforcement is placed and concrete poured in. An ultrasonic measuring device is used to attain the required degree of precision in the digging.

Far East BUILDER, April 1971 Page 17

Sunspace system

sections, hoisted on to a temporary form and join- ed to half portals. These are linked together by an eaves beam and post-tensioned stainless steel wires at 3 ft. 3in. (lm) intervals, which in turn support the lightweight roof.

In this example the roof is a self-extinguishing polyvinyl chloride with thermoformed domes to give rigidity and a pleasant appearance. The differ- ent approach to the roof cladding was called for in this structure as the post-tensioning wires passed through the mid-section of the half-portal. It was decided to preserve the aesthetic effect of the structure and use a raised aluminium section incor- porating the rain water channels with PVC domed sheeting fastened to the wire.

The system has been developed by Sunspace Ltd., 15 Berkeley Street, London, W.1, who claim that it is extremely economic on materials and erection plant, and some 20 per cent. cheaper than steel-framed buildings of a comparable size.

Research on wind in pedestrian precincts

Research now being carried out at Britain's Building Research Station is aimed at making new building complexes more comfortable to live in.

Until a decade or so ago very few developments

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