Prefabrication of Structural Elements: A CaseStudy
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Date
1998-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The back-log of housing units in Ethiopia was so immense that all efforts made
by the Government and inhabitants could not wipe out the shortage of housing in the
early 1980s. To promote the building industry and to alleviate the housing shortage
prefabrication technology was introduced. The Prefabricated Building Parts Production
Enterprise (PBPPE), which makes use of IMS precast concrete system (a patent of the
Institute for Testing Materials for prestressed concrete), was established in 1984 with a
technical assistance from the former Yugoslavia. The objectives of the enterprise are
to promote the building industry through mass production of precast concrete
elements, to alleviate the shortage of housing and to reduce the construction cost.
Since its foundation the enterprise has carried out the production of building parts and
the erection of residential and public buildings. The IMS framework of precast concrete
constitutes one of the widely applied industrialized building technology, because it
provides for cost-effective mass production of buildings.
In the research work, a review of the experiences of other countries and a
comprehensive literature survey on prefabrication was conducted. Then, the Ethiopian
experience in the use of precast concrete especially the IMS system was assessed.
The use and development of the IMS precast system were found slow and far below
our expectation. To identify the sole cause that contributed to this effect, a sample
survey was carried out and from the analysis of the survey conclusions were drawn.
After a thorough evaluation of the existing modules, to demonstrate the
flexibility and the possible modification to the existing modules of the IMS system, a
proposal was made for a G+1 dwelling building. Comparative analysis between the
existing and the proposed modules was made and recommendations were forwarded.
The study also considers the application of precast concrete to other special
structures.
Finally, conclusions and recommendations were forwarded to promote the
development of the IMS system. Essentially, great efforts should be done to
disseminate technical information through brochures, manuals, design guidelines and
advertisement to support the industrialization of the building industry in Ethiopia.
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Keywords
Structures