Time:2025-04-07 06:12:44 Source:Sanjian Meichen Steel Structure
Steel structures, with their advantages of high strength, lightweight, rapid construction, and environmental friendliness, have become the mainstream choice for contemporary architecture and infrastructure construction. From skyscrapers to large industrial plants, from bridges to stadiums, the success of steel structure projects is inseparable from a scientific, rigorous, and efficient construction process.
This is more than just a simple component installation; it is a complex system engineering project involving multi-party collaboration, technical integration, and meticulous management. A standardized and strictly enforced construction process is key to ensuring the quality, safety, schedule, and cost control of steel structure projects. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of the complete process of modern steel structure construction, from meticulous preparation in the early stages to factory prefabrication, on-site installation, and precise commissioning and acceptance. It will delve into the technical key points, quality control, and management practices of each link, aiming to provide an authoritative and practical guide for both the industry and beyond.
Detailed preliminary preparation ensures the smooth progress of steel structure projects. This phase involves the coordinated work of multiple parties.
1.1 Project Initiation and Organization:
A project management team is established, and the responsibilities of each party (owner, designer, contractor, and supervisor) are clearly defined.
Overall project objectives, schedule, and budget are established.
1.2 Construction Drawing Detailing:
Based on the preliminary design drawings provided by the design institute, a professional detailed design team (usually a steel structure detailing company or manufacturer) develops detailed construction drawings, component fabrication drawings, and installation drawings. This step is critical to ensuring a seamless transition between factory prefabrication and on-site installation.
BIM (Building Information Modeling) Application: In modern projects, BIM technology is often used in detailed design for 3D modeling, clash detection, and component list management, improving design accuracy and efficiency.
1.3 Construction Organization Design:
Prepare a detailed overall construction organization design and specific construction plans, including:
General construction layout: material storage, processing areas, office areas, temporary roads, etc.
Construction Schedule: Critical path analysis to ensure the continuity of each process.
Labor and machinery deployment plan: tower cranes, mobile cranes, aerial work platforms, etc.
Safety and Civilized Construction Plan: Major hazard identification and control measures.
Quality assurance measures and environmental protection measures.
1.4 Material Procurement and Delivery:
Procurement and inspection (material certification and re-inspection) of key materials such as steel, welding materials, bolts, and anti-corrosion coatings to ensure compliance with design requirements and national standards.
Incoming material acceptance, labeling, categorized stacking, and storage.
1.5 Site Survey and Foundation Preparation:
Conduct a detailed survey of the construction site to verify consistency between the design drawings and the actual situation.
Foundation preparation and concrete foundation construction to ensure the accuracy of foundation elevation, axis, and embedded components (anchor bolts). This is the starting point for steel structure installation; any deviation can lead to subsequent installation difficulties and even structural safety issues.
Factory prefabrication is a key feature that distinguishes steel structure construction from traditional construction, significantly improving production efficiency and component quality.
2.1 Layout and Marking:According to the detailed design drawings, accurately layout steel plates or steel sections, marking out cutting lines, drilling lines, weld lines, etc.
2.2 Cutting:
Precisely cut steel plates and steel sections using CNC cutting machines (such as flame cutting, plasma cutting, and laser cutting).
2.3 Edge Preparation and Assembly:
Bevel the edges of cut components in preparation for welding.
Preliminary assembly of components is performed according to the drawing requirements to ensure that the dimensions and geometry meet the requirements.
2.4 Welding:
Advanced welding processes such as submerged arc welding and gas shielded welding are used to connect components. Welding parameters are strictly controlled, and weld quality testing (non-destructive testing, such as ultrasonic testing and radiographic testing) is performed. 2.5 Drilling:
Precisely drill bolt connection holes to ensure that the hole position, diameter, and spacing meet the requirements.
2.6 Component Assembly and Trial Assembly (if necessary):
For complex or large components, pre-assembly is performed in the factory to verify the fit between components and promptly identify and correct any discrepancies.
2.7 Rust Removal and Anti-corrosion Painting:
The surface of the finished components is rust-removed (sandblasting or shot blasting), followed by an anti-corrosion painting with primer and midcoat according to design requirements. Topcoat is usually applied after on-site installation.
2.8 Component Numbering, Inspection, and Shipping:
Each component is clearly numbered and labeled, undergoes factory inspection, and, upon passing inspection, is packaged and shipped to the construction site.
On-site installation is a core step in steel structure construction, requiring high precision and safety.
3.1 Installation Measurement and Layout:
After the foundation has been inspected and accepted, the steel structure's positioning lines are accurately laid out based on the axis and elevation control points.
3.2 Lifting into Place:
Select appropriate lifting equipment (tower crane, truck crane) and develop a lifting plan. Components are lifted from the transport vehicle according to the installation sequence, accurately aligned, and initially secured to the anchor bolts.
Workers working at height must strictly adhere to safety regulations and wear safety belts.
3.3 Calibration and Securing:
Using measuring tools such as theodolites and levels, the hoisted components are precisely calibrated for verticality, axis position, and elevation.
After calibration, the anchor bolts are tightened and the permanent connection is established (welding or high-strength bolting). High-strength bolt connections must undergo initial, re-tightening, and final tightening according to specifications, and undergo torque or rotational testing. 3.4 Component Connection and
Secondary Component Installation:
After the main steel structure (beams and columns) is connected, purlins, wall beams, braces, floor slabs, etc. are installed.
3.5 Overall Structural Alignment:
The entire steel structure is aligned in stages to ensure overall structural accuracy and stability.
Connections are key to force transmission in steel structures, and their quality directly impacts structural safety.
4.1 Welding Quality Control:
Welders must be certified, and welding process parameters must be strictly controlled.
Preheating and post-weld treatment must be performed to ensure weld quality.
Weld visual inspection and nondestructive testing (UT, RT, MT, PT) must meet the design and specification requirements for both the proportion and standards.
4.2 High-Strength Bolt Connection Quality Control:
Bolt preload, torque, or rotation method control.
Friction coefficient requirements for bolt connection surfaces.
Friction coefficient testing and bolt axial force testing must be performed.
After the main structure has been installed and passed inspection, comprehensive anti-corrosion and fire-retardant treatments are required.
5.1 Surface Treatment:
On-site secondary rust removal and cleaning of unpainted areas or primer damaged during transportation or installation.
5.2 Anti-corrosion Coating:
Apply the intermediate and topcoat coatings according to design requirements and the paint product instructions, ensuring uniform coating thickness, no dripping, and no missing coatings.
5.3 Fire-retardant Coating (As Needed):
For steel structures requiring fire protection, fire-retardant coatings are required to improve the steel structure's fire resistance in the event of a fire. The coating thickness must be precisely controlled and tested.
Strict management throughout the entire construction process is essential for project success.
6.1 Quality Control System:
Establish a comprehensive quality management system and implement a three-tier inspection system (self-inspection by team, professional quality inspection, and random inspection by the project department).
Strictly implement acceptance procedures for inspection batches, sub-projects, and sections.
Installate on-site supervision for key processes.
6.2 Safety Management:
Implement a safety production responsibility system and conduct regular safety inspections and hazard detection.
Special operations such as high-altitude work, lifting, and hot work require work permits and designated personnel for supervision.
Equip sufficient emergency rescue equipment and conduct regular emergency drills.
6.3 Environmental Protection Measures:
Dust control (watering, fencing, etc.) at the construction site.
Noise control (rationally schedule work schedules and use low-noise equipment).
Waste collection and disposal are implemented in a classified manner to minimize environmental impact.
The final stage of project construction is crucial for ensuring that project quality meets design and specification requirements.
7.1 Completion Documentation:
All documents from the construction process, including design changes, construction records, inspection reports, hidden work acceptance records, and material certificates, are organized to create a complete completion file.
7.2 Completion Measurement:
Final measurements are conducted on the completed steel structure to verify that actual dimensions, elevations, verticality, and other aspects are consistent with the design.
7.3 Completion Acceptance:
The owner, along with the design, construction, supervision, and quality control departments, conduct a comprehensive inspection and acceptance of the project in accordance with the design documents, construction contract, and relevant specifications.
7.4 Handover:
After successful project acceptance, the project and completion documents are handed over to the owner, and necessary maintenance recommendations are provided.
Steel structure construction is a complex, interconnected process requiring a high degree of professional expertise. From meticulous planning and design development in the early stages, to efficient and precise prefabrication in the factory, to precise and safe on-site hoisting and connection, and subsequent anti-corrosion and fireproofing treatments and strict quality, safety, and environmental management, every step has a decisive impact on the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the final project.
Only by adhering to standardized processes, employing advanced technologies, strict quality control, and emphasizing teamwork can steel structure projects be transformed from blueprints into reality, ultimately delivering high-quality projects that stand the test of time. Continuous learning and innovation will be the eternal driving force behind the continuous advancement of steel structure construction technology and the modernization and upgrading of the construction industry.
