Analysis Of Modular Steel Structure Assembled Into Buildings

        This article discusses modular buildings made from steel structures. There are three main types of modular buildings based on materials: wood, concrete, and steel structures. Here, we focus on steel structures.

      Modular steel buildings are popular worldwide and widely used in many countries, especially for low-rise houses. In Japan, about 70% of low-rise houses built each year are made with steel modules. In Western countries, the development of steel modules for assembled housing started earlier due to factors such as the industrial revolution. As a result, they are already very advanced and mature in technology.

          Currently, in China’s permanent modular construction market, prefabricated concrete structures are popular, but other products like steel structures are gradually gaining popularity. According to Beijing Zhongyan Kexin Consulting, in 2019, the size of China’s permanent modular construction market was around 15.13 billion yuan. Of this, prefabricated concrete structures accounted for approximately 68.44%, with a product scale of 10.355 billion yuan. Meanwhile, the size of steel structures and other products was about 4.775 billion yuan, accounting for approximately 31.56%.

        Steel structure is a type of building structure made mostly of steel. However, defining it can be tricky as there are light and heavy steel structures. For instance, if a crane can lift 25 tons or more for construction, it’s a heavy structure; otherwise, it’s light. Also, if a steel structure uses more than 50kg per square meter, it’s heavy, and the main members are thicker than 10mm. Conversely, light steel structures have thinner members, with conventional steel plate thickness less than 10mm.

No matter where in the world a building needs to be constructed, the core tasks are roughly the same:

        To fully leverage the advantages of modular construction, modular steel structure projects consider the application of off-site prefabrication technology at the conceptual stage. This production process involves the entire lifecycle of modular construction, including design, manufacture, transportation, construction, use, maintenance, and dismantling. The goal of this process is to achieve a more efficient construction and maintenance process, reduce construction time, improve safety and quality, and reduce overall costs of the entire modular construction project.

        Compared to the workflow of traditional construction, the workflow of modular construction allows for more time as factory prefabrication and on-site preparation can be carried out simultaneously.

        In 2013, a new idea called “lifecycle assessment in architecture and construction” was introduced. The idea emphasizes five stages: design, construction, operation, dismantling, and waste management. Based on national and international research and following British architecture methodology, traditional construction is divided into four stages: decision-making design, construction, operation, and end-of-life. Decision-making design involves early planning, preparation, and design work. Under construction, materials are produced, transported, and assembled on-site. Operation and maintenance refer to the upkeep of the building after its construction and end-of-life involves taking apart and reusing the building materials after its useful lifespan is over. Similarly, modular construction also follows these four stages.

        Throughout all stages of the project, the client, designer, and manufacturer should collaborate together to maximize the advantages of modular construction.

        The design of buildings using modular structures involves a complex relationship between the required space and functionality of the building and the economic use of similarly sized modular units. Modular structures require a new discipline based on large modular systems rather than familiar frame or plan components used by designers. An optimized modular system should allow for flexibility in internal design, while still adhering to principles of off-site prefabrication in terms of component standardization and manufacturing efficiency.

        General design guidelines are also general design steps for modular construction. Some principles apply not only to building structures using modular units but also to other forms of structural units besides basic module units. Typically, they include floorings, stairs, essential service facilities, coverings, and roofs for corridors and circulation spaces. These principles are:

        When designing multi-story residential buildings with modular structures, the size of each room, how they’re arranged, and the use of similarly sized modular units are important considerations. Apartments, dormitories, and hotels all use modular structures, with room sizes largely the same across each project, sometimes only with variations of mirror images of each other.

        Architects consider the structure of modular units to create optimal layouts. Design flexibility is key in residential construction, while adhering to off-site prefabrication standards. Analyzing multi-unit residential, dormitory, and hotel projects helps identify common design elements, aiding modular apartment building design. In conceptual design, three distinct types of modular layout are corridor, exterior walkway, and open space.

        There are six basic structural components for load-bearing modules, and their structural performance depends on whether vertical loads are transmitted through the side walls or corner columns. These components are: load-bearing side walls, non-load-bearing end walls (or side walls if using edge beams), floors, ceilings, edge beams, and corner columns (usually made of angle steel or square hollow section profiles). Design of cold-formed steel components is based on BS5950-5 or BSEN1993-1-3. Design of hot-rolled steel components (usually corner columns, and in some cases, edge beams) must conform to BS5950-1 or BSEN1993-1-1.

      Design of modular units should also consider other issues related to structural performance, such as:

        1)The transfer of in-plane forces due to wind actions and nominal horizontal forces through partition walls;

        2)Structural integrity or robustness against accidental actions, which is usually resisted through tie forces generated at connections;

        3)Fire resistance, which requires that structural components have fire protection and that fires do not spread from one module to another.

        Modules are lifted with lifting beams or frames from their corners to minimize tension in the slings, which could pull inward and damage them. Some lightweight modules or pods are lifted off their base to avoid damage to the interior finish. Enough space on-site is needed for truck transport since modules are lifted directly from the delivery truck. This means delivery times need to be planned properly to avoid on-site congestion from unreasonable scheduling. Appropriately sized cranes are needed for module installation. Lightweight steel modules require a 100-ton mobile crane at its maximum distance (about 25m). Tower cranes are used for high-rise buildings but may not be sufficient for lifting heavy loads. Therefore, detailed on-site planning is necessary for crane size and location when installing modules.

When choosing the appropriate crane and module installation sequence, various issues should be considered, including:

        The operation, maintenance, and end-of-life phase of modular steel structure projects usually include upkeep, usage, and demolition or reuse. This three-part approach can achieve high energy efficiency compared to traditional buildings. Traditional buildings have a less flexible design and structure, resulting in higher upkeep costs and less versatile usage options. Additionally, they can be difficult to demolish.

        All buildings need maintenance over time to keep them in top condition and prevent any structural damage. With both modular and traditional construction, upkeep is very important. Modular buildings, however, have the advantage of being assembled from prefabricated components that can be easily replaced or repaired during maintenance. This makes maintenance less expensive than traditional buildings, which require more labor-intensive repairs.

        Modular buildings are versatile and can be repurposed without creating demolition waste. One of the great benefits of modular steel structures is that they can be taken apart, relocated, and reused with very few modifications, which greatly reduces the cost and waste associated with new construction. In fact, using modular construction methods in the beginning can minimize waste, and reusing the modules can reduce demand for new materials, which saves energy during construction. Additionally, renovating modular steel buildings is less disruptive to surrounding areas and limits non-reusable waste, unlike traditional construction where renovations often generate a substantial amount of waste.

        The European steel structure housing market has great potential and endless opportunities. While steel processing and manufacturing can be energy-intensive and polluting, steel has a lot of recycling value, making it a popular and sustainable choice. Steel structures are also stable and can be a low-cost option for residential buildings in moderate climates. However, steel requires more reinforcement and maintenance than wood or concrete to be used safely and for durability. This is one of the biggest drawbacks to using steel in housing construction.
        Modular housing relies on technical subsystems such as architecture, structure, and mechanical and electrical systems. The modular development concept represents the future of industrialized building using modular steel structures. Assembled modules are pre-made and combine systems, components, and materials, allowing for integrated design and construction. With advancements in technology and perfecting technical systems, standardized assembled modules will become more widely used in the construction of modular housing. These modules offer convenience, efficiency and can be used in areas where on-site construction is not possible. However, there is still much room for improvement in the systematic integration and modularization of assembled housing.

• If you are interested in steel structure modular construction or interested in commercial cooperation with us, please feel free to contact us at (email address:info@matrixliving.com). Matrix have extensive experience in steel structure module production and are committed to providing you with the highest quality service.