IRJET- Comparative Study of Top down & Bottom up Method Construction Schedule with respect to Construction of a Residential Building

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 02 | Feb 2019 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2019, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.211 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 2233
Comparative Study of Top down & Bottom up Method Construction
Schedule with Respect to Construction of a Residential Building
Rafi Sakharkar1
1P.G Student & Construction Engineer, Department of Civil Engineering Shivajirao S. Jondhle College of
Engineering & Technology & Catapult Realty Consultants, Mumbai (India)
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Abstract - The rapid increase in the construction sector
all around the globe has led to significant changes in the
methodologies and techniques being adopted to cater to the
modern requirements of the projects that are being
executed. This has led to make the best use of land available
and a substantial increment is seen with respect to
utilization of underground structures for metros, high-speed
railway corridors as well as residential and commercial
structures. The general perspective regarding the
construction activities are changed and a detailed planning,
designing and monitoring approach has led to further
advancements in methods that are being incorporated to
complete the projects in effective, economic and efficient
manner. “Top down Construction Method” is recent trend
that is being adopted for infrastructural projects and its
applicability for housing projects is being reviewed in this
paper with reference to a building being constructed by
traditional bottom up method in Mumbai.
Key Words: Top down Construction, Deep basement
excavations, Residential building.
1. INTRODUCTION
The current scenario of construction industry
sector emphasizes on the timely delivery of the projects
whether it be any infrastructural developments,
residential/commercial building structures or any other
civil works. There are various factors that affects the
completion times of projects ranging from availability of
funds to political issues, environmental laws, resettlement
of project affected peoples etc. Though some of the
associated problems faced in the developments cannot be
resolved through the use of advanced technology there is a
wide scope in technological advancements that can be
adopted to counter the time over runs caused by the
stated factors.
When we talk about the construction industry the
resources incorporated in completion of proposed works
are time, capital, manpower and space. With the right and
justified use of these resources a significant efficiency and
economy can be achieved.
The construction activities from ancient age have a typical
stage of commencement during the execution phase i.e.
the first activity starts from the foundation of the
structure. The conventional method of construction of
structures is based on Bottom-Up method in which the
sub-structure and super-structure floors are constructed
sequentially from the bottom of the sub-structure or
lowest level of basement to the top of the super-structure.
This method is suitable for small scale works, as there is
rapid change in patterns of use of land available like use of
underground basements for parking, underground metro
stations the volume of works at the foundation level of the
structures has increased to manifolds. In this context the
construction industry experts has started to adopt a new
Top Down method for better utilization of resources
available.
2. Construction Schedule of a residential building with deep basement using conventional bottom up
technique.
A Construction schedule study was conducted with respect to the general output of work being observed and the
number of man hours incorporated to complete the construction of various civil works of a residential building which
consist of 9m deep basement and 20 upper habitable floors having a plot area of about 800 Sq.mt, basement area of 530
Sq.mt and superstructure built-up area of 7200 Sq.mt. The residential building project was located in Central Mumbai and
major works were completed. The construction schedule is as shown in the Table 1.
ID WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Total
Slack
1 1 PROJECT DURATION 557 days 01/06/17 15/12/18 0 days
2 1.1 BORING, CASTING OF SHORE 51 days 01/06/17 21/07/17 0 days
3 1.2 CASTING OF CAPPING 10 days 22/07/17 31/07/17 3 0 days

4 1.3 PERIPHERAL EXCAVATION 14 days 01/08/17 14/08/17 4 0 days
5 1.4 ROCK ANCHORING & FIXING 20 days 16/08/17 04/09/17 5 0 days
6 1.5 EXCAVATION FOR BOTTOM 66 days 05/09/17 10/11/17 6 0 days
7 1.6 FOUNDATION OF CIVIL 33 days 01/11/17 03/12/17 0 days
8 1.6.1 PCC 5 days 08/11/17 12/11/17 7FF+2 days 0 days
9 1.6.2 REINFORCEMENT WORKS 22 days 01/11/17 22/11/17 9FF+10 0 days
10 1.6.3 SHUTTERING WORK 7 days 20/11/17 26/11/17 10FF+4 0 days
11 1.6.4 COLUMN VERTICAL 2 days 27/11/17 28/11/17 11 0 days
12 1.6.5 CHECKING OF WORK 1 day 29/11/17 29/11/17 12 0 days
13 1.6.6 CONCRETING 4 days 30/11/17 03/12/17 13 0 days
14 1.7 COLUMN CASTING UPTO 10 days 04/12/17 13/12/17 0 days
15 1.7.1 1ST LIFT 4 days 04/12/17 07/12/17 0 days
16 1.7.1.1 REINFORCEMENT 2 days 04/12/17 05/12/17 14 0 days
17 1.7.1.2 SHUTTERING WORKS 3 days 04/12/17 06/12/17 17FF+1 day 0 days
18 1.7.1.3 CONCRETING 2 days 06/12/17 07/12/17 18FF+1 day 0 days
19 1.7.2 2ND LIFT 4 days 07/12/17 10/12/17 0 days
20 1.7.2.1 REINFORCEMENT 2 days 07/12/17 08/12/17 19FS-1 day 0 days
23 1.7.3 3RD LIFT 4 days 10/12/17 13/12/17 0 days
24 1.7.3.1 REINFORCEENT 2 days 10/12/17 11/12/17 23FS-1 day 0 days
27 1.8 RETAINING WALL 40 days 14/12/17 22/01/18 0 days
28 1.9
BASEMENT SLAB
REINFORCEMENT
35 days 08/01/18 12/02/18 0 days
29 1.9.1 BASEMENT SLAB SHUTTERING 30 days 08/01/18 07/02/18 31FF+15 0 days
30 1.9.2 BASEMENT SLAB SUPPORTS 7 days 05/02/18 11/02/18 33FF+4 0 days
31 1.9.3 BASEMENT SLAB 1 day 12/02/18 12/02/18 34 0 days
32 1.10 1ST SLAB 25 days 13/02/18 09/03/18 35 0 days
33 1.11 2ND SLAB 20 days 10/03/18 29/03/18 36 0 days
34 1.12 3RD SLAB 12 days 30/03/18 10/04/18 37 0 days
35 1.13 4TH SLAB 12 days 11/04/18 22/04/18 38 0 days
36 1.14 5TH SLAB 12 days 23/04/18 05/05/18 39 0 days
37 1.15 6TH SLAB 12 days 06/05/18 17/05/18 40 0 days
38 1.16 7TH SLAB 12 days 18/05/18 29/05/18 41 0 days
39 1.17 8TH SLAB 12 days 30/05/18 10/06/18 42 0 days
40 1.18 9TH SLAB 12 days 11/06/18 22/06/18 43 0 days
41 1.19 10TH SLAB 12 days 23/06/18 04/07/18 44 0 days
42 1.20 11TH SLAB 12 days 05/07/18 16/07/18 45 0 days
43 1.21 12TH SLAB 12 days 17/07/18 28/07/18 46 0 days
44 1.22 13TH SLAB 12 days 29/07/18 09/08/18 47 0 days
45 1.23 14TH SLAB 12 days 10/08/18 22/08/18 48 0 days
46 1.24 15TH SLAB 12 days 23/08/18 03/09/18 49 0 days
47 1.25 16TH SLAB 12 days 04/09/18 15/09/18 50 0 days
48 1.26 17TH SLAB 12 days 16/09/18 27/09/18 51 0 days
49 1.27 18TH SLAB 12 days 28/09/18 10/10/18 52 0 days
50 1.28 19TH SLAB 12 days 11/10/18 22/10/18 53 0 days
51 1.29 20TH SLAB 12 days 23/10/18 03/11/18 54 0 days
52 1.30 TERRACE SLAB 12 days 04/11/18 15/11/18 55 0 days
53 1.31 OHT,LMR 30 days 16/11/18 15/12/18 56 0 days
Table 1

From the above construction schedule it is evident that up to the activity 1.9.3 i.e. “casting of basement slab” in the WBS
the super structure works cannot be executed. The total project duration is of 557 days all the activities up to the duration
of 254 days are critical for commencement of superstructure activity.
2.2 Use of advanced techniques in traditional top
down construction method.
As the construction speed is required to be optimised to
achieve time savings in recent times the use of advanced
formworks and advanced materials which allows the
construction time to be reduced is incorporated. Use of
Alsina formwork for construction of columns, retaining
wall reduces the time required in shuttering but these are
not widely used due to their limited application in single
project and increased refurbishment costs. Also to reduce
the slab cycle duration particularly in residential housing
projects use of advanced mivan formwork is adopted for
large scale mass housing projects. Since these advanced
formwork are not suitable for a standalone building
structure due to its investment costs there is a little scope
in achieving time savings with the use of conventional
construction materials.
3. Application of top down construction method.
The prime objective of the Top Down Construction
Method implementation is to reduce the time required to
construct the structures which have a significant volume
of work required to be done below the ground level and
simultaneously work on the superstructure part so that
both the components can be completed leading to timely
delivery of the proposed projects. The scope of use of Top
down Construction is widespread, it is a completely
different approach from conventional method and hence
right from the project conceptualization phase to hand
over phase each and every activity is required to be
altered. The use of this method required prompt project
management skills, advanced structural designing’s, use of
geotechnical advancements and engagement of special
equipment to execute the work. Proper execution of the
works is a perquisite for achieving the success by top
down method as the method is based on practical
application rather than laboratory based experiments.
3.1 Top Down construction Technique-
The Top down construction technique eliminates the need
of excavation at initial stages and allows the work to be
done in superstructure without completion of
substructure works except the foundation works in the
form of stanchions, shore pile, retaining wall, and
basement raft. One essential element in the top down
technique is the use of diaphragm wall[1] as the retaining
structure hence based on the use of retaining structure in
the form of widely used shore pile & retaining wall or the
diaphragm wall this technique is further subdivided into
up-down, semi top down approach as discussed by S.S
Basargar[1].Many Infrastructural developments are done
with the use of this technique in India as well as other
countries which includes car parking facilities in
Delhi[1],Metro rail stations in Delhi & Kolkata[1],Santorani
Square building in Ahmedabad[2], Royal Charoen Krung in
Bangkok[3] etc. The use of this method is done mainly in
infrastructural developments in India whereas in other
places residential buildings are built using this method.
The adoption of this technique in residential segment
around Mumbai is done by developers like SD corp at one
of their project named Samta nagar redevelopment in
Kandivali & Lodha group at one of their project named
New Cuffe Parade the results of which are quite
satisfactory and partially justifies the suitability of this
technique to a larger section of residential developments
where deep basement is provided, structure height
restrictions are prevalent, speedy handover of the work is
required.
3.2 Estimated Construction Schedule of the
residential building discussed above using top
down construction technique.
A Construction schedule study was conducted with
respect to the general output of work being observed and
the number of man hours that are expected to be
incorporated to complete the construction of various civil
works of a residential building which consist of 9m deep
basement and 20 upper habitable floors having a plot area
of about 800 Sq.mt, basement area of 530 Sq.mt and
superstructure built-up area of 7200 Sq.mt. The residential
building project was located in Central Mumbai and major
works were completed. With inputs from experienced
construction engineers & managers and also the general
output of machine & labours the estimated construction
schedule is as shown in the Table 2.
ID WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Total Slack
1 1 PROJECT DURATION 379 days 01/06/17 18/06/18 0 days
2 1.1 DIAPHRAGM WALL 35 days 01/06/17 05/07/17 0 days
3 1.2 PREPARATION OF PRE 30 days 01/06/17 30/06/17 2SS 0 days

Table2
From the above construction schedule it is evident that up to the activity 1.5.3 i.e. “casting of basement slab” in the WBS
the super structure works cannot be executed. The total project duration is of 379 days all the activities up to the duration
of 76 days are critical for commencement of superstructure activities.
4. Comparison of construction schedule of top Down & Bottom up method
Sr No Description
Duration (Days) Total Duration % duration Engaged
Top Down
Method
Bottom Up
Method
Top Down
Method
Bottom Up
Method
Top Down
Method
Bottom Up
Method
1
Foundation
Works Upton
Plinth
76 254
379 557
20 46
2
Superstructure
Works
303 303 80 54
4 1.3 DRILLING OF PILES 12 days 29/06/17 10/07/17 2FF+5 days 1 day
5 1.4 INSTALLATION OF STANCHIONS 12 days 01/07/17 12/07/17 4FF+1 day,3 0 days
6 1.5 BASEMENT SLAB 34 days 13/07/17 16/08/17 0 days
7 1.5.1 BASEMENT SLAB SHUTTERING 30 days 13/07/17 11/08/17 5 0 days
8 1.5.2 BASEMENT SLAB 7 days 08/08/17 14/08/17 7FF+3 days 0 days
9 1.5.3 BASEMENT SLAB CONCRETING 1 day 16/08/17 16/08/17 8FF+1 day 0 days
10 1.6 FOUNDATION OF CIVIL WORKS 87 days 17/08/17 12/11/17 186 days
11 1.6.1 EXCAVATION FOR BOTTOM 66 days 17/08/17 22/10/17 9 186 days
12 1.6.2 PCC 5 days 20/10/17 24/10/17 11FF+2 days 186 days
13 1.6.3 REINFORCEMENT WORKS 22 days 13/10/17 03/11/17 12FF+10 days 186 days
14 1.6.4 SHUTTERING WORK 7 days 01/11/17 07/11/17 13FF+4 days 186 days
15 1.6.5 CHECKING OF WORK 1 day 08/11/17 08/11/17 14 186 days
16 1.6.6 CONCRETING 4 days 09/11/17 12/11/17 15 186 days
17 1.7 1ST SLAB 25 days 17/08/17 10/09/17 9 0 days
18 1.8 2ND SLAB 20 days 11/09/17 30/09/17 17 0 days
19 1.9 3RD SLAB 12 days 01/10/17 13/10/17 18 0 days
20 1.10 4TH SLAB 12 days 14/10/17 25/10/17 19 0 days
21 1.11 5TH SLAB 12 days 26/10/17 06/11/17 20 0 days
22 1.12 6TH SLAB 12 days 07/11/17 18/11/17 21 0 days
23 1.13 7TH SLAB 12 days 19/11/17 30/11/17 22 0 days
24 1.14 8TH SLAB 12 days 01/12/17 12/12/17 23 0 days
25 1.15 9TH SLAB 12 days 13/12/17 24/12/17 24 0 days
26 1.16 10TH SLAB 12 days 25/12/17 05/01/18 25 0 days
27 1.17 11TH SLAB 12 days 06/01/18 17/01/18 26 0 days
28 1.18 12TH SLAB 12 days 18/01/18 30/01/18 27 0 days
29 1.19 13TH SLAB 12 days 31/01/18 11/02/18 28 0 days
30 1.20 14TH SLAB 12 days 12/02/18 23/02/18 29 0 days
31 1.21 15TH SLAB 12 days 24/02/18 07/03/18 30 0 days
32 1.22 16TH SLAB 12 days 08/03/18 19/03/18 31 0 days
33 1.23 17TH SLAB 12 days 20/03/18 31/03/18 32 0 days
34 1.24 18TH SLAB 12 days 01/04/18 12/04/18 33 0 days
35 1.25 19TH SLAB 12 days 13/04/18 24/04/18 34 0 days
36 1.26 20TH SLAB 12 days 25/04/18 07/05/18 35 0 days
37 1.27 TERRACE SLAB 12 days 08/05/18 19/05/18 36 0 days
38 1.28 OHT,LMR 30 days 20/05/18 18/06/18 37,16 0 days

Comparative study of both the schedules deciepts that
the project duration can be reduced by adopting top down
method also the foundation work quantum is reduced
substantially as compared to bottom up method albeit the
complexity and nature of work becomes a little difficult.
3. CONCLUSION
The time savings are eminent with the use of the top down
construction method whether it is an infrastructural or
residential work. The time overruns can be reduced up to
30% which itself is a great relief in housing project. Also
the important element that is diaphragm wall& stanchions
construction eliminates the tedious foundation works
which can compensate the additional cost that are
required to be incurred for special equipment usage. One
more advantage of using this technique is that
underground areas are utilized to a better extent reducing
the number of podium floors that are generally provide in
buildings for parking without affecting the construction
schedule. One more important benefit is that the height of
superstructure can be maintained without affecting the
habitable floor counts in height restricted zones near
airports or other areas of strategic importance.
REFERENCES
[1] Emerging Trend in Deep Basement Construction: Top-
Down Technique by S. S. Basarkar1, Manish Kumar2,
B.G. Mohapatro3 P.R. Mutgi4, 1 General Manager, ITD
Cementation India Limited, Mumbai, India. 2 Vice-President,
ITD Cementation India Limited, Mumbai, India. 3 Professors,
School of Civil Engineering, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar,
India. 4 Principal, J.J. Magnum College of Engineering,
Jaysingpur, India .
[2] Heritage infra space Private Limited.
[3]Comparative Study of Construction Technology for
Underground Metro Stations in India by Virendra Kumar
Paul1, Salman Khursheed2, Rohit Singh3 ,1 Professor &
Head, Department of Building Engineering & Management,
SPA, Delhi, India. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of
Building Engineering & Management, SPA, Delhi, India. 3
Practicing Project Manager .
[4] Research and Design on Top-Down Method for Large
Scale Podium Basement Excavation of Shanghai Tower
Jian Jia, XiaoLin Xie, JieQun Zhai, Yu Zhang, Ke Yang and
XiaoHang Guo
[5] Performance of Diaphragm Wall Constructed Using
Top Down Method by Chang-Yu Ou , Member ASCE, Jui-
Thng Liao and Horn-Da Lin, Member ASCE.
[6] Site visit at SD corp Samtanagar redevelopment project
Kandivali,Mumbai.
[7] Site visit at Lodha New Cuffe Parade, Mumbai
[8] Reviews from construction managers & engineers of
reputed companies like SD Corp , Lodha, Catapult Realty.

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