This power point is focus on the shard building structure.

1. HOPE ENTERPRISE UNIVERSITY COLLAGE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
“Foundation”
By: 1.Arsema Bekele
2.Amen Mikael
3.Alazar Hagos
4.Biruk Yared
5.Bisrateab Fekadu
6.Esmael Abdu
7.Simon Asene
8.Tsinat Chelot
9. Mahilet Getahun
Date: March 28-2024G.C

2. OUTLINE
O1. Introduction
02. Design and Construction
03. The structural system
04. Foundation
05. Construction Materials
06. Conclusion

3. 01. INTRODUCTION
Key Details of the Project
● Construction period: 2009 – 2012
● Height: 309.6 m (1,016 ft)
● Floor count: 95
● Floor area: 110,000 m2 (1,200,000 sq ft)
● Architect: Renzo Piano
● Developer: Sellar Property Group
● Main contractor: Mace
● Main designer: WSP
● Owner: State of Qatar (95%), Sellar Property Group (5%)
● Contract cost: £435 million

4. 02. Design and Construction
● Delivering Europe's tallest tower in record time pushed
structural engineers and contractors to rethink the
fundamental principles of construction and employ new
ways to build faster and taller than had previously been done
in the UK.
● To overcome the challenges of safely constructing a
skyscraper in central London, adjacent to a major
transportation hub, the team achieved a number of firsts,
including the first top-down core, the UK's largest concrete
pour, the first use of jump-lift construction, the world's first
inclined hoist, and the first crane supported on a slipform.

5. 03. The structural system
MAIN STRUCTURE
● The structural system of the tower is a combination of
different systems. It consists of concrete cores, composite
floors, and steel structural members.
● The Shard Tower has about 54,000 cubic metric tons of
concrete and the steel system has a weight of about 11,000
tons.
● The core of the tower was made by slip forming. The core
was constructed at a rate of at least 3 meters per day.
● The steel columns are aligned with the slope of the Shard
Tower.
● The size, weight, and spacing of the columns get smaller
the higher they go up in floors..

6. 04. Foundation
● Movement monitoring, vibration, ground water
and reuse of old piles were taken into account in
designing foundation.
● Top-Down construction methodology was used in
construction.
● Plunged columns used to supported core and Top-
down slabs.
● The slab underneath the core has 3m thickness
with four layers of reinforcement in each direction
to provide stiffness.

7. Cont..
● Top-down construction is a time-saving technique in which
construction occurs from the ground level downwards. At the
location, 500 mm x 500 mm steel columns were "plunged" from the
ground level through empty pile bores into freshly poured concrete.
● The slab was then cast directly on grade. After gaining strength, the
slab was capable of propping the perimeter embedded walls and
could be supported by the plunge columns, allowing excavation
below the slab to proceed. This allowed the construction of the
superstructure and basement to proceed simultaneously.
● This technique made it possible to construct the first 23 storeys of
the 72-story concrete core as well as a large portion of the
surrounding tower before the basement had been completely
excavated. This was needed because of the difficulty of
constructing a skyscraper in a densely populated location near to a
major transportation hub, and it helped to shorten the lengthy
construction schedule by four months.

8. CONT…
THE LOWDOWN ON TOP-DOWN
Step one
The secant pile wall is installed around the perimeter along with the
plunge piles and columns.
Step two
The ground floor slab of the building is cast and excavation begins
down to level two of the basement
Step three
The floor slab at basement level two is cast and the slip farm for care
construction erected to "jump start" the core. As the core goes up
excavation below basement level two continues.
Step four
As the core construction continues, the raft foundation is cast at
basement level three (the lower red level in the picture) before the
concrete walls between the base of the core and the raft are installed
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

9. Cont…
● The foundation and basement levels, up to level 39 serve as offices and lower retail.
● The engineers decided to use a steel frame with deep beams to enable further spacing within the
columns.
● A majority of the steel used within the building exists within the lower office levels of the building
(ground-39). The sections contains 15,000 pieces of structural steel and weighs 12,000 tons.
● This steel structure is made using 20 inch deep I beans that acquire standard holes for system pass
through. On top of the beams is a lightweight concrete slab measuring 5 inches thick.
● They were designed to span up to 50 feet (from perimeter to core) for spatial adaptability in offices.
● The joints that connected the cladding and the floor plates utilized compact plate girders. The
utilization of these girders was specified for low depths on the facade.
● This was a desire by the architect to take advantage of the sun penetration. Additionally, the floor
that sits on these open beams are raised on cambers

10. Cont…

11. 05. Construction Materials
● The distinctive tapered form consists of the following structures:
First 40 floors: Composite steel frame.
Up to the 60th floor: Post-tension concrete frame.
Up to the 72nd floor: Conventional reinforced concrete frame.
Spire to 87th floor: Pre-fabricated steel.
● The use of concrete and steel improved the structure's efficiency.
Post-tensioned concrete was better suited for the smaller spans
higher up the building, saving 550 millimetres per level. In
addition, ceiling space for services was improved by the use of
uniform-depth steel beams acting in combination with concrete
floor slabs. The structure contains 11,000 panes of glass and has a
total surface area of 56,000 square metres (600,000 sq. ft).

12. 06. Conclusion
● Due to the soft and compressible nature of the London Clay beneath the site, deep foundation techniques were
employed to provide adequate support for the skyscraper. The foundation system utilized a combination of
concrete piles and raft foundations.
● Concrete piles were driven deep into the ground to reach stable strata below the soft clay. These piles serve as
load-bearing elements, transferring the weight of the building to deeper, more stable layers of soil or rock. The
depth and diameter of the piles were carefully calculated to ensure sufficient support for the immense weight of
the structure.
● In addition to the piles, a massive reinforced concrete raft foundation was constructed atop the piles. The raft
foundation, also known as a mat foundation, spreads the weight of the building over a large area, reducing the
pressure on the underlying soil. This helps prevent settlement and ensures the stability of the structure.
● Designing the foundation system for The Shard posed several engineering challenges. The presence of the River
Thames nearby required special consideration for potential scouring and erosion of the riverbed. Additionally,
the sheer height of the building and its complex architectural design necessitated innovative structural solutions
to ensure stability and resistance to wind loads and seismic activity.
● After completion, the foundation system of The Shard is continuously monitored for any signs of settlement or
structural movement. Advanced monitoring techniques, including sensors embedded within the foundation
elements, help engineers detect and address any issues promptly. Regular maintenance and inspection ensure the
long-term integrity and safety of the building.
● Overall, the foundation system of The Shard is a testament to the ingenuity and expertise of the engineers and
architects involved in its design and construction. By employing advanced techniques and meticulous planning,
they created a solid foundation that supports one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world.

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