Methods and Techniques Used in Civil Engineering Activities

HNCB 033 CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
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LO2. Understand the methods and techniques used to create substructures
2.2 Describe methods of constructing complex foundations
Complex Foundation system
Grillage Foundation
Grillage foundation refers to that kind of the foundation which consists of one or two tiers made
from the rolled steel or the wooden section space that is filled with the concrete. The key aim of
this kind of the foundation is to ensure that the load is spread over the horizontal area that is
large at the base location of the structure. The grillage foundation can either be made from the
timber or be made from the steel(Aminbakhsh, Gunduz and Sonmez 2013).
Methods of construction of the steel grillage foundation
In the process of the construction of the steel grillage foundation, a trench is excavated as per the
calculations of the width which is approximately 0.90m to about 1.50m deep. The trench bottom
is then rammed and trenched. A layer of the cement concrete that is considered lean of the
properties 1:8:16 and of about 30cm thickness is laid and then made compact(Węgrzyński and
Sulik 2016).
After this particular process is completed, a layer of the rich cement concrete of the properties of
1:2:4 and of the thickness 15cm thick is spread uniformly and then made compact so as to help in
the formation of the concrete bed. After the concrete bed has been properly laid, the bottom tier
which is made up of the number of the steel I-beam of the dimensions that are designed are put at
the known distances apart with the help of the space bar. The existing spaces between and also
around the beam of the steel is then filled with concrete of the cement.

On the second tier, should there be a need, a second layer of the steel I- beams are placed. The
whole place is filled with the cement concrete 1:2:4.
2.3 Illustrate construction methods used in drainage works, culverts and utilities
The materials that are needed for the construction of the culverts and the drainage include the
following;
 The small tools
 Concrete
 The rubble of 6" X 9"
Also, the main equipment that is utilized for the cases of the construction are :
 The vibrating rammers
 Instruments for the leveling
 Concrete vibrator among others
Procedure and the methods
The excavation for the construction of the halve culvert will be done through the arrangement of
the signboards in accordance with the road construction manual for the traffic control. The
qualified engineer is normally expected to perform the exercise of the inspection and approval.
She/he may recommend the soft ground treatment after considering its necessity.
There will be the preparation of the bed while maintaining the level that is required as per the
drawing of the original plan that had been approved by the engineer. The engineer will then be
expected to inspect and approve the location.

After the bed has been approved, the screed concrete will then be put followed by abutments
commonly called 6" x 9" rubble wall, parapet wall, deck concrete and finally the finishing work
will be carried out effectively(Lindeburg 2015).
The traffic will be diverted to the finished semi- part of the culvert and after all the traffic boards
have been arranged and other relevant arrangements, the other section of the construction will be
started and worked on as had been prescribed before.
LO3. Understand the methods and techniques used to create superstructures
3.1 Discuss appropriate construction methods
Steel Framing
The use of steel for the construction can be traced back to the 19 century. It is commonly used
for commercial structures. There are basically two types of steel that are known so far. These are
cold-formed and Hot-rolled. The production of the hot-rolled steel is guided by strong heat
within the industries. The columns and the beams that are produced are actually very strong and
also thick. This steel type is the one that is commonly used in the construction of the commercial
building. They are sparingly used in the high-end residential projects that possess very large
spans that need additional strength of the I- beams(Awad, Aravinthan, Zhuge and Gonzalez
2012).
The cold-formed steel which is commonly referred to as the light gauge steel is very strong. It
has the advantage of being able to be formed into much thinner pieces. It is possible to fold the
cold-formed steel. The building of the steel-framed homes includes the individual steel beam
being assembled on the site one by one so as to form the skeleton of the structure. There is