Software development for minimization of reinforcing bar scrap weight

Date

2011

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Sunseehray Alessandra B. Tirazona

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Abstract

Reinforcing bars, commonly termed as rebars are primarily used as tensioning devices in reinforced concrete. Cut length, diameter and quantity are the common design parameters used to estimate rebars. These parameters are commonly specified by structural consultants or by the general contractors. Rebar details found on the cutting list must be properly estimated to commercial specifications. Rebars are purchased commercially by weight. Hence, they are usually estimated in terms of weight. They are usually manufactured in standard sizes available in the market. Conversion of bars from design requirements to appropriate commercial specifications typically results to wastage or scrap weight. Traditionally, rebar engineers perform quantity take-off manually. However, this method is laborious and prone to human error and mistake. In order to provide a more convenient solution to manual estimation, a program was developed that can also organize and convert rebar to commercial specifications. The general objective of this study is to develop a software program capable of minimizing reinforcing bar scrap weight. Specifically, it also aims to discuss how quantity take-offs are done manually, develop an appropriate algorithm for the software and to discuss how to use the software for the benefit of potential users.The software created for this study was developed using atrial version of Microsoft Visual Basic 2010. The resulting software is limited only to the minimization of construction waste in terms of reinforcing bars. In order to fully understand the reinforcing bar estimation matter, one must trace back the underlying principles and concepts starting out from concrete, the need for reinforcing bars, the process of estimating, international standards, etc. and its part was discussed in the review of related literature part of this paper. Review of related software shows both of RebarCAD and BridgeSight Solution are not available in the market for free. Unfamiliarity with the working environment of these foreign software is also a general tendency for prospective users. The main focus of these software was the structural integrity of rebar designs and not the rebar estimation part. With these reason, many engineers still opt to trust their manual skills in rebar detailing especially in countries where the use of these software is not a common practice such as the case in Philippines. Information gathering is the first part of this study starting out with site observation, data gathering, personal inquiry and review of related literature. Generation of an algorithm is essential before developing and estimate the software. Software development is divided into a theoretical part called the definition phase involving goal setting and project planning and a practical part called development phase involving interface generation, code generation and maintenance phase. Scrap weigh was observed to be computed on site as the difference between total commercial weight and total cut weight. Total commercial weight is the product between commercial length, commercial quantity and unit weight. Total cut weight, on the other hand, is the product between cut length, cut quantity and unit weight. The interface generated for the software is composed of 4 forms. The main form is composed of an input part and a display part. The next two forms are allotted for default conditions. The last form is form output purposes. The algorithms was developed in such a way that it considers all possible rebar cut length combination before converting to commercial specifications. A user manual was also discussed to clarify basic instructions in using the software. As shown in a case study in the appendix part of this paper, the software developed was proven to minimize the resulting rebar scrap weight.

Language

English

LC Subject

Reinforcing bars

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993 2011 E63 G65

Document Type

Thesis

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