Introduction
The spatial structure of the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium is highly complex, featuring large spans, extensive overhangs, and challenges related to prestressing and tensioning. This complexity introduces several construction difficulties, such as effectively planning and scheduling irreversible processes, managing numerous installation tasks while maintaining quality control, and monitoring structural stress and deformation to ensure safety throughout the construction phase. Traditional construction control methods are insufficient to address these challenges. As a result, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has been adopted as a supportive tool, delivering effective results.
Application of BIM in Installation Quality Control
For prestressed steel structures, maintaining the installation quality of critical prestressed nodes is crucial. Improper installation can lead to loss of prestress, uneven stress distribution, and in severe cases, structural failure.
At the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center, BIM technology is applied to installation quality control focusing on two main areas:
- First, controlling the processing quality of key components such as cable clamps and adjustable end cable heads.
- Second, ensuring construction quality by verifying welds on-site, confirming screws are properly tightened, and checking installation accuracy.
By comparing BIM family files of critical parts with the factory-finished components, the shapes and dimensions of the parts can be verified against processing standards. Below is a comparison between the BIM model of the fixed end cable head and the actual components:
Figure 1: Fixed end cable head family file
Figure 2: Actual fixed end cable head components
The installation of prestressed key nodes at the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center is complex. BIM models and animated sequences guide the installation of critical parts, significantly improving quality control. Below is a comparison between the installation model for the node at the loop cable and radial cable clamp and the actual on-site installation:
Figure 3: Installation model of the loop cable and radial cable clamp node
Figure 4: Actual on-site installation at the loop cable and radial cable clamp node
The comparison below shows the installation model for the ring cable joint alongside the actual on-site installation:
Figure 5: Installation model of the ring cable joint
Figure 6: Actual installation of the ring cable joint on site
Application of BIM in Construction Progress Control
Historically, inefficient collaboration has been a major obstacle to improving project management in engineering. Studies suggest that over 20% of project progress can be lost due to poor coordination. To address this, the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center has implemented a 3D-based BIM communication language and collaborative platform. This system enables virtual simulation of construction progress while integrating BIM with real-time on-site photography using mobile smart devices. This approach greatly enhances communication efficiency and helps ensure project milestones are met.
During construction progress simulations, it is possible to visually verify whether actual progress aligns with the planned schedule. If deviations occur, the causes can be analyzed, corrective actions taken, or plans adjusted to keep the project on track. Below is an example showing the stadium roof construction progress at a specific stage:
Figure 7: Timeliner construction progress display and simulation
By leveraging wireless mobile terminals, WED, RFID, and other technologies, the entire construction process is integrated with BIM models for daily on-site progress management. This integration helps identify and prevent issues that could negatively impact progress at any stage.
Original author: Liu Zhan Province
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