Mechanika is supporting a large UK client, in the structural scheme design of a mining facility in Eastern Europe. Mechanika have been responsible for the structural scheme design for a suite of buildings, conveyors, culverts and towers, which are being constructed in and around the facility.
The following images show one of Mechanika’s portal frame structures which takes up a footprint of 114 m x 25 m x 25 m and has been designed and analysed in accordance with the requirements of a number of SNiP and GOST codes.
Mechanika also designed the reinforced concrete slabs and foundation footings for the structure, using hand calculations which have subsequently been verified in RFEM5 software. Mechanika are able to undertake the structural framing using traditional hand calculations and present scheme options to clients without using FEA. Due to the vast number of load cases and combinations, including complex second-order effects, FEA was undertaken to refine the design before completion.
The structure was qualified for all leading loads and load cases for first and second order effects, including:
- Wind
- Crane Loads
- Snow/Ice
- Seismic
- Out-of-Service conditions
With the use of sound joints and bracing principles, Mechanika were able to limit the building sway to less than 20 mm for wind speeds up to 35 m/s, which is impressive for a 25 m tall portal frame structure, with a significant length-to-width ratio. The image below shows a pictorially exaggerated view of the deflected shape of the structure, for the most onerous wind direction.
