BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 1 ARC 1523PROJECT 1 : DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS PREPARED BY : FAWWAZ SUKIMAN (0311561) 18

Types of beams:

There are two types of beams and they are precast beam and pre-stressed beam.As for precast beams, it contains normal concrete with thickening agents added.

Workers will pour the concrete into a beam and then allow it to cure. Then they remove the beam from the mold and ship it to distribution centers and construction sites. This pre-casting method allows manufactures to create concrete beams for a variety of projects, but it is most useful when the project requires many beams of the same shape and size.of projects, but it is most useful when the project requires many beams of the same shape and size.

Other than precast beams, there is pre-stressed beam. They are made out of concrete too but it has been added with one important ingredient. Manufactures take a net of strong steel wires and string them along the mold where the worker will pour the concrete. Workers will use a machinery to stretch the steel wires until they are under stressed, then pour the concrete in the mold. The tightened steel wires add extra strength and stability to the concrete, and they run parallel with the beam, providing greater vertical support.

5.1 BEAMS AND COLUMNS