Title:
Quality Assurance in a Taiwanese High-Rise Tower
Author(s):
Chao-lung Hwang, Huo-young Wang, and Yeong-nain Sheen
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
21
Issue:
7
Appears on pages(s):
45-47
Keywords:
high-performance concretes; high-rise buildings; pumping; quality assurance; quality control; specifications
DOI:
Date:
7/1/1999
Abstract:
In 1996, for the construction of the 85-story T&C Tower in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the fifth tallest building in the world at 347.6 m (1140 ft) at that time, high-performance concrete (HPC) with a compressive strength of 56 MPa (8100 psi) was pumped into steel columns up to 60 stories. Before formal concrete construction, the drum test and mock-up test were used to gather information to learn troubleshooting techniques related to high viscous HPC, such as high ambient temperature, long transportation time, and pumping difficulties (long pipeline and high pumping pressure). Research results prove that high slump and slump flow were needed to reduce the amount of air bubbles under diaphragm of the steel column. During the learning process, several kinds of checklists were built up, and a quality assurance program was established. Owing to the system, the variance of HPC materials was reduced. Hence, good quality and high stability of HPC is important to guarantee smooth pumping, and to increase construction efficiency and long-term stability.