Heaviest Composite Construction Deltabeams to be manufactured installed at University of Warwick

Deltabeams weigh approximately 48 tonnes each

The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building project for the University of Warwick where Willmott Dixon is the Main Contractor has extended the range of structural innovation for PCE’s HybriDfMA Offsite Design and Build systems.

The recent erection of 4 steel/concrete composite action beams using structural steel Deltabeams manufactured by the Peikko Group to form part of the roof and transfer structure over the clear double storey height lecture theatre is a prime example of this. The structural design solution for the building developed by PCE included for some of the most heavily loaded Deltabeams to be produced and at 16 metres long with a delivered structural steel weight of 18 tonnes they are also the heaviest ever to be manufactured.

The 4 composite action steel/concrete beams each required 12m³ of on-site insitu concrete to complete them, bringing the final weight of each beam element to approximately 48 tonnes. Temporary edge protection was pre-installed to the steel Deltabeams at ground level prior to their erection in order to reduce working at height risks and to allow safe access for the installation of prestressed concrete Hollowcore planks between the large beams. Holding down bolts for the columns connected to the beams, which support the 3 storeys of Offsite manufactured frame structure above, were also prefabricated onto the Deltabeams during their manufacture.