Monthly Archives: November 2016

The Modelling Workshop

An update on our group-work status to Dr Poorang in studio M21 Cockcroft preceded our day in the modelling workshop. Our young team members from Hazelwick school joined us. Damian and I quickly ran through the final designs; especially the deck design before cracking on the model. All the material we required was brought from home and tools were borrowed from Dave; the fun-loving technician and workshop co-ordinator. We were to produce two models; one that was a complete footbridge in association with site; and the other a large scale model of a design detail. We agreed that one youngster would work on the 1:10 scale detailed model with Damian and the other two would help me in making the site model. A 600×1200 mm size base cut out of chipboard was provided for our site models. Taylor wrapped the edges of the board with masking tape so no one would get splinters in their fingers. I did some quick single line CAD drawings which would help in building an accurate model.

Single line CAD drawings helped in building an accurate model (Smita, 2016)

Our chosen materials for modelling were: mount-board, foam-board to represent steel plate construction, thin square sections of sticks, wire to represent cable, nails for connectors, sawdust for surface finish, PVA glue and UHU glue, transparent plastic sheet for glass, aluminium paint on steel sections (to be used only outside the workshop for health and safety reasons), and foam-board, paint and coloured paper for the site and topography. Taylor’s cutting techniques were much admired by Damian while Katie and Joe used their fine motor skills on delicate sections like the staircase, stairwell and the bridge deck railings. Damian managed to give the final touches to the detailed model that he was working on, while the complete model with site was still in its infancy. Before Hazelwick left for the day, I instructed our group members on preparing for the presentation for the day after.

Modelling Workshop: Materials to be used for model making (Smita, 2016)

Modelling Workshop: (Left) Structural system for the bridge taking shape, (Right) Taylor working on the bridge deck detailed model (Smita, 2016)

Modelling Workshop: (Left) Katie working on the staircase block & (Right) Joe working on the deck section for the main model (Smita, 2016)

Modelling workshop: Bridge deck section detailed model (scale 1:10) was built by Damian and Taylor and completed before end of the day (Smita, 2016)

Highlights and learning from Day 3

Today my work-assigning ability was put to test. I had to focus on my own work as model making requires concentration and proficiency. At the same time, I had to make sure that the tasks assigned to our young members were being executed well and that they had enough work so we could make the most out of their time! The youngsters outperformed our expectations and both Damian and I were pleased with their work. My previous experience in model making proved handy while Damian improved on his technique. Dave the technician kept us entertained and we received plenty of moral support from Dr Poorang and Mr. Noel Painting.

Our detailed model was ready and most components of our larger model had taken shape. The challenge of putting everything together awaited.

Execution Day Challenges:

Early in the morning on Thursday, I visited the student shop in Mithras house to procure some more material that was required to build the base and the site topography. I had informed Damian beforehand about my delayed arrival due to the detour and found him waiting in the modelling studio when I finally got in at twenty past nine. Since he had completed the detailed model the previous day, we decided that he would start working on the write-up for our poster while I continued working on the main model. He remained in the workshop so he could help me as and when required.

After 2-2 ½ hours of work, I started feeling dizzy and realised that I would not be able to continue working. It would also be dangerous to work in that state for health and safety reasons. Damian figured that something was not right with me and when I informed him about my health, he got a bit worried. I went up to Dr Poorang’s office to inform him about the situation but he was not in and so was the case with Mr. Noel Painting. Apparently my health had gone down due to lack of sleep the previous night as I was too anxious about the following day. Damian and I decided that it was best for me to go home and I offered to take all the material required for the model and continue working at home as soon as I felt better. Damian in the meantime would work on the poster content and email it to me so I could compile it using Adobe in-design. Damian sent across the poster content by late afternoon.

On reaching home, I tried to rest but could not so. I worked on the model all afternoon preparing the base along with the topography. It was important to detail the topography since the ramp lengths, especially on the Mithras house side, were dependent on it. I completed the bridge sections and cut out ramps out of mount board.  With all four columns and staircase/lift blocks in place and ramps attached to the platform, the model took a defined shape just after midnight.

I did not realize that I dozed off on the couch when I sat there to get a little rest. 45-50 minutes of sleep felt good and then I continued to work on the model connecting the two deck sections to it and trying to find suitable material that would represent the steel cables.

Highlights and learning from Day 4

Important issues like health must not be neglected. Sometimes, the most unexpected situations cause disruption in work. It is important to stay committed and meet work deadlines. Care and compassion for co-workers makes a team stronger.

Design Formulation

By Tuesday morning, I had received emails from two members of Hazelwick with their precedent studies and a design sketch from one of them. The emails were proof of their involvement and an interest to learn.

Bridge idea: Katie suggested that our bridge must connect Mithras House, Preston Barracks and the Watts Building (Illustration by Katie)

Damien’s initial sketches of the bridge form (Illustrations by Damien)

Initial sketches: ideas to establish a design and structural form for our pedestrian & cyclist bridge (Illustrations by Smita)

I met Damian in studio M21, equipped with what I had sketched the previous evening. A long session of integrating both our design ideas followed. We looked up the manual on ‘Design criteria for footbridges’ (Vol.2 Section 2, Part 8 BD29/04) prepared by the Highways Agency, in accordance with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and DRD. This manual became the reference for our bridge design criteria right form dimensional standards to material specifications. We also read the relevant sections of the Building regulations approved documents Part A, H, K, M, N and regulation 7. A link to the ‘Preston Barracks Planning Brief’ prepared by Brighton & Hove City Council, in partnership with the University of Brighton was posted in one of the presentation slides from the previous day. This document helped in assessing the future footfall and the pedestrian traffic flow patterns, which helped us in establishing the most suitable location for our proposed bridge.

Building Regulations Approved Documents A, H, K, M, and Regulation 7, sections of which we found relevant to the design of bridges

Manual on ‘Design criteria for footbridges’ (Vol.2 Section 2, Part 8 BD29/04) prepared by the Highways Agency, in accordance with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and DRD

Planning Brief for Preston Barracks prepared by the Brighton and Hove City Council

Sketches illustrating an established location for the bridge, approximate span and minimum clearance required from the top of the road surface (Illustrations by Smita)

Sketch showing proposed location of our bridge in relation to the Watts car park, Mithras House car park (Illustration by Smita)

Our final proposed design for the pedestrian and cyclist footbridge connecting the Watts car park and Mithras House car park (Illustration by Smita)

Final detailed proposal (Illustration by Smita)

By midday we were ready with a full sketch proposal for the footbridge. At our request, Dr Poorang accompanied us to the ‘pod’ on the Cockcroft mezzanine where we discussed our proposal in detail. He gave us sufficient time to explain the whole design to him and then came up with very significant questions. He interrogated us on the design, suitability of the structural form, ramp lengths, material to be used for construction, method of construction, conformity with building regulations. etc. He even ran his own calculation for determining the ramp length in accordance with the Highway Design manual! I believe he was satisfied with all the work we had done thus far. By this time Damian had prepared his own list of questions on topics that he was unsure of during the meeting. We spent some time clarifying the thoughts that clouded his mind then broke for lunch. Mr. Noel Painting paid a visit to the studio later in the afternoon. He looked impressed with the design proposal and even gave us some fantastic ideas when he saw us struggling to accommodate the ramps. At one point he tried in vain to stray us away from our original design idea 🙂 but later confessed that he was only kidding! Mr. Noel Painting is a source of energy and motivation.

Dimensions for the proposed bridge (Illustration by Smita)

Dr Poorang’s inputs from that morning guided us in detailing out buildability and construction materials for our bridge. Our bridge would be 3.5 m wide and 46 m in span. It will be a cantilevered suspension system built in steel. A minimum of 1.4 m height railing will be required since cyclist will also be using the bridge. Deck will be pre-fabricated in two parts and lifted in position using mobile cranes stationed inside the car parking area. This will prevent any major disruption in traffic as the lifting can be done in turn for each side and for the few hours required for the lift, one half of the road can be used for traffic movement. The two deck sections will be bolted where they meet in the centre using heavy steel plate connectors of suitable thickness and bolts. A similar connection system between two deck halves is adopted for the cantilever style Kingsgate footbridge in Durham designed by Ove Arup.

The rest of the afternoon was spent designing a suitable deck structure and detailing the drainage, lighting, surface finish etc. By this time, Damian had proved that he was a hardworking and diligent co-worker and I was enjoying working with him. We reworked the ramp lengths to a gradient of 1:12 with intermediate landings as the original 1:20 gradient that we had hoped to provide was not feasible. Although our structural, form and material detailing was more conceptual than technical, we were confident that all of it was practical, safe and buildable. Before winding up for the evening, we discussed the materials for model making and realized that both of us had some leftovers from the previous BE249 project. We would both bring in material from home and buy more as and when required.

Designing sketches for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Smita)

Designing sketches for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Damian)

Our final design for the bridge deck (Illustrations by Smita)

Highlights and learning from Day 2

I learnt that the more time you spend with someone, the more you get to know about the person and his qualities. I did not know Damian more than what he had himself described during the introductory lecture of BE249 course. Within two days I had started to admire him as a hardworking, eager to learn and a committed person. A positive input, admiration and moral support from Mr. Noel Painting and Dr Poorang made our day. Well begun is half done!

By the end of the day we had accomplished the following tasks:

• Established the best location for our footbridge
• Finalized our proposed design for the footbridge including the width, span and height
• Made sure that the design, materials and structure were compliant with Standards for Highway BD29/04 and all relevant sections of building reg. approved documents
• Detailed the deck design including handrail height and material for construction
• Discussed the most suitable, cost-effective lifting solution for the deck sections that would cause minimum traffic disruptions
• Discussed materials that we would be using for model making.

During the design week held between 7th – 11th November, 2016, at the University of Brighton (UoB), we had to undertake an architectural design project that required designing, preparation of a physical model and preparation of a poster explaining the design and the model making process. The project was planned as a group activity and also involved a presentation by each group to a jury panel on the final day. Our group consisted of two members from the UoB including myself and three 6^th form members from Hazelwick School; who joined us on Monday, Wednesday and for the presentation on Friday. I had been appointed as the group in-charge.

View of the Newport Transporter Bridge (Newport City Council, 2016)

Newport Transporter Bridge: Gondola suspended on cables (Newsquest Wales, July 2015)

All the groups were named after prominent bridges for motivation and to provide a professional feel. Our group was named as the ‘Newport Transporter’. Transporter bridges are movable bridges that work like ferries suspended on cables slung from tall towers, and are used to move people and goods from one bank of a river to the other. This arrangement allows for ships to pass underneath and eliminates the need to build long approach ramps that are otherwise required to build a conventional bridge that high. The gondola or platform is pulled using hauling cables attached to the motors running it.