A new life for ultra low strength concrete, Brisbane City Hall

Author(s): Albert N van Grieken
Paper category: Conference
Book title: Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting III (ICCRRR)
Editor(s): M.G. Alexander, H.-D. Beushausen, F. Dehn, P. Moyo
Print ISBN: 978-0-415-89952-9
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Pages: 291- 292
Total Pages: 2
Language: English

Abstract: 
The foundation stone for the Brisbane City Hall was laid by the Prince of Wales in 1920. Since it was officially opened in 1930, the City Hall has become one of the most significant heritage buildings in Queensland and the community and cultural centre of Brisbane. The City of Brisbane now wants the City Hall to be upgraded and the structure to support the loads of a modern public building. This posed significant structural challenges. Preliminary analysis of initial compressive testing of the superstructure concrete, confirmed a characteristic compressive strength of 6 MPa. Examination and analysis of the concrete mix lead to the conclusion that sand bulking, due to volume batching by hand, and increased water content led to this reduced concrete strength. To arrive at a renovation design strength, more than 300 additional core samples were extracted and tested. The results were analysed in detail and using different statistical analysis models and a design compressive strength of only 3.4 MPa was finally adopted. In conjunction with ground penetration radar surveys of the structure, this enabled the identification, selection and design of structural strengthening options, which caused the least disruption to the heritage fabric. The building is currently being refurbished and will resume its place as one of Brisbane’s most important and loved public buildings with a stronger structure to meet current and future needs.

Online publication: 2014
Publication Type: abstract_only
Public price (Euros): 0.00