Project
The Pearl Path Project is a rigorous preservation and development project for the culturally historic city of Muharraq, the third-largest city in Bahrain. Named for the city’s history in the pearl industry, the project preserves Muharraq’s cultural heritage while improving its dense urban fabric. To accommodate the growing number of visitors and residents, creative new parking structures were built as part of this improvement project. The structures transcend being used merely as car storage, instead serving as visionary architecture that enriches the community. They feature unique curved slabs that change from concave to convex, touching each other and producing a continuous transition from one level to the other, offering a constantly changing spatial experience. The structure includes a spiral staircase between the slabs without any central column. Strong Force-MGC W.L.L. was the prestressing specialist carrying out value engineering design, and they faced technical challenges determining an optimal design solution to ensure structural integrity.
Solution
The team chose RAM Concept and PLAXIS to perform structural, geotechnical, and finite element analyses. The firm decided that prestressed force using post-tensioned slabs and rafts was the most effective way to minimize slab thicknesses and reduce reinforcement quantities. “As part of the stair design, the team had to account for the immediate and long-term deflection of the slabs. RAM Concept’s precise load history deflection checks helped the engineering team to account for the total deflection and allowed the engineers to detail the spiral stairs accordingly,” said Sharath Kumar, Senior Technical Manager at Strong Force MGC.
Outcome
Using Bentley’s comprehensive and integrated solutions, they determined the optimum design, saving 30% in design time. The post-tension design solution also reduced the total amount of concrete and steel by 30% to 40%, compared to a conventional concrete design.
Software
Facts
- The project features curved slabs which change from concave to convex.
- RAM Concept and PLAXIS were chosen for structural, geotechnical, and finite element analyses.
- The team cut design time by 30%.
- Materials were reduced by 30% to 40%.
“As part of the stair design, the team had to account for the immediate and long-term deflection of the slabs. RAM Concept’s precise load history deflection checks helped the engineering team to account for the total deflection and allowed the engineers to detail the spiral stairs accordingly.”
Sharath Kumar Senior Technical Manager Strong Force-MGC W.L.L.
