Construction of High Performance Equipment Foundations

Abstract

This paper is a study of how the demands for high performance products in the aerospace industry impact equipment technology and the design and construction of the foundations that support this equipment. The aerospace industry is constantly challenged to push the envelope of product design, resulting in high performance structures that must meet such demands as weight limits and flight performance in a hostile physical environments, while balancing quality and manufacturing costs. To meet the demands of these products the manufacturing processes have evolved from manually intensive processes to computer controlled machining and fabrication equipment and robotics. This state of the art equipment correspondingly demands the same high performance from the structural foundations that support them, such as providing precision mounting supports for multi-axis moving equipment, a maximum design deflection requirement of .003 of an inch, monolithic construction, and strict construction concrete tolerances and requirements. To further complicate the design and construction of the foundation, usually this high performance equipment is installed in existing manufacturing facilities and is constrained by the building location and size. This paper emphasizes that a close and early relationship must exist between the product designer, equipment engineer, structural engineer, construction manager, and the contractor for a project to be successful. Lessons learned from this study will help owners, engineers, construction managers, and contractors in planning, designing, and constructing future high performance foundations.