Factors that Influence the costs of load-bearing structures in prefabricated concrete halls – a case study from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, many factories produce prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. This research aims to investigate the impact of the span of primary roof beams and the longitudinal distance between supporting columns on the costs of constructing load-bearing structural components for prefabricated reinforced concrete halls in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Static analyses with detailed reinforcement drawings and calculations have been provided for various scenarios of prefab halls with parameters such as primary roof beams with spans of 16.0, 18.0, 22.0, or 24.0 m and a longitudinal distance between the columns of λ = 6.0, 7.5, 10.0, or 12.0m. This paper comprehensively analyzes sixteen different prefab halls to find an answer to the question: If the longitudinal distance between supported columns is increased, will the costs of the prefab hall also be increased? After conducting a comprehensive analysis, we have concluded that increasing the span of primary roof beams and the longitudinal distance between columns increases the total reinforcement cost. However, greater distance between columns reduces the number of elements, significantly reducing the costs associated with concrete works and expenses related to transportation and assembly. As a result of analyses, we have proposed the economically efficient optimal longitudinal distance between supporting columns.