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Description
The construction of earthquake test structures is limited to certain research facilities throughout the world. Of these, only a handful possess the capacity to undergo the construction of full-scale test structures. The importance of these test structures is self-evident in that new results and data are sought in order to improve a structures ability to withstand the potential devastating effects of powerful earthquakes. This thesis presents the observation of the daily construction activities involving the general contractor and subcontractors, as well as their respective interaction with other industry sponsors providing labor and materials as applied to a unique full-scale test structure's construction. The test structure is a full-scale, five-story building fully outfitted with non-structural components systems. It is constructed on the world's largest outdoor shake table, housed at the University of California San Diego (NEES@UCSD). Testing of this structure will involve not only earthquake simulations, as well, post-earthquake fire tests are to be performed. The unique nature of donated work performed in construction, as was the case in this project, is seldom observed, presenting its own unique set of challenges that set it apart from conventional construction delivery methods. The author's responsibilities in this project included the development of a construction schedule using the critical path method (CPM), coordinating the sequence of construction activities with over 50 private industry partners, as well as ensuring compliance with the schedule and the satisfactory completion of work. Due to the uniqueness of the research project, the author also aided in scope negotiations with industry partners in order to contribute to the success of the overall test specimen design and construction management research areas of the project. The preliminary construction schedule was developed through the implementation of pull planning meetings using the knowledge and experience of the industry partners, with input from the academic partners. The research methods included direct observation of certain construction activities and literature review. Particular attention was paid to the activity work sequencing, the use and implementation of construction buffers, study of simulation software for construction, and the role of pull planning as a tool to aid in the coordination of construction activities. The data was collected using a mixed approach including the analysis of the general contractors daily progress reports, submittal documents including email correspondence, as well as semi-structured, informal interviews through various communication methods with industry partners. Quantitative data was collected through direct observation of construction activities, while qualitative data was collected through the informal interview process and pull planning meetings. In this thesis, the analysis of material buffer implementation and the effects on material and inventory stored on site was observed for several different construction activities. The study demonstrates that, for this case, a project depending on in-kind work had low progress reliability, high variability, and did not adhere to the baseline construction schedule. As a result, the construction project was undertaken with the necessary flexibility in construction scheduling in order to accommodate the particular needs of industry sponsors, while also achieving the objectives of the test. The end result is a landmark research project that would not have been possible without the untiring support of academia, private industry, and government agencies. The vested interest that is shared between these three groups in the project is demonstrated through the construction, completion, and successful testing of this one of a kind project.
