35 / 60
33
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MAY
2016
ABOVE LEFT:
One of the challenges was
managing the workability and behaviour of
the concrete in the cold winter months when the
pours were done.
ABOVE:
As many as 10 different interfaces were
on the go at any given time.
RIGHT:
The concrete crews would start pouring at
7:00 in the morning with their shifts varying from
nine to 12 hours.
biggest comprising a massive 420 m
3
in
12 hours. Generally, the Murray & Roberts
Infrastructure team would average between
200 m
3
and 400 m
3
in a shift
The slab was constructed in 18 panels,
each of which comprised roughly 33 metre
by 10 metre sections with various slopes to
allow for surface drainage. It also comprises
various islands and plinths to accommodate
the mechanical installations.
Major concrete works were also under-
taken at the 1 500 m
2
diesel and lubrication
storage tank area. The contractor built
two 12,7 metre diameter ring beams to
support two 1 500 k
ℓ
diesel tanks, as well
as a 2,2 metre high bund wall on the peri-
meter of the area.
This aspect of the work also comprised
surface slabs adjoining the three sides of the
structure, with multiple plinths to accommo-
date the mechanical installations.
Krugel says one of the challenges on all
concrete works undertaken in the area was
the extreme fluctuations in temperature.