Selection of structural frames for apartment buildings applying Value Engineering

Abstract

The rise in vertical constructions in the Municipalidad del Distrito Central (MDC) has been evident during the last decade in Honduras, because of population growth and consequent increase in the demand for housing. The study aim was to apply Value Engineering in a comparative analysis that facilitates the selection between reinforced concrete and structural steel frames for MDC apartment buildings, as a guide for those involved in the increase of such projects in the last years. Methods. The study was descriptive, since reinforced concrete frames and steel frames were compared by evaluating several significant variables for both construction solutions. The criteria used were based on professionals from civil engineering and architecture from consulting and construction companies, as well as calculation costs and times per m² findings, obtained from a model of a 7-story building. Results. The reinforced concrete frames had a score of 3.42 and a value index of 0.00203, while the steel frames presented a score of 2.72 and a value index of 0.00038. Conclusion. The reinforced concrete frames are a more efficient solution compared to steel frames, under the specific considerations selected in this research.