Dapeng Town Industrial Park, Tongshan District, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
With its unique shape and visual effect, dome curtain wall has gradually emerged in modern architecture. However, its construction process faces many challenges and requires a series of professional and fine construction techniques to ensure project quality and safety.
Accurate measurement and placement is the foundation of dome curtain wall construction. Due to the curved surface characteristics of the dome, the traditional plane measurement method is difficult to meet the requirements. Usually need to use three-dimensional coordinate measurement technology, the use of total station and other advanced instruments, the dome of each control point for accurate measurement and positioning. First of all, establish a local coordinate system that matches the overall coordinate system of the building, and determine the centre position of the dome, the radius and the three-dimensional coordinates of the key nodes. During the measurement process, the influence of the curvature of the earth, atmospheric refraction and other factors on the measurement accuracy should be taken into account and corrected accordingly. Through multiple measurement reviews, the accuracy of the measurement data is ensured, providing a reliable basis for the subsequent installation of the curtain wall keel.
As the skeleton supporting the curtain wall panels, the installation accuracy and stability of the keel is directly related to the quality of the whole dome curtain wall. For the shape of the dome, the keel often adopts curved or folded linear rod. When installing, it usually starts from the top or bottom of the dome and gradually extends to the surrounding. Adopting the method of segmental lifting and overhead splicing, the keel rods are lifted and transported to the installation position using tower cranes or cranes, and then precisely adjusted after being fixed by temporary support. In the splicing process, it is necessary to ensure that the connection between the rods is tight and the quality of the welds meets the requirements, and at the same time, control the curvature and slope of the keel so that it matches the curved surface of the designed dome. For some large or complex dome curtain wall, space truss keel structure may also be used to enhance the overall bearing capacity and stability.
The installation of curtain wall panels is a key link in the construction of dome curtain wall. Common panel materials include glass, metal plate and so on. When the glass panel is installed, attention should be paid to the accuracy of its size and shape to adapt to the curved surface changes of the dome. Special tools such as suction cups are used for lifting and installation to ensure that the glass is not damaged during installation. In terms of the connection between the panel and the keel, aluminium alloy hangers or point barge fittings are mostly used, which are fixed by bolts or welding to ensure a firm connection and adapt to the panel’s thermal expansion and contraction deformation. Metal plate panels need to be pre-processed in the factory, according to the curvature of the dome for bending and shaping, on-site installation through riveted or welded and keel connection, pay attention to the splicing joints between the panels to deal with the use of sealant sealing, to prevent rainwater seepage.
Due to the special modelling of the dome curtain wall, waterproofing and sealing treatment is particularly important. Strict waterproof treatment is required in the connection parts of keel and panel, the splicing joints between panels and the intersection between the dome and the surrounding structure. Adopt high-quality sealant, such as silicone weathering sealant, which has good weather resistance, adhesion and elasticity, and can effectively fill the gaps and adapt to the deformation of the structure. Before gluing, the gaps should be cleaned and treated to ensure a strong bond between the sealant and the grassroots. At the same time, set up drainage slopes and drainage channels so that rainwater can be quickly discharged away from the surface of the curtain wall to avoid water accumulation leading to leakage or damage.
Dome curtain wall construction belongs to high-altitude operation, and the safety risk is large. Therefore, it is necessary to develop perfect safety measures. Build a solid scaffolding or operating platform, the structure of which should be specially designed and calculated to withstand construction loads and wind effects. Set up protective railings and safety nets at dangerous parts such as edges and holes to prevent people from falling. Construction personnel must wear personal protective equipment such as safety belts and helmets, and undergo regular safety training and education. During the lifting operation, the lifting equipment should be strictly inspected and debugged to ensure its reliable performance, and the lifting process should be commanded by a special person to avoid collision and other accidents.
Dome curtain wall construction technology is a complex systematic project, which requires the comprehensive use of measurement, structure, materials and other aspects of professional knowledge and technical means, through careful organisation of construction, strict quality control and safety management, in order to create a beautiful, safe and durable dome curtain wall construction works.
