Demolition is a term that refers to the act of destroying, dismantling, or removing something. Building demolition is the process of dismantling or destroying a structure after it has served its purpose through pre-planned and controlled methods.
There are two different methods of destroying building structures.
- Non-explosive demolition
- Explosive demolition
1. Non-Explosive Demolition
It refers to the process of demolishing a structure using equipment rather than explosives. Various pieces of equipment are used in the demolition process. The details are as follows:
- Sledge hammer
It is a small hand hammer that is used to demolish small walls or single columns.
- Bulldozers and excavators
These are large machines that are used to demolish small structures. They are used to excavate soil and transfer debris to trucks, among other things.
- Wrecking Balls
Excavators or bulldozers cannot be used to demolish a structure with a height greater than 6 stories. In these instances, a crane equipped with wrecking balls is used to carry out the demolition work. The wrecking ball crack is a large steel ball suspended from a steel rope. The steel ball is drawn and released in the direction of the building. The steel ball collides with the building and demolishes a portion of it. This is not a good idea because you can’t control where the steel ball goes after it hits the structure.
- High-Reach Excavators
High-reach excavator machines are used to demolish tall buildings that cannot be demolished via explosion. This machine is capable of demolishing structures up to 300 feet in height. By adding various attachments, high-reach excavators can be used for a variety of purposes.
- Building Demolition by the Implosion Method
An implosion is the process of destroying a structure with explosives. When the building’s supports are removed, the structure collapses. The primary structural members of buildings, such as columns, beams, and slabs, are fixed with explosives using the implosion technique. These explosives are detonated using a remote, the column, and subsequent structural collapse. There are two types of implosion, depending on how the structure collapses:
2. Falling like a tree Explosive Demolition Method
In this type of implosion, the structure is manipulated to fall sideways, much like a tree. This is the most frequently encountered type of implosion used by demolition contractors in Melbourne. When there is available space adjacent to the building, this method of demolition is recommended. If there is available space on the building’s left side, the explosives are placed on the building’s lower level, on the left side columns. As the explosives detonate, the columns burst and the building collapses to the left. Steel cables are attached to the building to control the direction in which it falls.
3. Falling into its own footprint
When there are no available parking spaces around the building, the surrounding structure needs to be protected. This method of demolition is used. In this type of demolition, explosives are placed on the floor beneath the building’s central portion. These explosives must be powerful, as the explosion must completely demolish the building. If one part explodes and is immediately followed by another, The structure then collapses towards the first blasted section. However, only a few companies worldwide have experience with this type of demolition. As the explosions occur, the upper portion of the building collapses and falls on the lower portion. The lower portion of the building also collapses and falls on its own footprint as a result of the heavy load and force.
Recent Comments