TITLE:
Experimental Evaluation of Fixing Equipment for Improving the Efficiency of Modular Unit Systems
AUTHORS:
Kyoon-Tai Kim, Nam-Cheon Park
KEYWORDS:
Component, Modular Housing, Modular Unit, Modular System, Fixing Equipment, Evaluation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research,
Vol.2 No.4,
December
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: Modular unit systems provide an eco-friendly advanced construction method that improves productivity and reduces carbon emissions and construction waste. In these systems, the prefabrication ratio of the modules should be high in order to support these eco-friendly features. The purpose of this study was to verify the functionality and driving safety of fixing a modular unit with a high prefabrication ratio to a vehicle for transportation to the site using two novel adapter blocks specially developed for this purpose. When asked to evaluate their performance for this study, the truck drivers selected adaptor block type B as providing the highest convenience and functionality. In real-world driving experiments, maximum loads of 15 kN and 25 kN were measured on adapter block types A and B, respectively. Future improvements in the adapter blocks that take the safety ratio and the improved convenience of use into account are confidently expected to contribute to the eco-friendliness and the improved productivity of modular unit systems.