No. 47 April 2016

STEEL CONSTRUCTIONTODAY & TOMORROW

http://www.jisf.or.jp/en/activity/sctt/index.html【 k e i 】
“繫 (kei, tsuna-gu)” in Japanese, or “connect” in English

The purpose of BIM (building information modeling) andCIM (construction information modeling) is originally to connect the
information required for every process of a construction projectfrom design and construction to maintenance. How to effectively
apply BIM and CIM is featured in Issue No. 47.
Special Issue: Japanese Society of Steel Construction

Commendations for Outstanding Achievements in 2015
1 Nhat Tan Bridge
3 Ribbon Chapel
4 Nippon Life Marunouchi
Garden Tower

5 Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo
Headquarters Building

6 Reinforcement Designfor Existing Non-conforming
Steel Buildings©Koji Fujii / Nacasa &Partners Inc.

7 A Study on Use of the Effective Notch Stress Method toPrevent Root Fatigue Failure

Special Feature: BIM and CIM
8 BIM in Architectural and Structural Designs
11 Expectations for the Wider Application of BIM in Steel-frame Construction
Published Jointly by

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Japanese Society of Steel Construction

13 Application of Three-dimensional Bridge Product Modelingtowards the Strategic Maintenance of Steel Bridges

15 CIM Trial Application ProjectSpecial Feature: Stainless Steel
17 Current Applications of Stainless Steel Structural Materials in Japan
Back cover JSSC Operations

Commendations for Outstanding Achievements in 2015-JSSC Award

Nhat Tan Bridge

Prize winners: Joint Venture of IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui
Construction Co., Ltd.
Nhat Tan Bridge is a new route from Noi
Bai International Airport to downtown in
Hanoi, Vietnam. The main bridge section isa 1500 m long, 6-span cable stayed bridgewith 8 traffic lanes. This multiple span cablestayed bridge is the first application in Southeast Asia and a very rare type in the world. A
general view and cross-section of the main
bridge are shown in Fig. 1.
Steel pipe sheet pile (SPSP) was adopted for the foundation of pylons with a total
weight of steel pipe equal to 14,200 tons. Total weight of anchorage box and steel girder is around 15,000 tons. New prefabricatedparallel wire strands are used for stay cable.
Total number of stay cable is 220 and total
weight of stay cables is approximately 1,800
tons.
The architectural and structural design
was undertaken by the consortium of Chodai Co., Ltd. and Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. (NE) in association withTransport Engineering Design Incorporated(TEDI).
The construction was undertaken by the
Joint Venture of IHI Infrastructure Systems
Co., Ltd. (IIS) and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. (SMCC), wherein the lead
JV partner is IIS.
General Construction Method
The main bridge across and over the 1.0 km
wide river plays an important role as navigation route, so that any construction methodthat occupies the river (such as construction
bent on river) was not allowed. Therefore, inclined bent method is adopted around eachpylon and balanced cantilever construction
method was adopted in the remaining parts
including side span of bridge as shown in
Photos 1 and 2, respectively. Side span usually is constructed in advance with use ofbent, so application of cantilever erection into whole span in large scale of multiple spanstay cable bridge would be the first challengeof its kind in the world.
Steel Pipe Sheet Pile (SPSP) Foundation
The foundation for the five pylons that support the main bridge was done using SPSP
foundation method. This is a technology developed in Japan that shortens the time needed for construction compared to conventional methods and strengthens the bridge against
earthquake and soft ground. This technology was adopted for the first time in Southeast

Fig. 1 General View/Cross-Section of Main Bridge

Photo 1 View of construction by inclined bent

Photo 2 View of construction by cantilevererection

Photo 3 SPSP installation
1 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

Asia and was completed successfully. Photo
3 shows SPSP installation.
SPSP foundation method was newly
adapted as one of standards of foundation
system (TCVN9246: 2012) in Vietnam.
Step Analysis and Geometry Control• Step Analysis
In order to confirm the structural integrity ofthe bridge during erection, forward step analysis was performed. It is a noticeable pointon this model that fishbone model with two
separate beam elements representing thesteel girders and concrete deck slab was applied, thereby, it realizes effective modelingof creep and shrinkage on concrete deck thatare much closer to actual creep and shrinkage
as well as easy modeling of composite andnon-composite section effect on girders. (Refer to Fig. 2)• Geometry Control
During cantilever erection, it was necessary to predict the effects of any adjustments
made at each erection stage on the geometryat bridge completion. Construction stage results were used as target values for compari-son during stay cable tensioning works.
Fabrication errors on edge girder, anchor
box and stay cable were considered and thetargets were adjusted accordingly.
A system that incorporated all of theabove was developed and applied for the installation and adjustments of all stay cables.
Comparison of the target Girder displacement (analysis) and actual Girder displacement after calibrated is shown in Fig. 3.
Structural Steel Fabrication Works
Structural steel fabrication was conductedin three factories as shown in Table 1 andmore than 50% was done by IHI Infrastructure Asia Co., Ltd (IIA). IIA is a subsidiarycompany of IHI Corporation with fabrication
Table 1 Steel Fabrication Summary
IHI Aichi (Japan)

2,500 tons

IHI Infrastructure
Asia Co., Ltd. (IIA) (Vietnam)

7,885 tons

Mitsui Thang Long Steel
Construction Co., Ltd.
(MTSC) (Vietnam)

4,000 tons

Beam(deck slab)

Rigid link

Beam(steel girder)

Fig. 3 Comparison of Target and Actual Girder Displacement during Cantilever
Erection
SurveyPhoto 5 Night view of Nhat Tan Bridge

shop in Hai Phong, Vietnam. (Refer to Photo 4)
To ensure high quality, Vietnamese fabrication supervisors had a 3-4 months training
in IHI Aichi factory in Japan, and during the
fabrication works, Japanese supervisors were
mobilized in each fabrication stage.
Also, during the fabrication works, factory visits and inspections were conducted andhigh quality steel fabricated in Vietnam wasproduced, which is a proof of another successful transfer of technology from Japan toVietnam.
As a result, the quality and workmanshipof steel fabrication in IIA are the same assteel fabricated in Japan.

Fig. 2 Analysis Model

Truss(stay cable)

Photo 4 Steel fabrication works

Analysis target

Nhat Tan Bridge-A Famous Landmark in Hanoi
With the use of structural steel, the construction period was shortened by 4 months compared with the Original Master Schedule on
superstructure part. Therefore, this shows in
Vietnam and all over the world the advantage
of using structural steel in bridge construction and other construction works.
Nhat Tan Bridge, which was constructedusing mostly structural steel, has become afamous landmark in Hanoi and is considered
one of the most scenic bridges in Vietnam especially when the different colors of lights directed at the pylons are illuminated at night(Photo 5).
￭

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 2

-Outstanding Achievement Award

Ribbon Chapel

Prize winners: Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co., Ltd., Ikuhide Shibata, Arup, andYuzo Minoda, NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
The Ribbon Chapel is a wedding venue located on
the grounds of a resort hotel in Hiroshima, Japan.
Inspired by a flying ribbon, two curved staircases encircle the exterior of the chapel, a steel structure 15.4 m in height and with an area of 72 m²,
meeting at a rooftop platform overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The staircases start at different locations before ascending and becoming one at thetop, symbolizing two paths ending in marriage.
The structure can be regarded as a coil spring thattwists and expands outward while moving up anddown with pressure from above but unlike a typical coil, the architect’s design is free form.
Fig. 1 Structural Concept Model

The curved free-form 3D design with the‘floating’ staircases presented unprecedented
challenges to realize in construction and steel
fabrication in both cost and schedule. Hence thegeometry was redefined as a combination of 88
two-dimensional curved steel pieces, each with amaximum variation allowance of 10 mm to create a 3D free form.
The structural challenges included:• Providing support without impacting the aesthetics©Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners Inc.

Ribbon Chapel©Koji Fujii / Nacasa & Partners Inc.

The chapel spirals up a cliff overlooking the sea• Coping with vibration and seismic activity• Managing the displacement under the structure’s own weight
Our solution to stabilize the movement wasto connect four points in four directions where
the two stairways cross paths. This created a
3-dimensional bracing system to resist horizontal forces and a basic structural concept ofhoops to restrain the outward swell with the twostaircases providing mutual horizontal support
to each other. Steel posts 100 mm in diameter
were installed to support the vertical load. The
posts only support the inner spiral, while theouter spiral is coupled to the inner spiral in theform of an overhang. (Refer to Figs. 1 and 2)
Secondly, since the Ribbon Chapel is located inan earthquake zone, a Base Isolation System was installed to reduce seismic forces and to increase durability of the building so that it would not be necessary to modify the form, system, regulations ormaterial specification to ensure a stable and safebuilding but still preserve the original design intent.
Furthermore, there were three points on the outer
spiral where the floor’s natural vibration frequency

was under 8 Hz, which led to concerns about footfall-induced vibration. Therefore, to ensure visitor
comfort, three cantilever-type Tuned Mass Dampers were installed to reduce floor vibration.
The third challenge was the displacement
by self weight from the desired location whenconstructed. It was foreseen that when the falsework was removed after completion of construction, the building would undergo a maximum of 32 mm in rotational displacement,
causing the vertical support posts to lean.
Our solutions were:• Shaping the steel to take into account the effectof the calculated deformation and the offset in 3D• Add a 3D concave offset to absorb the verticalsupport post movement. The support posts weredeliberately slanted during construction by thesame degree of rotational displacement, but inthe reverse direction. As a result, after the completion of construction the posts would ‘twist’
back to vertical. (Refer to Fig. 3)
Fig. 3 3D Concave Offset to Absorb the
Vertical Support Post Movement
2: Offset in 3D in reverse
direction
0: Original model
1: Calculated deformation
due to self-weightFig. 2 Structural Components of Ribbon Chapel
Spiral frame

Connections between
inner and outer spirals

Tuned mass dampers

Steel basement

Friction pendulum
system(base isolation)

3 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

Vertical posts supporting
inner spiral

We used real world applications as innovative
solutions to realize this concept. We believe this is
the only structural system of its kind in the world.
The total design including a durable structural system and simplified fabrication methods is ecological, cost and time efficient. It’s an iconic double
purposed design, that is a wedding chapel and also
an observatory, which continues to entice increased
numbers of new visitors yearly. It’s small but displays our cutting-edge design and creativity.
(Written by Ikuhide Shibata, Arup)￭

-Outstanding Achievement Award

Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower

Prize winners: Satoru Nagase, Isao Kanayama and Yasuo Kagami, Nikkken Sekkei Ltd.; and Toru
Takahashi and Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Obayashi Corporation
Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower is
a 115 m high office building located near theimperial palace at the center of Tokyo. The
impressive building façade is a part of structural and architectural elements. Also it is environmentally sun-shading device to reduceheat inputs. Structural solution taking advantage of multifarious steel has integrated architectural, structural and environmental design.
Design Requirements for Structure-Expansive column-less office space with agood view-Façade design with vertical impression-High seismic resistant capacity-Sustainability design with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)Certified Gold
Structural Design Solutions-Structure composed of core and perimeter
moment-resistant frame-27.5 m long beam connecting core and perimeter frame to support office floor-Façade design by exposed steel columns of
perimeter frame-Seismic response control design-Fire performance-based design for steel-Use of recycled steel for sustainability design
Structural System• Composite Steel Structures

Gravity load of office space of 64.8 m × 27.5
m is supported by 27.5 m long steel beams
connecting columns in core and perimeter
frame. RHS and CHS steel columns are filledwith high strength concrete of Grade Fc60
and Fc80. The 27.5 m long H-section beams
are stiffened by partially filled concrete toimprove floor vibration performances.
• Horizontal Response Control-Vibration energy-absorbing devices
Combined hysteretic and viscous energydissipating vibration control system using
both buckling-restraint braces and wall-type
dampers in core is used in order to reduce responses due to earthquakes and winds.
-Seismic damage control device
Column-type metallic dampers with the low
yield point steel to control seismic damagesof perimeter frame are used. Combined twocolumn-type dampers and twin-columns to
support gravity load are placed alternately
and connected by perimeter beams to constitute the moment-resistant frame.

Structural Material Right Selection in
the Right Place• Steel Grade
Yield points of primary steel used for columns and beams are 325, 385, 440 N/mm2
which are selected considering design forces and structural roles. The steel plate used
for both buckling-restraint braces and perimeter column-type metallic dampers has a low
yield point of 225 N/mm2.
• Composite Columns and Beams
Concrete with high compressive strength of
60 and 80 N/mm2 is used for composite columns and 27.5 m long beams to support gravity loads efficiently.
• Recycled Steel for Sustainability
Recycled steel with a yield point of 235 and325 N/mm2 is widely for beams and also wasevaluated on LEED certification.
Steel Fabrication and Site Erection
High construction accuracy for shop fabrication and site erection was obtained andit contributed to realize the architecturally,
structurally and environmentally integrated
design.
￭Viscous wall-type damper
Buckling-restraint brace
Colum-type metallic damper
Steel shear wall

27.5 mMain structure CG

64.8 mTypical office floor plan
Building appearance

Perimeter column
April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 4

-Outstanding Achievement Award

Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters
Building

Prize winners: Yuichi Koitabashi, Seiya Kimura and Yasuo Kagami, Nikken Sekkei Ltd.; and Shimizu
Corporation
In the plans for the Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo
Headquarters Building, the following originalideas, devices and advanced measures were incorporated to handle the various tasks involvedin the design and construction. These ideas led
to an architecture that contributes to the development and diffusion of steel structures.
• Securement of high seismic resistance-Retention of the building main frame in its elastic range
and maintenance of its function asa newspaper headquarters building
during near-source region and othergreat earthquakes
High-strength steel products were used for thecolumns (SA440C and TMCP385B grades)and girders, and “energy-absorbing responsecontrol structures for specified floors” wereadopted that offer a high energy absorption efficiency, an efficiency that is more than threetimes that of the response-control structures ofcommon high-rise buildings.
• A plan to reduce the aftershock tremors that follow long-period seismic
motions or great earthquakes
The active mass damper (AMD) was installedon the rooftop that can handle a floor response
acceleration of 2~200 gals. This was done inorder to structure a mechanism for mitigating
not only wind-induced vibration but also theaftershock tremors that follow earthquakes.
• Measures to prevent building collapse even during an unexpectedmega earthquake that is even more
severe than a great earthquake
Among the measures taken were: the devel-

Structural Outline
Abovegroundsection• Steel structure,
CFT for part ofcolumn (FC90~60)

14F~• Grade of steel
product forcolumn: SN490C
15F~• Grade of steel
product forcolumn: SN490B

Adoption ofhigh-strength
steel product for
main frame

Seismic-resistant brace(elastic axle)

High-rise section(main frame: elastic)

Viscous response-control wall
(response-control damper)

B2F~7F• Grade of steel
product forcolumn: SA440C,
TMCP385C

2F~14F• Grade of steel
product forgirder: TMCP385B

Energy-absorption
concentration layer(main frame: elastic)

Steel plate seismic-resistantwall (elastic)

Seismic-resistantbrace (elastic)

Full view

Low-rise section=
Highly rigid(main frame: elastic)

Undergroundsection• SRC structure(partly RC structure)

Filling soil

Foundation• Spread foundation

Tokyo gravel layer

5 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

opment and adoption of beam-end web local
buckling and stiffening details with high plastic deformation capacity and the implementation of diverse welding tests for the highstrength steel column-girder weld connections.
These tests are designed to find the welding
conditions for obtaining high Charpy impact
strength and to reflect such conditions in member manufacture and installation.
• Measures to prolong building service
life and to mitigate environmental loads
Among the measures taken were: the monitoring of response-control and seismic-resistantmembers by means of floor response acceleration and displacement measurements; the adoption of a pair of large-span suspension cabletrusses employing double-wall Low-E glass torealize a spacious atrium façade with a higher
heat reduction efficiency; and the partial utilization of existing former headquarters building
structures for the earth-retaining walls and thebearing stratum of the new building, in orderto reduce the discharge of waste materials andsurplus soil and the usage of earth-retaining andother temporary construction steel products. ￭Yurakucho bed
Tokyo formation(sandy soil layer,clay soil layer)

Edogawa formation

Spacious atrium façade

-Thesis Award

Reinforcement Design for Existing Nonconforming Steel Buildings Using STKR
Columns

Prize winners: Yuji Koetaka, Kyoto University and Tatsuya Nakano, Utsunomiya University
Yuji Koetaka
1999: Graduated from Graduate
School of Engineering,Osaka University
1999: Entered Taisei Corporation
2001: Assistant Professor, Kyoto University
2007: Lecturer, Osaka Institute of Technology
2011: Associate Professor, Graduate School
Engineering, Kyoto University

Tatsuya Nakano
2003: Finished Doctoral Course,
Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya
University
2003: Assistant Professor, Utsunomiya University
2013: Associate Professor, Utsunomiya University

In the revision of the Building Standard Law
of Japan in 2007, a new provision was added in which the column overdesign factor
was set at 1.5 or more for steel buildings using cold-formed square steel tubes as the columns. This study targets existing steel buildings that cannot satisfy the above-mentioned
factor and use the STKR-grade square steel
tube as the columns.
The attainments of this study are compiled in three theses, in which the calculation
formula of the full plastic moment of columns after reinforcement is proposed, targeting four kinds of reinforcement methods asshown in Fig. 1. The elasto-plastic behavior,
strength and plastic deformation capacity ofcolumns after reinforcement have been confirmed by means of loading tests. In addition,
the validity of the equations used in the calculations is confirmed based on the test results,
and the conditions for demonstrating the full
plastic moment are made clear. Outlines of
the three theses are introduced below:
In the first thesis, reinforcement methods that use steel plate or angle steel are targeted. The reinforcing effect was mainly examined of the dimension of the reinforcing
members and the number of column surfaces on which the reinforcing members are installed. In addition, the reinforcement height
and the necessary conditions to weld the reinforcing members were grasped. When using

angle steel for reinforcement, it is necessary
to install the reinforcing members on all surfaces of the columns. Meanwhile, when using steel plate for reinforcement, it is possible to select optional surfaces of the columns.
In the second thesis, a reinforcement
method that combines the use of both steel
plate and PC bars is targeted. In the test, theseparation between the floor slab and the fastening steel plate due to the elongation of PCbars and the out-of-deformation of the fastening steel plate due to its yield are observed
preceding plasticity of a column. Based onthese test results, the method to calculate thestrength of the stiffening section was established in order to propose a design methodthat ensures the full plastic moment of thecolumn after reinforcement.

In the third thesis, reinforcement by wrapping mortar around the column is targeted.
The main examination was to grasp the necessary conditions, such as the number andthickness of the shear cotters, to demonstrate
the full plastic moment of columns after reinforcement.
Concrete floor slabs are not removed if either the reinforcement by the combined useof steel plate and PC bars or the reinforcement by wrapping is applied.
This study was conducted under the auspices of the Building Standard Maintenance
Promotion Program by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan. We express our sincere gratitude towhom it may concern.
￭

Fig. 1 Methods of Reinforcement of STKR Column

Steel plate(a) Reinforcement by steel plates

Angle steel(b) Reinforcement by angle steels

MortarSteel plate
PC barSteel moldSteel plate
Shear cotter
Stiffener(c) Reinforcement by steel plates and PC bars(d) Reinforcement by wrapping

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 6

-Thesis Award

A Study on Use of the Effective Notch
Stress Method to Prevent Root Fatigue
Failure in Out-of-plane Gusset Welded
Joints with Ground Toes

Prize winners: Takeshi Mori, Hosei University; Toshimitsu Suzuki, Tohru Oomae, Takahiro Murakami and Junichi
Ikoshi, Japan Bridge Association
Takeshi Mori
1980:Finished master course,
Graduate School, Tokyo
Metropolitan University
1982~1990: Assistant, Tokyo
Institute of Technology
1990: Assistant Professor, Hosei University
1996: Professor, Hosei University
Currently: Professor, Faculty of Engineering and
Design, Hosei University

In out-of-plane gusset welded joints that areused where main girders intersect with cross
beams on steel plate girder bridges, fatigue
failure in most cases originates in boxing
weld toes that have high concentrations ofstress. However, in cases when the weld toe
is finished by the use of a grinder to improve
fatigue strength, there are instances when thefatigue failure will originate at the weld root,
rather than the weld toe.
In the current study, in order to establish amethod to prevent root fatigue failure in outof-plane gusset joints with weld toes finished
to about 5 mm, fatigue tests and finite element stress analyses were conducted on model test specimens; further, the parametric finite element stress analyses were conductedwith the thicknesses of the main plate and thegussets set as variables.
In the fatigue tests, five kinds of test specimens were adopted with each having a different weld toe finish, weld penetration depth
and welding leg length. In the analysis ofthese five test specimens, the stress concentrations at the root tip and the finished weld
toe were compared using the effective notch
stress method, which is regarded as able toaccount for peculiarities in root tip configurations. The analysis shows that use of theeffective notch stress method as proposed in
the current study is effective in examining fatigue failure initiation points.

Fig. 1 Configuration and Dimension of Test Specimen
160
16

50

(unit: mm)

Furthermore, the three-dimensional elastic finite element stress analyses were conducted using as parameters the thickness ofthe main plate girder and the gussets, weld
size, weld configuration and the weld penetration depth in the longitudinal direction of
the gussets and the through-thickness direction of the plate, thereby clarifying the effectof these parameters on the effective notch
stress of the weld root and toe.
The results of this study confirm the appropriateness of the Recommendations specified by the Japanese Society of Steel Construction in its guidelines for preventing root
fatigue failure: “the welding depth in the longitudinal direction of the gusset end should
exceed twice that of the main plate thickness.” In this regard, the current study presents this practical result-the effective notch
stress of the weld root is about 70% of that at
the weld toe.
￭Fig. 3 Relation between Stress Concentration Factor
and Weld Penetration Depth

10
120
700

F-PP6

Stress concentration factor

Fig. 2 Fatigue Failure Surface with Beach Mark

Toe
Root

Main plate thickness Tm: 16 mm

Toe fracture
F-AW11Longitudinal-direction penetration depth

Root fracture

7 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

Special Feature: BIM and CIM
Looking ahead to the ongoing reduction in birth rate and to
the aging of society in Japan, new changes are being called
for in every aspect of construction from design and construction to maintenance and repair, in order to further promoteresource/energy/labor savings and to enhance work efficiency. BIM (building information modeling) and CIM (construction information modeling) are expected to work as thenucleus for attaining this goal. BIM has already been put into trial use in many practical projects, and the full-scale application of CIM (BIM for infrastructure) started in 2012.

In light of this situation, Issue No. 47 features the current
application of BIM and CIM and their future tasks in the following four cases:• BIM in architectural and structural designs• Expectations for the wider application of BIM in steelframe construction• Application of three-dimensional bridge product modelingtowards the strategic maintenance of steel bridges• CIM trial application projectSpecial Feature: BIM and CIM-Building Information Modeling (1)BIM in Architectural and Structural
Designsby Tomohiko Yamanashi, Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
From Productivity Improvement to
Design Quality Improvement
Originally, BIM (building information modeling) was a “tool for productivity improvement” that was developed under the influenceof the design and production processes in automobiles and aircraft. In the field of building construction, BIM was developed withthe main aim of improving productivity inconstruction. More specifically, it was developed on the concept of reducing reworking
in the construction process by preparing, atthe design stage, a highly consistent three-dimensional digital model in a virtual three-dimensional space in computers, instead of preparing two-dimensional drawings on paper.
While BIM was developed from such a
concept, it has become clear that diverse mer-its derive from using BIM even in the design
process. Most reworking at the design stage
is caused by various factors, such as a lackof understanding by the client of the design
proper when entering into the latter stage ofthe design work, non-attainment of the expected design performance, excessive initialcost, and inconsistency between the architectural structure and the equipment.
In order to hurdle these factors, BIM isgreatly helpful in capitalizing on design visualization, various BIM-applied simulations, and the real-time grasping of required
tonnages by the use of BIM. To this end, it
has become clear that BIM can serve as a toolthat improves quality in the design process.
Given this situation, Nikken Sekkei considers BIM as a trump card in “improving de-sign quality” and is promoting the companywide application of BIM. (Refer to Photo 1
and Fig.1: Lazona Kawasaki Toshiba Building)“Configuration” and “Phenomenon”
in Architectural Design
The merits obtained from the use of BIM inbuilding design can be roughly classified by
two terms: “configuration” and “phenomenon.”
It can safely be said that the principal merit in using BIM in architectural design lies inthat when BIM is applied, the building structure that is originally three-dimensional canbe designed straight-forwardly as three-dimensional. This merit may be seen as a benefit derived from BIM’s capability to handle

Fig. 1 BIM integrated drawing at basic design stage of Lazona Kawasaki Toshiba Building

Photo 1 Lazona Kawasaki Toshiba Building

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 8

the “configuration.” (Refer to Photo 2 andFig.2: Hoki Museum)
Compared to the case of relying on twodimensional design, mutual understanding
among the design team members is outstandingly promoted by the use of BIM. On topof this, the presentation by means of perspective drawings and videos prepared by the useof BIM is very helpful in promoting the client’s understanding of design. In addition,
the clash detection of consistency among de-sign, structure and equipment can be visually and electronically confirmed at the design stage by preparing an integrated modelin which the BIM-based columns, beams andother structural members and the BIM-based
ducts and other equipment are piled on the architectural BIM. In the integrated model, thestructural members are three-dimensionally input, and therefore approximate tonnages
can be calculated nearly on a real-time basis.
Because the architectural design of a build-

ing is the handling of the “configuration,”the predominance of BIM is surely obvious
because a BIM design can be promoted in amanner similar to the way that plastic models
are assembled in a virtual three-dimensional
space on computers.
It can be said that a secondary merit of
BIM in architectural design is the availability of various simulations that employ BIM’s
three-dimensional models. This merit is, so
to speak, the capability of BIM to handle var-

Fig. 2 BIM of Hoki Museum

Photo 2 Hoki Museum

Fig. 3 Simulation by use of BIM of On the water

Photo 3 On the water

9 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

ious physical conditions occurring inside thebuilding, that is, the “phenomena.”
When mentioning simulations that handle
the typical phenomena in building design, thesimulation of airflow and the thermal environment by means of computer fluid dynamics (CFD) can be cited. Formerly, it required
more time to prepare the three-dimensional digital model that was used for simulation
than it did to prepare the simulation itself.
Currently, because the design itself is madeby means of BIM, CFD has become easier toapply, and thus it is now easy to feed back theresults obtained in CFD to the design, which
has led to the improvement of design quality. (Refer to Photo 3 and Fig.3: On the water)
The common application of simulations
pertaining to the light and sound environments has started due to the diffusion of not
only CFD but BIM; and, as a result we really feel in our routine design work that the application of BIM has led to an improvementof design quality.
“Configuration” and “Phenomena” in
Structural Design
In the field of structures, the tasks involvedin the “configuration,” or analytical line segments, and the “phenomena,” or structural calculation and analysis, had already beentreated on computers prior to the introductionof BIM. Nikken Sekkei has noticed this andhas linked several structure-related software

applications to digital images, which has promoted BIM in structural design all at once.
In this situation, it was the software to connect the company’s in-house structure analysis program and the BIM structural softwarethat was first developed. Capitalizing on thissoftware, the BIM structure is automatically
prepared from the numerical and member information that the analysis line segment retains on the structural analysis program.
When the detailed beam- and slab-level information is given on BIM, a list of the various structural members and framing elevations can be nearly automatically drawn. The
linkage of both the “phenomena” on the analysis program and the “configuration” on thedesign drawing offers a great merit when taking quality into account in structural design.
(Refer to Photo 4 and Fig. 4: No. 1 Buildingof Toho Gakuen Chofu Campus)
Further, in the design of stadiums andother similar facilities in which complicated structural configurations are adopted andstructural members are used in an exposed
form (used as they are), the building shape(configuration in architectural design) andthe analysis line segment (configuration in
structural design) have simultaneously beenmodelled by three-dimensional CAD that canhandle free configurations. In this approach,the building configuration is sent to the architectural design BIM, which is linked to thephenomena handled by the various environ-mental simulations. And, as a result, it is now
possible to link the analysis line segmentwith the phenomena handled by the structure
analysis program. To this end, the applicationof BIM showed rapid progress in the field ofstructural design.
“Behaviors” and “Lifecycle”
As introduced above, the application of BIM
in architectural and structural designs at Nikken Sekkei started from configuration, andits application has been expanded to include
the phenomena that occur in the configuration. The main goal targeted here has been to
improve the design quality. In the future, it
is expected that BIM will target productivity
improvement, an original scheme of BIM, incollaboration with the construction BIM thatis attaining steady development nearly in parallel with BIM in architectural and structural design.
In addition, we think it necessary in thefield of design that the “behavior” of people
occurring in a building be incorporated in thesphere of BIM. In this regard, it is expected that the combination of BIM with artificial intelligence will be promoted. Further, it
is an important task that BIM play a beneficial role for the client and for society, the final user of BIM. To this end, we consider thatthe application of BIM should be promotedin the field of facility management (FA) andother building lifecycle issues.
￭

Fig. 4 BIM of No. 1 Building of Toho Gakuen Chofu Campus

Photo 4 No. 1 Building of Toho Gakuen Chofu
CampusApril 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 10

Special Feature: BIM and CIM-Building Information Modeling (2)Expectations for the Wider Applicationof BIM in Steel-frame Construction
by Hiromitsu Sone, Japan Federation of Construction Contractors

Photo 1 “What’s Construction BIM-Handbook
for the Collaboration of General Contractors and Subcontractors”

Construction BIM
It has been said that, in cases when BIM is
not used in the integrated process from design and construction to maintenance, its application merits cannot be demonstrated.
However, the Handbook clearly shows that,even when BIM is applied only from the construction phase, the parties concerned can obtain sure merits. Among those specific merits
obtained are:• Acceleration of consensus process in project stakeholders• Clash detection and detailed design confirmation• Examination of constructability and construction simulation• Productivity improvement in generation ofdrawings• Efficiency improvement in approval of drawings• Description of the cost breakdown

11 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

Development

Photo 2 Fixing of ceiling inside equipment andcoordination of steel-frame sleeves

High Expectation for BIM Applicationin Steel-frame Construction
The content of the Handbook details the following items:• What is targeted in BIM?
• Procedure for successful application of BIM(Fig. 1)
• Construction BIM by trades of construction work
• Application of BIM at the level of shop drawings in steel-frame office building construction• Outline and main points of successful application of construction BIM being promoted by
the general contractor and the subcontractor• List of effects derived from BIM application,and sample of BIM format
In the list of BIM application effects, thework items in which BIM is effective, compared to the examination by use of two-dimensional drawings, are organized by 14
types of construction trades (a total of 109
work items). Of the 109 work items, steelframe work accounts for 26 (Fig. 2), and thus
the steel-frame construction is regarded as thetype of construction work for which the highest BIM application effect can be expected.

Fig. 1 Procedures from Preparation to Application of Construction BIM

Application

In common construction projects, the general contractor prepares execution drawings
based on the design document simultaneously with the start of construction, and thesubcontractor also prepares shop drawings,
based on the design and execution drawings,
that is used for manufacturing the structuralmembers at the shop. During this course, theneed arises for the general contractor and thesubcontractor to efficiently promote coordination to the diverse drawings between themby means of BIM.
In this situation, the Handbook has madeclear various procedures of how to apply BIM
so that the general contractor and the subcon-

tractor can mutually gain merits derived fromthe use of BIM at the construction phase (hereinafter referred to as the construction BIM).

Preparation

The BIM subcommittee of the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors1) publishedin December 2014 a handbook titled “What’s
Construction BIM-Handbook for the Collaboration of General Contractors and Subcontractors,” which was the first manual in
Japan for applying BIM (building information modeling) at the construction phase. It
includes many figures and illustrations sothat even beginners can easily read the Handbook and enhance their understanding of
BIM (Photo 1).

• Settlement of purpose and execution plan
• Assignment of person in charge of BIM• Prior discussion① BIM application process② Information and data required for subcontractor③ Information and data supplied by general contractor④ BIM tools and their versions⑤ File formats⑥ Origin, axes, units, layers⑦ Information sharing, management of latest version⑧ Approval procedure⑨ Copyright, conﬁdentiality obligation• Preparation of BIM collaboration plan document• Improvement of BIM environment• Holding of kick-off meeting• Flow to BIM-based consensus• BIM modeling• BIM integration• BIM application

Output

BIM collaboration plan document

BIM model
Minute ofproceedings
Data• Holding of follow-up meeting
BIM application report

“BIM-based Consensus” in Steelframe Construction
In Japan, the shop drawings produced by subcontractors must be approved by a designer
and a general contractor before start of construction. When the drawings are replacedby the BIM models, the specific proceduresof approval process such as clash detection
and productivity evaluation will become easier than ever. However, the drawings are suitable for recording of the approval process
and not easily replaced to the BIM models.
The Handbook proposes “BIM-based consensus” approach, in which the subcontractor
starts production of the drawings after agreement with a designer and a general contractor
by using BIM models (Fig.3).
The approach introduced above has already been put into practical use in conjunction with steel-frame manufacture-related
works such as an elevator (Fig. 4). In this regard, certain effects have been confirmeda reduction in the number of drawings prepared for use for examinations that are madeup to the stage of obtaining approval by design supervisors, and the mitigation of defects during member connection.

Fig. 2 Construction BIMs by Type of Construction Works
0

5

10

15

20

(No. of work items)
2530

Preparation work
Temporary work
Demolition work
Piling, excavation andearth retaining
Foundation and inverted
construction method
RC structure work
Seismic isolation work
Steel-frame work
MEP work
Exterior wall andexterior member work
Elevator installation work
Interior wall andinterior member work
Water-prooﬁng work
Exterior work
Work items requiring BIM tying between
General contractors and Subcontractors

BIM solely of General contractor

Fig. 3 Formation of BIM-based Consensus
Conventional consensus formation

BIM-based consensus formation

Interference section

Photo 3 BIM-based consensus of steel-frame
members for elevator equipment (red)and steel-frame model (grey)

Further Development of Construction BIM
It is no exaggeration to say that closer tie-ups
between general contractors and steel fabricator and other subcontractors hold the key tofurther development of construction BIM in
Japan. The Japan Federation of Construction
Contractors plans to widely promote the dissemination of construction BIM application
effects not only for general contractors but also steel fabricators and many other subcontractors by holding a seminar2) to introduce theHandbook and BIM application merits.
￭
References
1) Website of Japan Federation of Construction Contractors: http://www.nikkenren.com
2) Texts used at the training course: http://www.
nikkenren.com/kenchiku/bim

Checking

Drawings for use
for examination

Approval
drawing

Approval
drawing

A lot of drawings and complicated work is required tocorrect drawings and maintain consistency among drawings

Reduction of drawings for use for examination at the processof adjusting consistency is attained by conﬁrmation andcorrection employing BIM

Fig. 4 Procedures for BIM-based Consensus (Example)
Steel-frame fabricator①Steel-frame model

General contractor
Supply of BIM before connection design
Consideration to size of BIM data
(Scope and level of detail/development)③Discussion and consensus formation
employing integrated BIM④Approval drawing(shop drawing)

Elevator supplier②Required members for installation ofelevator in steel-frame construction• Fastener plate• Rail support beam
• Angle to mount Jamb
• Sill support• Part which can be hang
• Machine beam andother required members④Preparation of approval drawing(shop drawing)

Preparation of drawing
after BIM-based consensus formation

Shop drawing

Shop drawing for elevator

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 12

Special Feature: BIM and CIM-Construction Information Modeling (1)Application of Three-dimensional
Bridge Product Modeling towards theStrategic Maintenance of Steel Bridges
by Hiroaki Matsushita, Japan Bridge Association
A vast amount of bridge stock is superannuating in Japan. Therefore, how to efficiently
maintain this bridge stock in light of restrictions on budgets and human resources is becoming a pressing domestic task.
Given this situation, the introduction of
CIM is positively being promoted by the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). CIM (construction information modeling) undertakes theintegrated control of a project process fromsurvey and planning to design, construction and maintenance on a platform based on
3D-PDM (three-dimensional product modeling). 3D-PDM is a model in which construction information is modelled by adding
as attribute information the materials, specifications, performance, tonnage and cost information that are required in the respective
processes of the project to a three-dimensional model having the geometrical information.
In this article, the function of steel bridge
3D-PDM is expanded to structure it on a CIM
computing platform, and the potential to strategically apply this 3D-PDM for steel bridge
maintenance is introduced.

Applications and Future Tasks of
Steel Bridge 3D-PDM
Paralleling the promotion of CALS/EC (Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support/
Electronic Commerce) by MLIT in the latterpart of the 1990s, 3D-PDM, for example, wasdeveloped in the steel bridge industry (Fig. 1)
and put into practical use. In spite of the factthat 3D-PDM is available for three-dimensional design, on-site construction and maintenance, its application is currently restricted
to the preparation of NC processing information, fabrication documents and other shopmanufacturing information.
Application of 3D-PDM to the Strategic Maintenance of Steel Bridges
The 3D-PDM is used to construct in computers a virtual structure equivalent to an actual
bridge from the stage of survey and planning;
and, even when specialized knowledge is unavailable, it is easy to visually understand thecondition of the structure. To this end, we
can expect to enhance the efficiency in the
progress of the project, prevent trouble andachieve safety improvements by the integrat-

Fig. 1 Outline of Three-dimensional Bridge Product Modeling (Modeler: Symphony)

Function of Symphony
3D product modeling(Modeler: Symphony)
Framing line
dataof
1. Preparation
framing line

Function specializing
in steel frame
7. Pre-cambering

3D geometricdata

2. Deﬁnition of object

MicroStation
3. Alignment of object
4. Addition of attributeinformation

Product modeling function

8. 2D development

Making connections

5. Collation of model
6. Calculation of
tonnage

9. NC fabrication
information
Attribute
information
data

Oracle/access10. Fabrication document

Symphony: The system to prepare product modeling not only for steel bridges
but also other general civil engineering structures
13 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016ed use, throughout an entire project process,of project visualization that capitalizes on the
overwhelming “ease of understanding” associated with 3D-PDM and of information
about a structure unified into 3D-PDM.
Fig. 2 shows an image of 3D-PDM used
for the strategic maintenance of bridges.
As seen in the figure, the maintenance information, such as inspections, repair/reinforcement history and the structural healthmonitoring record, is prepared as attribute information, which is consecutively added tothe 3D-PDM on which the design, quality
and as-built geometry information used during construction is reflected so as to structure
the three-dimensional maintenance databasefor use in strategic maintenance.
Further, in recent years, maintenance technology has made steady development thatutilizes ICT technology and three-dimensional measurement technology. To this end,
the potential of 3D-PDM is being raised in its
application as a tool for the strategic maintenance of steel bridges by linking it with these
new technologies.
Application Example for 3D-PDM in
Bridge MaintenanceAn example of 3D-PDM applied for bridge
maintenance is introduced below, in whichlaser scanner measurements were applied in
the periodical inspection of an existing cablestayed bridge (Fig. 3).
One main feature in the example is thatthe bridge geometry and stay cable forces of
the cable-stayed bridge were measured employing a laser scanner in the periodical inspection. The 3D point cloud data of thebridge thus obtained was analyzed to structure the 3D solid model, and then the 3DPDM model for maintenance use was prepared. As a result, it has become possible toconduct more efficient and advanced measurements by means of laser scanner measurements, compared to measurements madeby conventional methods. Another advantage
obtained was, even after measurements werecomplete, it is easy to confirm the information about the bridge geometry at any optional point of the bridge structure capitalizing on
the 3D-PDM thus prepared.

Fig. 2 Application of Three-dimensional Bridge Product Modeling Used for Strategic Maintenance (Image)
3D bridge maintenance database
Existing bridge

3D bridge product modeling

Modeling by use of conventional
drawing and 3D measurement

Survey and inspection• Reﬂection and recording in 3D-PDM
the inspection results in liaison withbridge inspection labor-saving system
capitalizing on information andcommunication technology (ICT) device

Monitoring
Newly-installed
bridgeData on bridge
dimensions
Including QC recordand as-built geometry

Repair/reinforcement
data

Inspection database

Structural healthmonitoring record（

Recording of design information,
as-built QC and geometry record）

Repair, reinforcement, remodeling• Repair/reinforcement/remodeling designs
by means of 3D product modeling,
construction plan, construction simulation• Improved construction
and inspection efﬁciency

Currently there is room for improvementin the accuracy and cost involved in three-dimensional modeling, but the 3D-PDM is regarded as an effective tool for visually understanding the secular changes of bridge
structures.
Application Potential of 3D-PDM in
Infrastructure MaintenanceIn the field of civil engineering, while thesteel bridge industry leads all other civil engineering sectors in tackling the introductionof 3D-PDM, its application remains limited
to specified areas.
On the other hand, in the construction supervision of steel bridges, ICT technology
and three-dimensional measurement technology that have recently shown remarkabledevelopment are currently being applied,
and the joint use of 3D-PDM with these advanced technologies offers great potential for
3D-PDM to be applied for the strategic maintenance of social infrastructure.
It is expected in the future that capital outlays
and technology development to promote 3DPDM application will be accelerated towards
earlier and wider application of CIM.
￭

Maintenance planby use of bridge
management system• Drafting of strategic management
plan in liaison with bridge
management system (BMS)• Periodical monitoring by use of
3D measurement device(laser scanner, digital camera, etc.)• Constant monitoring by use ofvarious sensors for applying monitoring
results into emergency reporting system
during disasters, route information
control and other disaster-prevention/
control measures• Detection of abnormality employing
large-scale data analytical technology• Route information control in liaison
with geological information system (GIS)

Structural health monitoring• Assessment of load-supporting capacity
in liaison with 3D structural analysis
software• Assessment of structural healthby referring database

Fig. 3 Laser Scanner Measurement and 3D Modeling Technology
Laser scanner
measurement

Example of conversion into 3D solid model
Statistical processing of point
cloud data to prepare planeand nodal line (ridge line)
Composition of planes in conformity
with nodal lines
3D solid modeling

3D measurement data
(Point cloud data)

Data size: 23.6 GB

3D solid model

Data size: 11.5 MB (about 1/2000)

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 14

Special Feature: BIM and CIM-Construction Information Modeling (2)CIM Trial Application Projectby Makoto Nakane, TAKADAKIKO Co., Ltd.
The bridge that is the subject of this article
was ordered as a project targeted (requested)
for the trial application of CIM (construction
information modeling) from the Chugoku
Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism. It is a 2-span continuous non-composite steel box girder bridge.
In applying CIM in this project, application validity was examined. As a result, we
focused on the following two effective approaches in CIM application: three-dimensional modeling of the main structures andthe accessory facilities; and integrated control of the related information on a three-dimensional model. The following article outlines the data preparation procedure for these
two approaches and how to apply them.

Data Preparation Procedures
At first, a three-dimensional model for themain structures, used for shop manufacture,
was prepared based on the design drawingsand employing MASTERSON (JIP Techno
Science Corporation).
Next, a three-dimensional model for thesuperstructure inspection platform, superstructure drain devices and other accessory
facilities was prepared employing Braz (JIP
Techno Science Corporation) that allows forthe comparatively easy preparation of threedimensional models for accessory facilities.
Lastly, AXEL3D (JIP Techno Science
Corporation) was used with the aim of accessing the input information, including
the main structure three-dimensional modeland the accessory facility three-dimensionalmodel. Fig. 1 shows the data preparation procedure.

Fig. 1 Data Preparation Procedures

Design drawing
Preparation of 3D model
for main structure

Preparation of 3D model
for accessory structure

Addition of maintenance information
Information output, preparationof data for accessingFig.
2 Three-dimensional Model for Main Structures
Fig. 2 Three-dimensional Model for Main Structures

Stiffener of supporting point
Cross beam back-up memberof supporting point

Three-dimensional Modeling of Main
Structures and Accessory Facilities• Outline
Various issues involved in clash detection between the structural members and the member shop manufacture are verified prior toshop manufacture, by preparing three-dimensional models for the main structures and accessory facilities and visualizing these models.
• Verification of Issues Involved in
Shop Manufacture
In the neighborhood of the supporting pointof the current bridge, the support point stiffeners, bearing reinforcing ribs, cross beam
back-up members of the support point andother members are adjacently arranged.
Thus, it was necessary to verify whether or
not there existed various issues involved in
the shop manufacture, such as member clashes and working space availability. Then, athree-dimensional model for the main structures (Fig. 2) was used to verify these issues,in addition to verification by the use of twodimensional drawings.
As a result, it was possible to verify
that no issues in shop manufacture existed,and shop manufacture of the members was
smoothly undertaken.
• Confirmation of Clash Detection between the Main Structures and Accessory Facilities
While clash detection between the main structures and accessory facilities are commonly
confirmed employing two-dimensional drawings, it is necessary to confirm clash detection

Fig. 3 Three-dimensional Model for Main Structures andAccessory Facilities
Fig. 3 Three-dimensional
Model for Main Structures and Accessory Facilities

Intermediatecross beamStringer

Bearing reinforcing rib

Superstructure
inspection platform

15 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

by means of three-dimensional visualization.
Clash detection between the main structures
and accessory facilities was confirmed prior
to shop manufacture, employing the three-dimensional models for the main structures andaccessory facilities (Fig. 3).
Integrated Control of Information on
Three-dimensional Models• Outline
Diverse kinds of information were added tothe three-dimensional model for main structures and accessory facilities so that information required for future maintenance could be
confirmed on the display screen. Among theinformation added were the reaction force ofthe supporting point, the jack-up stiffener design reaction force and the paint record table in addition to information on the members used for the main structures.
• Integrated Control of Information on
Members Used for Main Structures
At the stage of preparing the three-dimensional model for the main structures, it wasnecessary to input information on the gradeand plate thickness of the steel products to
be used. To meet this need, the informationon the members of the main structures canbe displayed on the three-dimensional model (Fig. 4).
In cases when reinforcement of the current bridge arise in the future, the member
grade and plate thickness of the reinforcement sections can be confirmed employing
the three-dimensional model on the display
screen, which is considered to lead to improved work efficiency.
• Integrated Control of Maintenance
Information
In addition to information on the membersof the main structures, information required

for future maintenance was added. As a result, the maintenance information can be confirmed on the three-dimensional model on
the display screen (Figs. 5 and 6).
Further, the design conditions, the reaction force of the supporting point, the baseisolation bearing design conditions and therecord plate of the bridge were added in thecurrent bridge project as maintenance information in addition to the information shownin Figs. 5 and 6. As a result, the maintenanceinformation can be confirmed in further detail on the three-dimensional model on thedisplay screen.
Trial Application of CIM with Successful Results
In the trial application of CIM in the current
bridge project, both the main structures andthe accessory facilities were three-dimensionally modeled, which allowed for verification of both the issues involved in themember manufacture and in the clash detec-

Fig. 4 Information on Members of Main Structures
Information
on membersof main structures
Fig. 4 Information
on Membersof Main Structures

tion between the main structure and the accessory facilities not only prior to member
manufacture but with high accuracy.
Various kinds of necessary information
can be confirmed on the display screen byimplementing the integrated control of information on the three-dimensional model,
which is considered greatly helpful in future
maintenance.
Future tasks for examination in promoting
CIM application in bridge construction are
the following: what level of maintenance information is added and how effectively maintenance information can be confirmed on athree-dimensional model.
Lastly, we express our sincere thanks to
all concerned in the Tottori River and National Highway Office of the Chugoku Regional
Development Bureau and the Japanese Society of Steel Construction, who gave kind support and advice in the preparation of the current article.
￭

Fig. 5 Maintenance Information (Jack-up Stiffener Design
Reaction
Force)(Jack-up Stiffener Design Reaction Force)
Fig. 5 Maintenance
Information<Main girder ￥G1￥B7￥LF107￥GC55￥1>
Lot No.=NI1
Kind of member=G_stiffening plate
Material grade=SM400A
Member shape=PL
Plate thickness=27
Weight=19.08
Width=300
Length=300
Jack-up stiffener design reaction force=(kN)Reaction force=3244.8kN

Fig.
Maintenance
Information
Fig. 6 6
Maintenance
Information(Paint Record(Paint
Table) Record Table)<Main girder ￥G1￥B1￥WL101￥GC53￥1>

Information on membersof main structures

Lot No.=NI1
Kind of member=Paint record table
Material grade=--Member shape=--Plate thickness=--Weight=--Width=270
Length=370
Date of paint=December 2014
Painting company=Primer coat, intermediate coat,
top coat: TAKADAKIKO Co., Ltd.
Paint grade=Primer coat: Epoxy resin paint;
Intermediate coat and top coat: Fluorine resin paintTop coat color=GN-…

Property information
on individual members
Lot No.=NI1
Kind of member=Upper flange
Material grade=SM570
Member shape=PL
Plate thickness=30
Weight=4416.28
Width=2718.58
Length=7160.98

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 16

Special Feature: Stainless SteelCurrent Applications of Stainless Steel
Structural Materials in Japanby Yasumi Shimura, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation

In terms of the amount of stainless steel usedin Japan, the construction field ranks third,
following automobiles and home appliances/office machines. In construction, stainless steel is widely applied in building walls
and roofs and other structural sections requiring corrosion resistance and decorativeness.
While most of the stainless steel products applied as structural members are stainless steel
sheets, structural members requiring stainlesssteel plates are showing an increasing trend.
Because the structural safety resistant toearthquakes and corrosion is called for in
the use of steel structural members, the design standards have been organized according to their respective fields of application.
As regards stainless steel, it is necessary toacquire public recognition pertaining to its
safety when used as structural members. Table 1 shows the grades of stainless steel specified in the standards currently applied in theconstruction field. Meanwhile, even thoughstainless steel is not specified in these standards, mechanisms employing new structural
technologies have been organized by application field, and therefore new types of stainless steel have come into use that capitalize
on such mechanisms.

The stainless steel for structural uses is
specified in the Japanese Industrial Standards(JIS). In addition, duplex stainless steels SUS821L1, SUS323L and SUS329J3L are
specified in various standards (refer to Table 2).
Recent Structural Applications of
Stainless SteelThe main stainless steel grades thus far applied in construction are SUS304, SUS304N2
and SUS316. However, the structural application of duplex stainless steel is increasing because it offers both high strength andhigh economic advantage, recent examplesof which are introduced below:• SUS329J3L
In the wall that covers the ventilation opening to the underground shopping center at theYaesu exit of Tokyo Station, the wall surface
is fronted with a thick growth of trees, partof which has stainless steel in exposed form
so that the ventilation opening can harmonize
with the surrounding landscape design (seePhoto 1). Taking into account the effects of
the water supply to plants and the rust stains
from the railway station and, further, in orderto reduce the load on existing underground

Table 1 Grades of Stainless Steel Specified in Various Standards
Target facilities in construction
standards, and building
standards

Stainless steel grades

Dam, weir

SUS304, SUS316

Water service (aqueduct)

SUS304, SUS316

Water service (reservoir)

SUS304, SUS316, SUS329J4L

Building Standard Law

SUS304, SUS316, SUS304N2

Table 2 Grades of Duplex Stainless Steel Specified in Various Standards
JIS

ASTM

EN

SUS821L1

S82122−

SUS323L

S32304

1.4362

SUS329J3L

S32803, S32205

1.4462

SUS329J4L−

1.4507

SUS327L1

S327501.441

17 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow April 2016

Photo 1 Ventilation opening cover at the Tokyo
Stationshopping center structures, high-strength
SUS329J3L stainless steel is applied.
• SUS323L
Among river facilities, stainless steel has
been applied in dam facilities and floodgates.
In recent years in particular, stainless steel
has been applied to increase maintenancefree river facilities. Photo 2 shows an example of SUS323L stainless steel for a floodgate. Lighter gate weight attained by the useof high-strength stainless steel allows thedownsizing of the winch capacity and thefoundation structure. Selection of stainlesssteel as a structural material is regarded tohave brought about extremely high economic efficiency to the entire floodgate structure.
• SUS821L1
As a link in the development of renewableenergy, solar power generating equipment isPhoto 3 Solar panel framing

Photo 2 Floodgate (sluicing outlet)

increasingly being built. In this regard, stainless steel has been applied in the framing ofsolar panels (Photo 3). The thoroughgoing reduction of the weight of the framing members has been attempted by the use of highstrength stainless steel, which has not only
led to a reduced construction term due to improved construction efficiency in large sites
but has also contributed to the reduction of
the entire project cost.
• SUS329J4L
In the tap water supply facility, stainless steel
has also been applied. Photo 4 shows the water tank of a service reservoir, for which duplex SUS329J4L stainless steel is used. For
the tank in which sterilized tap water is stored
and from which sterilized tap water is supplied for drinking purposes, the gas phasepart of the tank is required to possess highcorrosion resistance, and the suitable material was to be selected based on the exposure
test. Hot-rolled SUS329J4L stainless steel
shape is also used for the framing inside thewater tank.
Growing Application of Duplex Stainless Steel
While stainless steel is more expensive thancarbon steel, the demand for stainless steel is

Photo 4 Atami Baien service reservoir

increasing in fields in which maintenancefree performance and structural decorativeness are required and in which a reduction in
the lifecycle cost is targeted. Duplex stainlesssteel is a high-strength material and thus allows for the weight reduction of structures.

That is, duplex stainless steel is a material
that can ensure higher economic rationality,
and thus its application is expected to further
grow in the future.
￭

April 2016 Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow 18

JSSC Operations

JSSC Symposium 2015 on Structural
Steel Construction, Marking the 50th
Anniversary of the JSSC Founding-“Innovations from Steel Construction!”For three days between November 18th and20th, the 2015 JSSC Symposium on Structural Steel Construction sponsored by the Japanese Society of Steel Construction (JSSC)
was held in Tokyo. The symposium held special programs (Parts 1 and 2) entitled “Innovations from Steel Construction!” in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the foundationof JSSC.
In Part 1, special lectures that focused on“Standing at the Forefront of TechnologyThe Challenges of Uncharted Territory,” consisted of presentations by researchers working in cutting-edge fields. One was on thecommercial use of a space-based solar power
station and microwave power transmission,and the other was on an innovative approachthat emerged from technological develop-

ment associated with a space probe launchedby the unmanned spacecraft “Hayabusa.”
In Part 2, special panel discussions took
place under the theme “Steel Construction
Alters the Present and Makes the Future,”
and focused on the latest technology, new developments and technological perspectives in
the field of steel construction.
Among the other organized events were:
the Academy Session, which was an annual
event established as a venue for young engineers to report the results of their studies
and research; JSSC commendation for outstanding achievements (refer to pages 1~7)
and the prize-winners’ commemorative lectures; a symposium under the theme “Progress in Steel Materials and Their Utilization”
co-sponsored by the JSSC and the Iron andSteel Institute of Japan; and a “Corporate
Panel Display” as a forum for JSSC member
companies to promote public recognition oftechnical and other information.
All these events provided the many participants (totaling over 1,500), including steel
structural engineers and researchers, with avaluable place to communicate and interact.

Poster prepared for the 2015 symposium“Innovations from Steel Construction!”

Message from Chairman of International Committee
Kuniei Nogami, Chairman, International
Committee (Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan
University)

Starting with issue
No. 26 of Steel Construction Today & Tomorrow,publishedin 2009, our InternalCommittee has been
responsible for the editorial planning of oneof the three issues that are published annually. Since its inauguration, JSSC has conducted wide-ranging activities in the form of surveys, research and technological development
aimed at promoting the spread of steel construction and at improving associated technologies, and at the same time it has extended cooperation to related organizations overseas.
This year marks the fiftieth anniversaryof the foundation of the Japanese Society of
Steel Construction (JSSC). On this occasion,

our International Committee has been organizing several important memorial affairs
in the 2015 JSSC Symposium on Structural
Steel Construction. Looking toward the next
fifty years, we will maintain a strong commitment to spurring the spread of steel construction and promoting technological development, while also enhancing our activities
for the transmission of related information
throughout the world.
As was true in issue No.44, the previous
special issue of JSSC for which our committee was responsible, our current issue, No.
47, introduces the excellent works and theses
that have received awards of commendationfor outstanding achievement in 2015. In addition, this issue features BIM (building information modeling) in building construction
and CIM (construction information modeling) in civil engineering, in which the current
state of the application of BIM and CIM for
design, construction and maintenance in Ja-

STEEL CONSTRUCTION TODAY & TOMORROW
Published jointly by

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
3-2-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025, Japan
Phone: 81-3-3669-4815 Fax: 81-3-3667-0245
URL http://www.jisf.or.jp/en/index.html
Japanese Society of Steel Construction
Yotsuya Mitsubishi Bldg. 9th Fl., 3-2-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Phone: 81-3-5919-1535 Fax: 81-3-5919-1536
URL http://www.jssc.or.jp/english/index.html

pan is introduced. It also reports on the JSSC
Symposium on Structural Steel Construction
held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
JSSC.
The International Committee, while working on multi-faceted responses to the internationalization of steel construction specifications and standards, promotes exchanges oftechnical information and personnel between
Japan and overseas organizations. As one aspect of these operations, we are attemptingwith this issue to inform our readers of JSSC
operations, trends in steel construction, andthe technologies and technological developments relevant to the planning, design, andbuilding of steel structures in Japan.
If you wish to obtain more detailed information about the various articles contained inthis issue or to receive related technical information, please do not hesitate to contact the
JSSC secretariat (info-jssc@jssc.or.jp).

© 2016 The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Edited byCommittee on Overseas Market Promotion, The Japan Iron and Steel Federation
Chairman (Editor): Kaoru Uehara
P u b l i s h e d t h r e e t i m e s p e r y e a r, S T E E L C O N S T R U C T I O N TO D AY &TOMORROW is circulated to interested persons, companies and publicorganizations to promote a better understanding of steel products and theirapplication in the construction industry. Any part of this publication may be
reproduced with our permission. To download content (PDF format), please go
our website at: http://www.jisf.or.jp/en/activitity/sctt/index.html. We welcome yourcomments about the publication and ask that you contact us at: sunpou@jisf.or.jp.