Automated Generation of Horizontal Precast Slab Stacking Plans
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149, Issue 12
Abstract
Prefabrication is a promising construction method that helps to improve overall productivity, reduce the environmental impact, and improve on-site safety and security. To accelerate the use of prefabrication, we investigate the problem of stacking precast slabs, one of the most common prefabricated components, through mathematical programming methodology. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is proposed that incorporates many practical factors, including stack stability, reshuffling work, and dunnage positions. The model aims to minimize the reshuffling of slabs and reduce the area occupied by stacks, which are two crucial objectives considered during slab stacking and transportation. Through extensive experiments, the proposed method is proven to average a 16.56% improvement in optimality compared with the commonly used heuristic stacking method and is thus considered an effective tool for generating stacking plans.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 72201229 and 72361137006) and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. 25211722). All authors contributed equally and are co-first author.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149 • Issue 12 • December 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 6, 2022
Accepted: Jul 11, 2023
Published online: Sep 22, 2023
Published in print: Dec 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Feb 22, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Automation and robotics
- Business management
- Computer programming
- Computing in civil engineering
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Construction methods
- Engineering fundamentals
- Mathematical models
- Models (by type)
- Occupational safety
- Offsite construction
- Personnel management
- Practice and Profession
- Productivity
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Safety
- Slabs
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Systems engineering
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