Impressive airport structures

Chennai and Ahmedabad airports have used Tekla BIM 3D software during the modernisation of these projects.

Chennai Annadurai International Airport expansion and modernisation project in Tirusulam, 7 km south of Chennai, is a design-to-fabrication steel project carried out completely within Tekla BIM 3D software environment. Engineering and model data were used at the earlier stages of the project to take full advantage of early procurement and optimised use of material. Rapidly producing shop drawings and managing the project timeline were both accomplished using Tekla Structures software, which proved to be highly productive.

By using Tekla Structures software in the Chennai airport expansion project the material wastage was reduced by 3.5 to 4 per cent and productivity increased by more than 30 per cent. During the fabrication stage drawing details were derived from the Tekla model for fabrication and they were seamlessly used with in-house fabrication data package to produce NC files for use in CNC machines and to manipulate bill of material data. By using the centre of gravity from the Tekla model, the jigs were prepared for each segment of trusses to ensure perfect alignment and geometry during assembly.

Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport was under renovation and now has 45 parking bays and both the international and domestic terminals have four aero-bridges each. The new terminal has been modelled on the Singapore Changi Airport, a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The new terminal has many firsts for the airport, including a 0.5 km-long moving walkway, which connects the two terminals, making the changeover of flights hassle-free.

Tekla Structures has been used for modelling and detailing of the entire structure. The main feature of the project was its shape, the shape of the rafter. Tekla Structures made it simple and easy to complete the project within specified time. Tekla Structures software was used to model this complex framework, thus ensuring highly effective detailing and optimised fabrication of this exceptional structure.