Simulation Analysis for Schedule and Performance Evaluation of Slip Forming Operations

Abstract

Slipforming operation's linearity is a source of planning complications, and operation is usually subjected to bottlenecks at any point, therefore, predicting construction duration is a difficult task due to the construction industry's uncertainty. Unfortunately, available planning tools do not carefully consider the variance and scope of the factors affecting Slipforming. Discrete-event simulation concepts can be applied to simulate and analyze construction operations and to efficiently support construction planning. The aim of this paper is to facilitate the adoption of DES and assist in determining most effective parameters that affect Slipform operation's duration in addition to better illustration of operation characteristics and overlapped parameters effects. To achieve this goal, a two-stage methodology for the development of an integrated simulation approach for Slipforming silo construction operations was proposed. Typical construction sequences in Slipforming construction were first identified, and then the statistical distributions of controlling activities on the sequences were surveyed. Subsequently, a DES model for predicting the duration of Slipforming construction was proposed, applied to a Slipform project and validated. The performance of the proposed model is validated by comparing simulation model results with a real case study showing average accuracy of 98.7%.Moreover research results defines the most effective factors arrangement that directly affects project schedule and to be taken in account by presenting the proportion of effectiveness of each value on research objectives. This research is considered beneficial for practitioners to estimate an overall construction schedule of building projects, especially in preconstruction phases.