A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Hangar
The A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) hangar is the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) first net positive energy building and can generate 30% more electricity than consumed. The hangar took two years to build and was completed in March 2020.
As the Civil & Structural (C&S) Engineer, KTP Consultants, a member of Surbana Jurong Group, employed a sophisticated and robust structural system for the project. KTP worked on the project from conceptualisation to completion and here are some of their engineering solutions.
- To achieve a clear span of up to 90m and commit to the lower tonnage of the roof, KTP employed a modular steel truss system supported on laced strut columns. This allowed KTP to have a large column-free span without compromising the robustness of the building.
- During the erection, working space and height were constrained by adjacent buildings as well as restrictions by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. As it was not feasible to mobilise the tower crane, KTP worked closely with the main contractor and jacking specialist to use their proprietary strand jacking system to lift the entire roof from three meters above ground to its final height of about 30 meters in less than two days.
- The hangar also comes with a paneled fabric door installed with translucent material that allows sunlight to permeate through, reducing the need for excessive lighting. The large front opening to accommodate the fabric door support posed a challenge to the lateral stability on the building’s minor axis. KTP had to work around the available space within the fabric door support to employ a truss rigid enough to resist the lateral force.
KTP’s engineering solutions contributed to the project attaining the Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Platinum (Positive Energy) Award. Read more in this article and watch this video to view the building’s sustainable features.
Credits for all images: MINDEF, Singapore
