Lifting Plan Design for Large-Scale UHPC Artistic Forms: Analysis of Key Technologies and Implementation Essentials

Lifting Scheme Design for Large-Scale UHPC Artistic Shapes: Analysis of Key Technologies and Implementation Points

Driven by the dual forces of contemporary architectural aesthetics and engineering technology, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has become an important vehicle for artistic expression in landmark buildings thanks to its ultra-high strength, excellent durability, and exceptional formability. However, these large artistic components are often characterized by oversized dimensions, irregular curved surfaces, and heavy loads. The lifting process, as the key link connecting factory prefabrication and on-site installation, directly determines project quality and safety. Based on Qinglong Group's 28 years of experience in deepened design and construction of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, this article systematically analyzes the core points of lifting schemes for large-scale UHPC artistic shapes from three dimensions: technology selection, risk control, and precision assurance.

I. Technical Challenges and Scheme Design Principles for UHPC Artistic Shape Lifting

The challenge of lifting large-scale UHPC artistic shapes first stems from the contradiction between material properties and shape requirements. Although UHPC components are more than 30% lighter than traditional concrete, irregular structures (such as hyperbolic curtain wall units and openwork relief components) present significant eccentric load and stress concentration issues. Take the 12-meter-high UHPC curved decorative columns at a cultural center as an example: with a maximum weight of 8.5 tons, the lifting process required simultaneous control of horizontal displacement ≤5mm and verticality deviation ≤1/1000. Qinglong introduced BIM + finite element simulation technology at the scheme design stage, using digital pre-assembly to verify the rationality of lifting point arrangement and ensure component stress values remain below 80% of the material's design strength under lifting conditions.

Scheme design must follow three major principles: first, "safety redundancy," with lifting equipment selected at a 1.5x coefficient of rated load, prioritizing customized truss-type spreaders to distribute stress; second, "controllable precision," achieving millimeter-level positioning through 3D laser scanning technology; and third, "efficiency optimization," compressing installation time per component to 60% of traditional methods through modular lifting processes. These principles were validated in the Century Plaza translucent concrete project on Nanjing East Road undertaken by Qinglong. By optimizing the lifting scheme, the project shortened the construction period by 18 days and won the Silver Award in the first AALBORG WHITE Cup UHPC Construction Innovation Award.

II. Key Implementation Technologies: From Spreader Development to Intelligent Monitoring

The spreader system is the core guarantee of lifting safety. To address the brittle characteristics of UHPC components, Qinglong developed a "flexible adaptive spreader" that uses built-in pressure sensors and adjustable suction cups to achieve real-time stress monitoring and automatic load relief during lifting. In the GRC/UHPC composite curtain wall project at the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center, this spreader successfully solved the challenge of non-destructive lifting of ultra-thin 3.6m × 2.8m UHPC decorative panels, reducing the surface damage rate by 90% compared to traditional steel cable lifting.

For installation precision control, a "dual closed-loop positioning system" is adopted: the inner loop uses spatial coordinates generated from the BIM model to guide lifting, while the outer loop uses a total station for real-time feedback and adjustment. For ultra-long-span components (such as the 45-meter-long UHPC sunshade canopy at an exhibition center), the innovative "temporary support + staged unloading" process was introduced, with 12 hydraulic jacks synchronously unloading at a rate of 0.5mm/min to ensure uniform release of structural internal forces. Qinglong's production base in Nanning, Guangxi, with an annual capacity of 600,000 square meters, provides capacity support for standardized prefabrication and coordinated lifting of such large components.

III. Risk Prevention and Whole-Process Management System

Risk prevention for large-scale UHPC lifting must span the entire chain of design, production, and construction. Qinglong's established "three-level review mechanism" includes: technical committee review of lifting scheme compliance, third-party verification of structural safety, and on-site engineer simulation of the lifting process. For projects in typhoon-prone areas, a "wind speed early warning linkage system" was developed that automatically triggers a lifting suspension procedure when monitored wind speed exceeds 12m/s. This mechanism effectively mitigated extreme weather risks in the UHPC curtain wall project of a waterfront hotel in Malaysia.

As a national high-tech enterprise and participant in UHPC industry standard formulation, Qinglong has distilled its whole-process management experience into the "Technical Specification for UHPC Component Lifting," covering standardized processes from factory pre-assembly (using 3D scanning with ±0.1mm accuracy), transport securing (dedicated hydraulic brackets to prevent deformation), to on-site acceptance (introducing RFID chips for quality data traceability). This integrated "design-production-construction" capability is precisely Qinglong's core competitiveness in undertaking major domestic and international projects, with cooperative clients including well-known real estate groups such as Poly and China Overseas, as well as overseas markets in Southeast Asia.

Lifting large-scale UHPC artistic shapes is not only a test of engineering technology but also a deep integration of materials science, structural mechanics, and intelligent construction. Building on 28 years of industry experience, Qinglong Group continues to push the boundaries of UHPC applications through technological innovation and refined management. In the future, with the deeper application of technologies such as BIM and digital twins, UHPC lifting will develop toward greater intelligence, efficiency, and safety, offering more possibilities for balancing architectural art and engineering safety. As a leader in the field of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong always upholds its mission of "creating beautiful architecture," committed to making every artistic shape a perfect combination of technology and aesthetics.