On estimating the amount of fuel and energy consumable in the process of mechanized work performance within the framework of low-rise construction

Abstract

Introduction. Low-rise housing construction is an area that has extensive potential in Russia. One of the top-priority objectives, pursued by public politicians in the Russian Federation, is to improve the energy efficiency of versatile branches of the national economy. Given the fact that the building construction, representing a comparatively short stage in the building’s life cycle, is energy consuming, energy saving in the process of construction turns particularly relevant. Prevailing manual labour and low-capacity construction machinery substantially reduce power consumption at the stage of low-rise housing construction. Widely spread low-rise construction technologies and consequent discrepancies in structural and technological solutions determine the mode of operation, numbers and the engineering performance of construction machines. Hence, energy resources, to be consumed in the process of mechanized work performance on a construction site, is projected, and these projections may differ. As for the rational expenditure of resources, consumption of fuel and energy can be expediently planned at the stage of construction project scheduling. Materials and methods. The co-authors have analyzed scientific publications focused on the subject of research, applied organizational and construction process patterns developed in the form of work performance schedules needed to regulate fuel consumption in the process of mechanized work performance, whenever low-rise construction technologies are used. Results. The co-authors offer a set of instruments, designated for the calculation of fuel consumption in the process of mechanized work performance, whenever low-rise construction technologies are used. Conclusions. At the project planning stage, the fuel consumption rate analysis, applicable to construction machines and mechanisms, enables to (1) project the amount of fuel consumed in the course of specific construction works performed within the framework of the whole process of construction, (2) to identify technologies and mechanized units which are most rational in terms of power consumption.