Accession Number:

ADA042179

Title:

Shipping Containers as Structural Systems.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH LAB (ARMY) CHAMPAIGN ILL

Personal Author(s):

• McDowell,E. L.

Report Date:

1977-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

This report investigated the feasibility of 1 using shipping containers MILVAN as structural elements in the construction of theater of operations TO facilities, and 2 using dedicated containers in the TO for the dual purpose of logistics and shelter. Mathematical structural modeling via finite element analysis, laboratory tests, and field tests were used to validate the concept of using shipping containers as structural elements in the construction of TO facilities. The most effective configuration was an 80-ft 24-m box beam configuration formed by joining four MILVANs end to end. Used as a roof system, these box beams and the facilities constructed from them meet wind and snow design loads encountered at any location in the world. For a typical logistic port base study exercise, facilities constructed from shipping containers showed an acutal savings of 2.3 million and 1.5 battalion months of engineering effort over stell-framed Army Facilities Component System AFCS facilities.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY FACILITIES
• *SHIPPING CONTAINERS
• *STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
• STRESSES
• THEATER LEVEL OPERATIONS
• LABORATORY TESTS
• FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
• LOADS(FORCES)
• SHELTERS
• FIELD TESTS
• STRAIN(MECHANICS)
• STRENGTH(MECHANICS)

Subject Categories:

• Containers and Packaging
• Structural Engineering and Building Technology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE