We had a chance to talk about modular buildings with Süheyla Çebi Karahan, the successful CEO of DORCE, which is one of the leading brands of Turkey in the field of modular buildings in recent years where construction has evolved with technology. The advantages of digitalization, which is a requirement of Industry 4.0, force the construction sector to change their habits and reduce costs by using new technologies in order to be more competitive in the international market. The manufacturing of structural members in factories brings significant advantages in terms of quality control, logistics and speed.
Technically, this fact makes the construction industry uses more steel, structural members become industrial product and consequently modular structures inevitable after all. When we consider the environmentalist character and sustainability since it is recyclable, today steel and modular structures stand out as inevitable future of the construction industry with the change of social needs apart from technical reasons. "With the developing technology and materials, traditional construction methods are evolving into prefabricated steel modular constructions." says Süheyla Çebi Karahan, CEO of DORCE.
Karahan shared the following details about DORCE with us: As one of Turkey's global brand, DORCE is one of the industry's leading and first established companies on prefabricated modular steel structures manufacturing, export and international contracting services.
DORCE completes prefabricated modular structures towards meeting all kinds of needs on a turnkey basis, with ability to mobilize in different geographical regions under harsh climatic conditions at same time with in-house engineering, procurement, production, logistics, assembly, infrastructure and superstructure works, including testing and commissioning. DORÇE, with 40 years of experience and contractor identity, has the largest prefabricated steel structure production facility in Europe, operating within the scope of local and international quality standards.
DORCE builds Prefabricated Modular Steel Structures including Engineering and Contracting Services and completes projects in Oil, Gas and Energy Industry, Mining Industry, Refinery, Construction Industry and Defence Industry, for Governmental Authorities (Ministries, Governorates, Embassies etc.), International and non-profit Organizations, etc. all around the World.
DORCE, manages entire lifecycle of a project with design, construction and operation services in-house by using Building Information Modeling (BIM) rather than traditional methods, by catching the necessities of the era with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) & Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA).
Karahan added on the perception of modular construction in Turkey and the rest of the world:
"When prefabricated modular buildings are mentioned, what comes to mind in Turkey is usually single or double portable (transportable) cabins, standardized container used as workers accommodation facilities, construction sites, structures that are established to meet current needs right after natural disasters, emergencies, earthquakes and mass displacement movements etc. and also villas designed as a building or private property with panelized building systems."
On the other hand, modular building systems developed within the scope of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in developing countries as well as in developed countries such as Great Britain, Australia, Canada and USA, where rapid urbanization is common in many sectors. Prefabricated modular buildings, together with developing technologies, can be used in the construction of multi-storey buildings such as hospitals, shopping malls, social and luxury residences, administrative buildings, hotels, dormitories, schools, clinics, etc.
Karahan underlined the following points regarding the earthquake resistance of prefabricated modular steel structures:
When prefabricated modular steel structures are designed in accordance with the soil structure of different regions, they bend, deform, but are difficult to collapse during an earthquake due to the flexible and light structure.
Since the weight of the structure in steel buildings is approximately 50% less than in reinforced concrete structures, the earthquake force affecting the structure will decrease at the same rate. This feature gains importance under dynamic loads since the energy absorption capability is provided in the deformations above the ductility and elastic behavior. Under repeated loading, the unidirectional and limited energy absorption capability of the reinforced concrete structure decreases with each repetition; fracture occurs without deformation. In the steel structure, when the elastic limits are exceeded, in other words, when loads exceeding the expected affect the structure, the steel structure elements primarily change shape and deform thanks to their high deformation capacity. The energy generated during deformation is absorbed and the structure survives under the affecting loads.