Project
Guadalajara International Airport is the main airport of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city. Located 16 kilometers south of the city center, the airport handled 8.7 million passengers in 2014. It is Mexico’s third busiest airport and second busiest for cargo flights. The airport recently added a second terminal to increase capacity. As part of this MXN 55 million project, CH2M designed a complex, curved canopy with leaning columns.
Solution
CH2M used RAM Elements for the analysis and design of the principal structure, which allowed the team to build a 3D model of the building. This Bentley application enabled the team to apply the latest steel design codes and incorporate technical aspects such as secondary effects, spectral analysis, and foundation designs.
Outcome
Using RAM Elements, CH2M achieved an economical design for the Terminal 2 canopy, which contributed to completing the work on the expansion project more quickly than expected. These efficiencies reduced the cost of project delivery for the Guadalajara International Airport expansion.
Software
RAM Elements includes modules for connections and foundations, which enabled team members to share information more efficiently and export models to other programs. The models yielded reliable results for the weight of materials, especially for the structural profiles, and helped optimize the design of the structure.