PSI - Issue 78

Leonardo Casali et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 1269–1276

1270

1. Introduction and description of the structure The paper deals with the design criteria for the civil engineering and structure aspects associated to the construction of a new paperboard production line, located near Lucca (Italy), that will mainly involve the following buildings, foundations, and associated facilities: PM3 Paper Machine Building; Auxiliary building; PM3 Foundations and load bearing structure of the paper machine; OCC building. In the following, only the design criteria for the PM3 Paper Machine Building (Fig. 1) are presented and discussed. The PM3 Paper Machine building and its auxiliary local (located next to the PM3 building) have a construction system based on precast concrete columns and main and secondary beams also in precast concrete, with operational floors consisting of prefabricated elements completed by cast-in-place concrete slabs designed for dynamic loads. The maximum overall plan dimensions are approximately 232,50 x 42,30 m (distances between the axes of the external columns), the maximum height above ground is approximately equal 25 m. The approximate total surface area is 9928 m 2 . In elevation four operational main levels can be identified at: +0.00, +7.00, +13.50, +18.50. It is planned to install three bridge cranes. Due to the height required for crane operation, the clearance under the roof of the building will be 22.40 m, between the crane structure and the finished floor of the second level.

Fig. 1 Two opposite axonometric views of the full building (left) and view of the building main structures and foundations (right).

The building in question consists of four structurally independent blocks (called A, B, C, D) (Fig. 2) made with prefabricated beams and columns. Each independent block has a variable number of levels and seismic-resistant alignments, which are specifically detailed in the design documents. The floors at the various levels are made with prefabricated "pi-shaped" elements and simply rest on the floor beams. The casting of a collaborating concrete slab reinforced with electro-welded mesh is planned, the condition allows that rigid diaphragms can be considered for modelling the floors in accordance with the Italian Standards.

Fig. 2 Subdivision in blocks of the building.