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Ongoing research and development is essential to
corporate growth and development. The Kajima Technical Research
Institute, the relevant head office divisions, and the operating
divisions are cooperating to develop new technology that will
both enhance the Company's capacity to compete in securing contracts
and revenues, and contribute to the creation of a truly comfortable
environment for humanity.
In 2001, the first year in the Company's Next Three-Year Plan,
R&D and its efficient promotion were emphasized. Research topics
were selected by assessing priorities, with emphasis placed on
fields of research that respond to market needs, and economies
were achieved by pursing efficiency in R&D. The technical development
topics identified for 2001 totaled 167, and investment in research
was
12.0 billion, equivalent to 0.77% of net sales.
In the current tough business environment, Kajima has made contributing
to winning and growing contracts and reducing construction costs
the focus of its R&D, and has selected urban redevelopment, the
environment, building renewal, and housing as the market sectors
on which it will focus.
The Company is engaged in new R&D endeavors, and has placed its
emphasis on technology associated with reducing construction costs,
irrespective of whether that relates to new or traditional market
sectors. In relation to the environment, as well as addressing
global environmental problems, Kajima is engaged in a wide spectrum
of activity, from environmental conservation to environment creation.
Markets with considerable potential are those of building renewal
and life-cycle engineering (LCE). R&D work is also being pursued
in these areas.
Major recent outcomes of the R&D program include the asphalt facing
construction method; high-performance, light-weight concrete;
longevity agents for concrete structures (creation of a high-
performance repairing product, high-durability concrete); LCE
technology (earthquake risk assessment, a building renewal optimization
system, deterioration assessment); environmental technology (contaminated
soil remediation, magnetic shields); effective use of construction
and industrial waste; condensation prevention and moisture control
systems; the frame construction method for free-plan high-rises;
refractory technology; in situ seismic isolation construction
methods; vibration control structures; and assessment of earthquake-proofing
performance for underground structures.
The following are the main technical development outcomes achieved
in 2001.
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Predicting Global Environmental Conditions
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Much attention is being paid to global warming.
Two popular approaches to alleviating the problem are the construction
of wind power generation facilities and greening urban areas.
Kajima's computer modeling technology draws for its inputs on
generally available topography and land use data and high-altitude
meteorological data, and uses numerical simulation to predict
in three-dimensional virtual space wind speeds, temperature, and
humidity around the globe. The technology is currently being used
in a number of applications, including predicting the inhibitory
effect of urban greening on heat islands caused by impervious
pavements, and the selection of sites for wind power generation
plants. It has many other potential applications in urban planning,
environmental assessment, predicting drift of suspended solids
on the ocean surface, forecasting dispersal of atmospheric pollutants,
and in windbreaks.
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Recycled Aggregate Concrete for Within-Site Recycling
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Kajima is developing a method of recycling crushed
concrete generated in the course of dismantling buildings, known
as the Within-Site Recycling System. The system makes it possible
to do everything on a construction site, from process recycled
aggregate, to manufacture and use recycled concrete. The examples
(see page 16) depict the use of recycled concrete as a non-structural
material, in which recycled coarse aggregate is used for pre-packing
and set with mortar injected by guide tube. The use of the Within-Site
Recycling System reduces the environmental burden associated with
the transportation process, and enables effective use of recycled
aggregate as a resource. Kajima will now focus on expanding its
application of the system.
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New Fireproofing Method
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In conjunction with SK Kaken Co., Ltd., Kajima has
developed a new method of fitting refractories to protect steel
beams from fires. Kajima has developed the thinnest ceramic refractory
cladding in Japan. It is a non-heated foaming product for steel
beams. The material is 10 millimeters thick and can withstand
fire for up to an hour. The Company has also developed 3-millimeter-thick
fire intumescent sheets that, when fitted to steel columns, will
withstand fire for an hour. Intumescent sheets are easy to fit,
and give a clean finished surface. They are an innovative new
technology for fireproof cladding.
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Composite Steel-Concrete Bridges
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In recent years, there has been growing interest
in the cost reduction and energy conservation potential of composite
steel-concrete structures. Composite structures that combine and
retain the unique properties of both steel and concrete have been
successfully applied in reducing the weight of spans in bridges.
There are many composite structure options, but steel-concrete
has been used in composite truss bridges. These are structures
in which the web of a concrete box girder bridge is replaced with
steel trusses. Kajima has developed a new, synthesized structure
of steel and concrete for the panel point section of composite
truss bridges, and has applied it in the main structure of the
Kinokawa Bridge. A full-scale model of the panel point section
was tested using repeated applications of load to confirm safety
and durability.
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Frequency Selective Electromagnetic Shielding
Film
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Technologically advanced offices make growing use
of equipment for transmitting information using radio waves, such
as in the case of a wireless local area network (LAN). Associated
with the use of radio waves, however, are faults in transmission
arising from interference, and leakage of information. The electromagnetic
environment has therefore become an important topic. Kajima has
developed a frequency selective electromagnetic shielding film
to provide a better environment for information transmission.
The film can be applied to window glass with no loss of visibility,
and will screen out only a selected band of radio frequencies.
Kajima is also in the process of developing concrete with electromagnetic
shielding properties, and the two technologies will make the construction
of electromagnetically shielded buildings very simple.
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