Author(s): Laura M Whitcombe

Abstract: Temporary support systems play a critical role in ensuring structural safety during construction stages, when permanent load-resisting components are incomplete or partially engaged. Failures occurring during construction often stem from inadequate assessment of transient load paths, material behavior, and sequencing effects rather than deficiencies in final structural design. This research evaluates construction-time structural stability with specific emphasis on temporary support systems such as scaffolding, shoring, formwork, and provisional bracing. The research synthesizes analytical, numerical, and field-based approaches used to assess stability under construction loads, including self-weight, fresh concrete pressure, wind, equipment loads, and accidental impacts. Particular attention is given to load redistribution during erection and removal stages, where instability risks are highest. The research highlights that simplified design assumptions, insufficient consideration of time-dependent material properties, and lack of construction-stage verification contribute to unsafe conditions. A comparative evaluation of existing assessment methodologies is presented, focusing on their applicability, limitations, and accuracy in predicting failure mechanisms. The paper also examines the influence of construction sequencing, workmanship variability, and monitoring practices on system performance. By integrating insights from documented construction failures and experimental investigations, the research underscores the need for systematic construction-stage analysis rather than reliance on experience-based practices alone. The findings demonstrate that incorporating stability checks at defined construction milestones significantly reduces the probability of progressive collapse and localized failures. The research concludes that a structured evaluation framework, combining simplified analytical models with targeted numerical simulations and on-site monitoring, can substantially improve construction-time safety. The outcomes of this work aim to support engineers, contractors, and site managers in making informed decisions regarding temporary support design, inspection, and removal, thereby enhancing overall construction safety and structural reliability during critical transitional phases.

DOI: 10.22271/27078280.2026.v7.i1a.59

Pages: 17-21 | Views: 2 | Downloads: 2

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