V.V.I.P. Terminal

V.V.I.P. Terminal

Kuwait International Airport

Amiry Terminal

2010

Design / Manufacture / Installation

Located within the complex of Kuwait International Airport and completed early in 2010, Amiry Terminal is a structure designed in a high space frame dome with a square base.

VVIP Terminal Building is located at the same airport with A380 aircraft hangar roof which has 96 m free span. VVIP Terminal Building will be used for Emir of Kuwait and his guests and other official guests who visit the country.

In the structure subsiding to a 69 m x 69 m base in plan, because it rises 35.50 m from support level, for the purpose in order to avoid horizontal distortions that can occur and to separate volume which will not be used inside from volume which will be used, there is a secondary space frame connection flooring in the form of a horizontal plane.

In 2007, a new aircraft hangar for Airbus A380 planes and a new terminal building for VIP passengers were planned to build. Starting date for Ahmediah Trading and Constructing Co, Main Contractor, was 15th of September 2007. Airbus A380 Aircraft Hangar and The New Amiry Terminal Building were built in the same contract. Both structures are made of prefabricated steel USKON space frame system and all materials of the space frame have been supplied from Turkey.

The Amiry Terminal (VVIP Terminal) will be exclusively used by the Emir of Kuwait and his guests as well as other countries representatives while visiting the country. The main contractor of the project, Ahmediah Trading and Constructing Co., insisted on having a new interesting design and this was required extra internal width and height and the latest state of technology but without losing the highest aesthetical concern.

General view of The Amiry Terminal

Airbus A380 Aircraft Hangar has 2 free open door spaces one of which has maximum lenght of 96 meters.

The other free open door space is a little bit smaller. It has been designed to allow 2 different planes at once, and also they both designed and manufactured as a part of the same project.

The Amiry Terminal (VVIP Terminal) will be exclusively used by the Emir of Kuwait and his guests as well as other countries representatives

while visiting the country. The main contractor of the project, Ahmediah Trading and Constructing Co., insisted on having a new interesting design and this was required extra internal width and height and the latest state of technology but without losing the highest aesthetical concern.

General view of VVIP Terminal

Plan view of the architectural model

General Information About the Project and The Dimensions

The outer dimensions of the structure are 69m x 69m in plan. Distance from the highest point of the space frame to the lowest level is 35.523m. Modulation of the space structure varies depending on the complex geometry but, it is around 2.167m x 2.167m.

There is a lateral space frame connection system on the top middle region to improve the structural behavior since this upper volume is not used for architectural purpose. Construction thickness between lower and upper layer of the space frame is 2.212 m. for this part.

Plan, view and sections of The Amiry Terminal Building (VVIP Terminal Building)

General Information About the Participants of the Terminal Project

Employer: Minister of Public Works – Special Projects Administration

Contractor: Ahmadiah Contracting and Trading Company – Kuwait

Architectural Design Concept: Paul Andreu – France

Architectural Consultant: Associated Engineering Partnership – Kuwait

Structural Consultant: Farooqi Engineering Consultants – Kuwait

Designer, Supplier of Steel Structure: Uskon Space Frames – Turkey

Supplier of Composite Roof Cladding System: Arabian Profiles-UAE & Kalzip Roofing Sys-UAE

Supplier of Aluminium Cladding: Wuhan Lingyun Building Decoration Engineering Co. – China

Design Properties of the V.V.I.P. Terminal Project

Design calculations are as per Eurocode1 and Eurocode3 using Load and Resistance Factor Design Method. The loading criteria in the project are as follows:

Space Frame Self Weight	46.2 kg/m2
Cladding + Purlins	41.0 kg/m2
Service Load	25.0 kg/m2
Suspended Ceiling Load	15.0 kg/m2
Live Load on Roof	60.0 kg/m2
Wind Load	168.0 kg/m2 (V=80 mp/h)
Temperature Differences	Dt = ± 22°C ( H<13m için); Dt = ± 35°C (H?13m için)
Seismic Loads	as per UBC?97; (Zone=I

Area of Space Frame	4368 m2
Number of Members	15234 no?s
Number of Nodes	3657 no?s
Number of Supports	32 no?s
Span of the Space Frame	59.7 m
Minimum Diameter of Pipes	D = 48.3 mm
Maximum Diameter of Pipes	D = 219.1 mm
Minimum Bolt Diameter	M12 - 10.9
Maximum Bolt Diameter	M56 - 10.9
Minimum Node Diameter	D = f 75 mm
Maximum Node Diameter	D = f 280 mm

Assembly Works of the Space Frame System and the Purlin System

Assembly work is a part of the design of the structure. Erection of the space frame has been carried out on the site by using advantages of dome-shaped geometry.

Depending on this property, installation process has been completed in a very short time. Another reason of completing assembly works in a short time was the advantage of the steel prefabricated space frame system.

A Secondary steel purlin system has been designed on the main space frame structure to cover structure by a special cladding system. Details of the purlins and cladding system were too complex especially for leaf parts and their connections to the main structure.