OPTIMIZATION OF REBAR CUTTING PLANS USING MULTIPLE STOCK LENGTHS AND INTEGER LINEAR PROGRAMMING: A CASE STUDY OF A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
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Abstract
This research aims to develop and evaluate the efficiency of rebar cutting plans for wastewater treatment plant construction, employing Integer Linear Programming (ILP) to minimize scrap waste and overall costs. The study compares cutting plans for rebar sizes DB12, DB16, and DB25 mm, utilizing standard stock lengths of 10 meters, 12 meters, and a combination of both. Rebar requirements were derived from the structural design specifications of a wastewater treatment plant case study. The findings demonstrate that combining 10 meter and 12 meter stock lengths yields the highest efficiency across all rebar sizes. Notably, for DB25 rebar, this approach reduced scrap waste from 17.09 %, when using only 12 meter stock, to a mere 1.95 %, while increasing material utilization to 98.05 % and remaining robust under moderate increases in rebar demand. Furthermore, it achieved material cost savings of up to 15.44 % and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 15.45 % compared to using 12 meter stock alone. These results underscore that meticulous cutting plan optimization, incorporating multiple stock lengths and ILP, is a pivotal strategy for waste reduction, cost efficiency, and promoting sustainability in the construction industry.
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The published articles are copyright of the Engineering Journal of Research and Development, The Engineering Institute of Thailand Under H.M. The King's Patronage (EIT).
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