Minaret & Dome
Construction

Unlike standard industrial structures, minaret and dome construction requires structural engineering and architectural proportions to be considered together. In minarets it is the tall, slender reinforced-concrete shaft, and in domes the curved load-bearing geometry, that plays the key role in choosing the construction method. For both types of structure, dimensional accuracy, surface geometry and the subsequent architectural works all depend on the quality achieved at the reinforced-concrete stage.

The cross-section of a minaret shaft rarely stays constant over its height. Shaft tapering, balcony zones and architectural transitions may call for special solutions at different stages of the formwork operation. As the height of the structure increases, wind and seismic actions also become more significant in the design of the structural system.

For certain sections of tall reinforced-concrete minaret shafts with suitable geometry, a slipform system can be considered. On long, continuous vertical sections in particular, raising the formwork in a controlled manner together with the concrete allows the works to progress steadily.

In a slipform solution delivered by Rayf Teknik, the minaret's changes in cross-section and its architectural transitions are assessed at the outset. The system should not be regarded as suitable only for straight, unchanging structures; with appropriate engineering adjustments, it can also be used on certain variable geometries. However, as every minaret has its own architectural form, feasibility must be assessed project by project.

Throughout the slipform operation, the centre line and verticality of the shaft are monitored at regular intervals. On slender structures such as minarets, even small geometric deviations are easy to see, so survey checks must be carried out with great precision.

Balcony connections, the staircase, internal floors, door openings and the connection points of other architectural elements must be coordinated with the reinforced-concrete programme. This ensures that the connections needed for later parts of the structure are prepared at the correct levels.

Dome construction calls for a different approach. The dome's diameter, rise ratio, shell geometry and supporting perimeter elements determine the formwork design of the reinforced-concrete system. The slipform approach used for the minaret cannot be applied directly to the dome; each structure requires a formwork and support solution developed for its own geometry.

Rayf Teknik's experience in tall reinforced-concrete structures, formwork and structural steel ensures that engineering and execution details are considered together on minaret and dome projects. The aim is to build the structural system in line with design values while preserving the architectural form, to carry out the reinforced-concrete works under full control, and to hand over a structure that is ready for the subsequent architectural works.