Comparative Studies on PCa Methods Development and Utilization Rate in Japan and China

Aug 30, 2026

The article compares the development of the Precast Concrete (PCa) method and the PCa utilization rate in Japan and China. Japan investigated PCa for about 60 years, with the earthquake-resistant Rahmen Precast Concrete (R-PCa) method becoming predominant. China’s work was disrupted by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, and with fewer earthquakes in many regions, the Wall Precast Concrete (W-PCa) method is commonly used. Using modeled buildings, the study defines and quantitatively analyzes W-PCa utilization rates between the two countries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

PCa method overview

Japan’s PCa development

China’s PCa development

Previous research

Comparative studies on the developments of PCa methods and PCa utilization rate in Japan and China Tian HANa*, Shuichi ISHIDAb aDepartment of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakura-cho, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-8570 Japan bDepartment of Management Science and Technology, Tohoku University, 6-6-11 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579 Japan Abstract Japan has spent about 60 years researching the Precast Concrete Method (PCa method). Since Japan isan earthquake-prone country, the Rahmen Precast Concrete Method (R-PCa method) is the predominant method in construction projects. On the other hand, China also started researching the PCa method simultaneously with Japan, but this research was interrupted by the Tangshan earthquake in 1976. In addition, earthquakes are rare in most parts of China, and therefore, the primary method used in construction projects is the Wall Precast Concrete Method (W-PCa method). The article explains the current state of thePCa method in Japan and China. ThePCa utilization rate of the W-PCa method between Japan and China was defined using modeling buildings. Keywords: PCa method, Conventional construction methods, W-PCa methods, PCa utilization rate, model building 1. Introduction The precast concrete construction method (PCa method) is a production method in which parts and materials are manufactured in advance in a factory and assembled at the construction site. It is positioned as an "essential elementary technology of industrialized construction methods" [1] . In Japan, the Japan Housing Corporation (abbreviated as JHC, now known as Urban Renaissance Agency, abbreviated as UR) and the Building Research Institute of the Ministry of Construction (now known as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) began researching the extensive PCa slab method in the 1950s [2], which evolved step by step from the Wall Precast Concrete Method (W-PCa method) to the RahmenPrecast Concrete Method (R-PCa method) over nearly 60 years. Japan is an earthquake-prone country, and the R-PCa method with high earthquake resistance is the most commonly used. On the other hand, research on the PCa method began in China and Japan in the 1950s, but China was temporarily stopped due to the great Tangshan earthquake in 1976 [3] . However, in recent years, the construction labor force has decreased due to the declining birth rate, the aging population in China, and environmental problems related to construction activities. Following the“Guiding Opinion on the Development of PCa” [4], research and development of the PCa method have been resumed in China. In addition, the “Opinion” has set a target that 30 % of all new buildings should be built using the PCa method within ten years. In contrast to Japan, where the PCa method took more than 60 years to develop, China is promoting this method rapidly. Unlike Japan's *[Corresponding author:](Corresponding author: hantian@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp)[ hantian@fc.ritsumei](Corresponding author: hantian@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp)[.ac.jp](Corresponding author: hantian@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp) step-by-step developing style, China encourages and implements the PCa method skip-by-skip. Moreover, China has many regions with few earthquakes, and the WPCa methods are commonly used. In addition, these technological advances and innovations have led to significant changes in China's construction industry. By adopting not only PCa method but also the introduction of BIM (Building Information Modeling), robotics, 5G (fifth-generation mobile communication system), etc., the construction industry has been able to carry out construction work more efficiently. A more famous example: The Chinese government built two hospitals in Wuhan in just ten days to ease the medical collapse caused by the fast-spreading COVID-19 . The unified houses between them could be completed quickly using cutting-edge technologies such as the PCa method, BIM, and 5G. As the birth rate

FAQs

What are the main PCa methods compared in Japan and China?

The article focuses on the Wall Precast Concrete (W-PCa) method and the Rahmen Precast Concrete (R-PCa) method, explaining why W-PCa is more common in China while R-PCa is predominant in earthquake-prone Japan.

Why did China’s PCa research development differ from Japan’s timeline?

China began research around the 1950s, but it was temporarily stopped by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. In recent years, guidance policies restarted research and set a target for wider PCa adoption.

How is the PCa utilization rate analyzed in the study?

The study defines and quantitatively analyzes the W-PCa utilization rate in Japan and China using modeling buildings.

Aug 30, 2026

Uploaded by Caleb Sterling