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In areas where there are expansive clays or soils with low bearing capacity,
post-tensioned slabs-on-ground and mat foundations reduce problems with
cracking and differential settlement.
In stadiums, post-tensioning allows long clear spans and very
creative architecture
CONSTRUCTION
In slab-on-ground construction, unbonded tendons are typically prefabricated
at a plant and delivered to the construction site, ready to install.
The tendons are laid out in the forms in accordance with installation drawings
that .
After the concrete is placed and has reached its required
strength, usually between 3000 and 3500 psi (pounds per
square inch), the tendons are stressed and anchored.
The tendons, like rubber bands, want to return to their original length but
are prevented from doing so by the anchorages.
The fact the tendons are kept in a permanently stressed
(elongated) state causes a compressive force to act on the
concrete.
The compression that results from the post-tensioning
counteracts the tensile forces created by subsequent applied loading (cars,
people, the weight of the
beam itself when the shoring is removed).
This significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of the concrete.
Since post-tensioned concrete is cast in place at the job site, there is almost
no limit to the shapes that can be formed.
The duct is then grouted to protect the tendons from corrosion. This method
is commonly used to create monolithic slabs for house construction in
locations where expansive soils create problems for the typical perimeter
foundation.
The ability to individually adjust cables based on poor field conditions (For example:
shifting a group of 4 cables around an opening by placing 2 to either side).
The procedure of post-stress grouting is eliminated.
The ability to de-stress the tendons before attempting repair work.
Flat plate floors are commonly used because they are so well suited to stackcasting, requiring for work at only the edges of the slab and at floor openings
Originally , lift-slabs were reinforced with mild steel reinforcing, which limited
the column spacing or required very thick slabs.
Special lifting collars or share heads are provided in the slabs at the columns.
Bond breaking compounds are applied between slabs to separate them.
After the slabs have cured long enough to reach a prescribed strength
powerful hydraulic jacks mounted on top of the columns lift the slabs into
their respective positions.
Advantages
The big advantage of erecting concrete buildings using lift slab construction is
elimination of most form work; only the sides need to be formed , an
important factor in areas where labor cost are high.
Lift slab can be used for heights upto about 16 stories. Economical column
spacing ranges from 22 to 32 feet. Columns may be pipe, tubes or wide
flange sections; concrete building columns may be used in 3 to 4 story
buildings not requiring splices.
There is little need for finishing the bottom of the slabs, since they will
be as smooth as the floor finish of the slab below and thus the bottom of the
slab can be used directly as a ceiling.
The technique offers good fire resistance and good acoustic ratings.
Mass designed into walls, floors and roofs helps to reduce the effects of daily
temperature changes.
The lifting boxes are sequentially raised to higher positions to enable the
partitioning slabs to be lifted to the required levels
The lifting boxes and the partitioning slabs are held in their relative positions
by a simple pinning system
The first five slabs are elevated further to make room for the subsequent
five slabs
No horizontal beams- the slabs are self supporting and create rigidity to the
final structure.
The foundations are constructed and backfilled and then the slab on
grade is constructed.
Openings are left in the slab on grade to permit the erection of steel columns
which are then erected and plumbed.
In the Youtz-slick system a lifting collar is cast into each slab at each
column. This collar provides a method to hook up lifting rods at each collar,
so that the slab can be lifted, and a method to secure the lifting collar to the
supporting column, either permanently or temporarily.
When the first tier of columns is erected, all the lifting collars for all the slabs
to be lifted are installed over the columns of this tier and are temporarily
suspended above the ground .
The lowest slab to be lifted is constructed first by lowering its lifting collars
into place on the slab on grade, erecting the side forms (which may be high
enough to provide edge forms for all the slabs to be lifted), installing posttensioning strands and reinforcing steel, and placing, finishing, and curing the
concrete.
A bond breaker is sprayed onto the finished floor slab, and each of the other
floor slabs are constructed on top of the slab below in a similar manner. When
the slabs reach the proper strength, the slabs are post-tensioned.
The building may be dividedinto sections for lifting as shown in Figure 1-4,
depending on available equipment and the size of the floors. The sections are
joined by pour strips after lifting has been completed.
In the Youtz-slick method, the jacks are first mounted on top of the columns
of the first tier, Two threaded lifting rods are attached to each jack, one on
each side of the column.
These rods are then attached to the lifting collars of the slabs to be lifted; if
more than one slab is lifted at a time, the rods are attached to the lowest of
these slabs.
The following the details of a typical Youtz-Slick lifting collar. Referring to the plan and
section A-A, the lifting rods fit into key hole slots in the lifting angle of the lifting collar. To
insert the rod in the slot, centering the sleeve is raised, the rod is slid in and the sleeve
dropped down into the round portion of the keyhole, thus preventing the lifting rods from
sliding out.
Section B-B and C-C show the connection of the lifting collar to the column. The seal
block and the weld block are welded to the column flange in the shop. The seal block only
occurs at the permanent position of the slab. The guide bars are welded to the to the lifting
collar in the shop and are finished flush with the bottom of the lifting collar. As the lifting
collar (and slab) is pulled up by the jacks, the guide bars center the the lifting collars on the
weld blocks and seal blocks.