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WHAT IS POST TENSIONING?

Post-tensioning is a method of reinforcing (strengthening) concrete or other materials with high-strength steel
strands or bars, typically referred to as tendons. In many cases, post- tensioning allows construction that would
otherwise be impossible due to either site constraints or architectural requirements. Post-tensioning is a form
of prestressing.
Bonded post-tensioned concrete is the descriptive term for a method of applying compression after pouring
concrete and during the curing process.
Among the advantages of this system over unbonded post-tensioning are:
Large reduction in traditional reinforcement requirements as tendons cannot destress in accidents.
Tendons can be easily "woven" allowing a more efficient design approach.
Higher ultimate strength due to bond generated between the strand and concrete.
No long term issues with maintaining the integrity of the anchor/dead end.
Unbonded post-tensioned concrete differs from bonded post-tensioning by providing each individual cable
permanent freedom of movement relative to the concrete.
The advantages of this system over bonded post-tensioning are:
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 on each side).
The procedure of post-stress grouting is eliminated.
The ability to de-stress the tendons before attempting repair work.

WHAT MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ARE USED IN POST-TENSIONING?

The basic element of a post-tensioning system is called a tendon. A post-tensioning tendon is made up of
one or more pieces of prestressing steel, coated with a protective coating, and housed inside of a duct or
sheathing. A tendon will have anchors on each end to transmit the forces into the structure.
The duct or sheathing that houses the prestressing steel provides one layer of corrosion protection. A
tendon with a duct that contains multiple pieces of prestressing steel strand is commonly called a multistrand
tendon, and a tendon in which a single prestressing steel strand is covered in a plastic sheathing is commonly
referred to as a monostrand tendon.

1. Upper cross head - To clamp testing specimen from top

2. Lower cross head - To clamp testing specimen from below

3. Table - to place the specimen, used for compression test

A ball screw is a mechanical linear actuator that translates rotational motion to linear motion with little friction.
A servomotor is a rotary actuator that allows for precise control of angular position, velocity and acceleration.
A universal testing machine (UTM), also known as a universal tester,[1] materials testing
machine or materials test frame, is used to test the tensile strength and compressive strength of materials. It
is named after the fact that it can perform many standard tensile and compression tests on materials,
components, and structures.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES AND APPLICATION OF POST - TENSIONING

Some of the Advantages of Post Tensioning:

It reduces or eliminates shrinkage cracking-therefore no joints, or fewer joints, are needed


Cracks that do form are held tightly together
It allows slabs and other structural members to be thinner
It allows us to build slabs on expansive or soft soils
It lets us design longer spans in elevated members, like floors or beams

Some of the Disadvantages of Post Tensioning:

Corrosion: Since there are a number of tendons and wires spread inside the post tension slab, it can
result in corrosion. But largely, this tendency to corrode depends on the quality of the material used.
Complexity of work: The post tension slab can be made only by skillful professionals. The local
workers may not have the necessary skills required to prepare this complex slab.
Poor workmanship can lead to accidents: The main problem with using post tension slab is that if
care is not taken while making it, it can lead to future mishaps. Many a times, ignorant workers do not
fill the gaps of the tendons and wiring completely. These gaps cause corrosion of the wires which may
break untimely, leading to some untoward events.

Some of the more common applications are:

Slabs on ground: Today, PT is used extensively for slabs on grade where soils are likely to move
(expansive soils)-especially in the American southwest.
Another good application for PT slabs is producing crack-free tennis courts.
A recently developed application of PT is external post-tensioning for strengthening of existing
structures, especially as an upgrade to resist seismic forces.
Bridge designers have used PT both for cast-in-place concrete and for precast segmental construction. PT
allows longer spans and keeps cracks tight.
Concrete water tanks are often post-tensioned to reduce crack width and leakage. The companies that
make pre-stressed concrete tanks are Crom, DYK, Natgun, and Preload.
Masonry walls can be post-tensioned-this is usually done with a solid steel bar fastened to the foundation
and stressed with a nut at the wall's top. A good article on PT for masonry is available on Masonry
Construction magazine.
One interesting application is for a concrete countertop that needed to span 6 feet and carry a heavy
load.

How To Install Post-Tensioning

Post-Tensioning Construction Basics


Construction of post-tensioned slabs on grade is very similar to using reinforcing steel, except for the
tensioning step. Cables are arranged as indicated by the engineer and chaired to run through the center of the
slab. Tendons can be easily routed around obstructions. Tendons today are seven high-strength steel wires
wound together and placed inside a plastic duct. At each end a PT anchor is located and these are located in
pockets embedded into the slab edge. When the strands are stressed, the wires will stretchabout 4 inches
for a 50 foot strandto apply 33,000 pounds of load.
Larger structural concrete members may also be post-tensioned. The process is very similar to that used
for slabs, except on a bigger scale. One interesting difference is that the tendons will often be "draped" so that
they are low at the midpoint of a beam and high at the supportsthis places the steel at the point of highest
tension where it can keep the concrete held together tightly.
Construction
In building and slab-on-ground construction, unbounded tendons are typically prefabricated at a plant and
delivered to the construction site, ready to install.. 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 posttensioning counteracts
the tensile forces created by subsequent applied loading (cars, people and 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.
Curved facades, arches and complicated slab edge layouts are often a trademark of post-tensioned concrete
structures.

SOURCES FOR POST-TENSIONING INFO AND PRODUCTS


Leading People and Companies in the Post-Tensioning Industry

Three companies dominate the PT strand market, although there are other smaller manufacturers

Suncoast Post-Tension is the largest manufacturer of PT.


VSL was purchased a few years ago by Structural Group.
DSI is a German manufacturer.

Other leading figures in the PT industry include:

Ted Neff, is the executive director of the Post-Tensioning Institute.


Pawan Gupta, is the technical director of PTI.
Ken Bondy is an engineer who has been designing PT structures for over 40 years; he wrote an
excellent history of the industry (PDF) in Concrete Construction in December 2001.
Larry Stadler, president of Suncoast Post-Tension is an energetic promoter of PT
Bijan Aalami, is a professor at San Francisco State and a lifetime member of PTI.
Precision Sure-Lock makes post-tensioning wedges, anchors, pumps and rams, tools, accessories
and equipment.

Learning More about PT

PT design and construction is fairly specialized, but there are many sources of information. Here are a few of
the best:

Post-Tensioning Institute: As with most segments of the concrete industry, post-tensioning has an
association, the Post-Tensioning Institute(PTI), based in Arizona
Post-Tension Magazine, published by Evaluation and Certification Services, is a new magazine that is
published quarterly.
The Portland Cement Association has many case studies of buildings designed using PT, such as
the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the National Association of Realtors and the first building within
the District of Columbia to receive certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council's LEED rating
program
Concrete Construction has published many articles on post-tensioning over the years. Bryan Allred,
an engineer with Seneca Structural Engineering wrote a couple of very good articles recently-one
on potential problems and one on PT for residential slabs.
Adapt has an excellent stand-alone design package for post-tensioned slabs and beams.

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