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Post-Tensioning: This Section Covers The Following Topics

This document discusses post-tensioning, including its stages, advantages, and devices used. It begins with an introduction to post-tensioning and its benefits for longer spans, shallower depths, and curved structures. It then covers the stages of post-tensioning such as duct placement, tendon installation, tensioning, and anchoring. Key advantages are listed as more flexible design, reduced weight, improved seismic performance, and faster construction. Potential disadvantages include increased complexity, quality control needs, and corrosion risks if not constructed properly. Finally, essential devices like ducts, anchoring systems, jacks, and grouting equipment are described.

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Sneha Periwal
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66 views

Post-Tensioning: This Section Covers The Following Topics

This document discusses post-tensioning, including its stages, advantages, and devices used. It begins with an introduction to post-tensioning and its benefits for longer spans, shallower depths, and curved structures. It then covers the stages of post-tensioning such as duct placement, tendon installation, tensioning, and anchoring. Key advantages are listed as more flexible design, reduced weight, improved seismic performance, and faster construction. Potential disadvantages include increased complexity, quality control needs, and corrosion risks if not constructed properly. Finally, essential devices like ducts, anchoring systems, jacks, and grouting equipment are described.

Uploaded by

Sneha Periwal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Post-tensioning

This section covers the following topics


•Introduction
• Stages of Post-tensioning
• Advantages of Post-tensioning
• Disadvantages of Post-tensioning
• Devices
Introduction

Post-tensioned superstructures, which can


be built quickly and without touching the
land or water below the bridge, are a
relatively low impact structural system
and optimal solution. For longer spans
(commonly up to 300-feet or more),
shallower girder depths, and continuously
curved superstructures, post-tensioning
offers ductility and seismic performance
as well as superior aesthetics to today’s
precast designs. Post-tensioning also
provides more flexibility in the layout of
span lengths, bent configurations and
roadway geometrics than precast I-girders
or reinforced concrete box girders.
Stages of Post-tensioning
•In post-tensioning systems, the ducts for the tendons (or strands) are placed along with the
reinforcement before the casting of concrete.
• The tendons are placed in the ducts after the casting of concrete.
•The duct prevents contact between concrete and the tendons during the tensioning
operation.
•Unlike pre-tensioning, the tendons are pulled with the reaction acting against the hardened
concrete.
•If the ducts are filled with grout, then it is known as bonded post-tensioning.
•The grout is a neat cement paste or a sand-cement mortar containing suitable admixture.
•In unbonded post-tensioning, as the name suggests, the ducts are never grouted and the
tendon is held in tension solely by the end anchorages.
•The following sketch shows a schematic representation of a grouted post-tensioned
member.
•The profile of the duct depends on the support conditions.
•For a simply supported member, the duct has a sagging profile between the ends.
•For a continuous member, the duct sags in the span and hogs over the support
The various stages of the post-tensioning
operation are summarised as follows.
1) Casting of concrete.
2) Placement of the tendons.
3) Placement of the anchorage block and jack.
4) Applying tension to the tendons.
5) Seating of the wedges.
6) Cutting of the tendons.
The stages are shown
schematically in the
following figures. After
anchoring a tendon at one
end, the tension is applied
at the other end by a jack.
The tensioning of
tendons and pre-
compression of concrete
occur simultaneously. A
system of self-
equilibrating forces
develops after the
ADVANTAGES OF POST-TENSIONING
The use of post-tensioning system in building offers numerous advantages such as
economic savings, minimised floor-to-floor heights, increased column-free space,
minimised foundations, in seismic areas, reduced weight and lateral load resisting
systems, simplified slab design and construction etc. Advantages of post-tensioning
system
Reduction of total labor costs for construction more than twice
• Shallow structural depth • Bigger column-free spans • Less steel and concrete
consumption on 50% • Reduction in foundation loads in 2-3 times • Better deflection
control • Better crack control
• Longer clear spans
• Thinner slabs
• Lesser floor-to-floor heights
• Shorter building height
• Lesser weight
• Improved seismic performance
• Faster construction cycle
Different types of slab
Alternative design with post-tensioning
DISADVANTAGES OF POST-TENSIONING
•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 slabis 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.

•The relative disadvantage of post-tensioning as compared to pre-tensioning is


the requirement of anchorage device and grouting equipment.
Devices
The essential devices for post-tensioning are as follows.
1) Casting bed
2) Mould/Shuttering
3) Ducts
4) Anchoring devices
5) Jacks
6) Couplers (optional)
7) Grouting equipment (optional). Casting Bed, Mould and Ducts The following figure
shows the devices.

Anchoring Devices
In post-tensioned members the anchoring devices transfer the prestress to the concrete.
The devices are based on the following principles of anchoring the tendons.
1) Wedge action
2) Direct bearing
3) Looping the wires
Wedge action
The anchoring device based on wedge
action consists of an anchorage block
and wedges. The strands are held by
frictional grip of the wedges in the
anchorage block. Some examples of
systems based on the wedge-action are
Freyssinet, Gifford-Udall, Anderson and
Magnel-Blaton anchorages. The
following figures show some patented
anchoring devices.
Direct bearing
The rivet or bolt heads or button heads
formed at the end of the wires directly
bear against a block. The following figure
shows the anchoring by direct bearing.

Looping the wires


The Baur-Leonhardt system, Leoba system and
also the Dwidag single-bar anchorage system,
work on this principle where the wires are
looped around the concrete. The wires are
looped to make a bulb. The following photo
shows the anchorage by looping of the wires in
a post-tensioned slab.
Sequence of Anchoring
The following figures show the sequence of stressing
and anchoring the strands. The photo of an
anchoring device is also provided
Jacks
The working of a jack and measuring the load
were discussed in Section 1.3, “Pretensioning
Systems and Devices”. The following figure
shows an extruded sketch of the anchoring
devices.

Couplers
The couplers are used to connect strands or
bars. They are located at the junction of the
members, for example at or near columns in
post-tensioned slabs, on piers in posttensioned
bridge decks.

The couplers are tested to transmit the full


capacity of the strands or bars. A few types of
couplers are shown.
Grouting
Grouting can be defined as the filling of duct,
with a material that provides an anticorrosive
alkaline environment to the prestressing steel
and also a strong bond between the tendon
and the surrounding grout.

The major part of grout comprises of water


and cement, with a water-to-cement ratio of
about 0.5, together with some water-reducing
admixtures, expansion agent and pozzolans.
The properties of grout are discussed in
Section 1.6, “Concrete (Part-II)”. The following
figure shows a grouting equipment, where the
ingredients are mixed and the grout is
pumped.

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