The forensic analysis of fourteen post-tensioned beam specimens after six years of aggressive exposure testing is the focus of this thesis. Funding for this research came from TxDOT and FHWA. Current post-tensioning materials and construction practices have been deemed inadequate due to fairly recent corrosion failures. Recently developed post-tensioning components and systems were assessed to determine their suitability to prevent durability concerns that had been found in older structures. Testing was conducted on the following variables: Strand Type, Duct Type, Duct Coupler Type, Anchorage Type, Electrically Isolated Tendons. Non-destructive and destructive testing methods were used to study the specimens and were evaluated on their effectiveness in predicting corrosion. Service life analysis was done on a structure using the strands and ducts study in the project. Galvanized duct showed substantial pitting and area loss. The majority of the plastic ducts had no observed damage. However, tendon grout chloride concentrations in most cases were extremely elevated with both galvanized and plastic ducts. This indicated that moisture had entered the duct, through either the couplers and/or grout vents. Except for strands from one specimen, the strands had minor corrosion with occasional mild pitting. The exception had heavy mild pitting confined to a small portion of the strand due to a hole in the duct. Backfill quality was good but it did not bond well with the base concrete. Therefore, moisture and chlorides entered the anchorage region. The electrically isolated tendon did not perform as well as expected. The grout chloride concentrations and level of corrosion damage were comparable to the concentrations and corrosion damage from the more conventionally protected specimens. / text

Post-tensioned (PT) bridge technology was first introduced in France in the 1930?s as described in the post-tensioned concrete bridges: Anglo-French liaison report by Highway Agency and is widely used in Europe and the US. PT bridge technology is advantageous over other bridge-type structures due to its larger span-to-depth ratio and reduced construction costs and time. This technology however faces several challenges due to potential corrosion of the prestressing steel. PT bridges constructed in the US during the 1970?s used cementitious grouts to fill the empty spaces in the PT ducts in order to protect the strands from corrosion. This grout in the ducts was intended to protect the strands from being attacked by aggressive agents and to prevent corrosion. A mixture of ASTM Type I cement and water was used as the grouting material for construction of PT bridges. In Texas, four major PT structures have been in place for more than 10 years. Recent investigations of the PT bridges in Texas did not identify any strand failures. However, the visual inspections identified voids in many of the ducts, especially at the ends of the bridge spans. These voids are believed to have been formed as a result of grout bleeding, poor grouting materials, and poor grouting techniques. One of the main performance requirements sought from PT grouts is their ability to fill existing voids in the existing ducts. Currently, many prepackaged grouts are available for PT application that are reported to not bleed and provide better flowability as compared to the older ASTM Type I cement grout. However, the current standard specifications for approving grout materials have limited requirements for evaluating the ?fillability? of these pre-packaged PT grouts. This research is being performed to provide modifications to the existing PT specifications such that PT repair grouts can be objectively assessed for fillability and long-term performance.

The shear capacity of a post-tensioned, concrete I-girder may be influenced if the crushing capacity of the web is reduced by ducts for the tendons. An experimental investigation was conducted on compressively-loaded, high-strength concrete panels with embedded post-tensioning ducts to better understand the parameters influencing girder web crushing behavior. The panels were intended to represent portions of a girder web subjected to shear-induced, principal compressive stresses. Material properties and construction procedures utilized in the fabrication and erection of bridge members in the field were considered. The primary goal of this study was to assess the impacts of various parameters on web crushing capacity. The results were needed to determine which variables should be considered for shear testing of full-scale girders. The parameters considered in the panel test program were duct type, grouting, member thickness, and the inclusion of confining reinforcement near the ducts. Notable findings from this study indicate that 1) elements with plastic ducts exhibit lower capacities than those with steel ducts, 2) a significant size effect exists when determining crushing capacity, and 3) the presence of a small amount of reinforcement placed near a duct through a member’s thickness can greatly improve its capacity. Results indicated that American design codes may be severely unconservative in their handling of ducts when designing for shear. Recommendations to refine and expand the standard approach for reducing web crushing capacity were developed. Additionally, a new means of estimating web crushing capacity was introduced. / text

This thesis investigates the integration of 3D printing with clay and post-tensioning techniques, seeking to establish a structural reinforcement system for 3D-printed clay pieces. The primary goal is to marry the inherent flexibility of clay with the strength provided by post-tensioning, thereby introducing a novel construction paradigm. The culmination of this research involves the design and realization of a pavilion or architectural structure, serving as a practical demonstration of the proposed system's viability in real-world applications. Through an exhaustive review of existing projects and the development of an innovative construction methodology, this study contributes to the evolving landscape of sustainable and adaptable architectural solutions. / Master of Architecture / In this research, I delved into the intricate realm of construction, specifically exploring the possibilities when 3D printing technology meets clay, an age-old material. The main thrust was to devise a system that fortifies 3D printed clay pieces using a technique known as post-tensioning—transforming them into not just visually captivating structures but also robust in their structural integrity. Picture a pavilion or architectural marvel materializing from this fusion. This research isn't confined to theoretical musings; it's about crafting tangible structures that redefine the horizons of sustainable and adaptable architecture. Join me in navigating this journey where clay seamlessly converges with the avant-garde!

<p>If designed and constructed properly, post-tensioned construction can provide improved durability and offers the ability to construct longer span bridges and curved girders. Furthermore, this method of construction has become economically competitive with traditional, pretensioned concrete and steel plate girder bridges. A critical issue, however, has been corrosion of the steel strand. While grouting has been the primary corrosion protection method for the strand, experience has shown that grouting presents its own problems and limitations that compromised the durability and service-life of bridges. As a result, unbonded post-tensioning has gained interest as it eliminates issues with grouting and allows for inspection as well as future strand replacement. The behavior and strength of structures constructed with unbonded post-tensioning, however, is not well understood, especially shear strength. Therefore, the objective of this research investigation is to evaluate the structural performance of prestressed girders containing unbonded tendons with a primary focus on shear strength. The scope of this phase of the research was to develop the means and methods to construct and test girder specimens with multiple design criteria and allow evaluation of multiple test variables. The research developed the materials and procedures to enable the large scale testing program to be developed. Finally, the procedures developed were verified through the construction of the initial set of test specimens and testing of the first shear specimen.</p>

Currently there is a worldwide renaissance in timber building design. At the University of Canterbury, new structural systems for commercial multistorey timber buildings have been under development since 2005. These systems incorporate large timber sections connected by high strength post-tensioning tendons, and timber-concrete composite floor systems, and aim to compete with existing structural systems in terms of cost, constructability, operational and seismic performance. The development of post-tensioned timber systems has created a need for improved lateral force design approaches for timber buildings. Current code provisions for seismic design are based on the strength of the structure, and do not adequately account for its deformation. Because timber buildings are often governed by deflection, rather than strength, this can lead to the exceedence of design displacement limitations imposed by New Zealand codes. Therefore, accurate modeling approaches which define both the strength and deformation of post-tensioned timber buildings are required. Furthermore, experimental testing is required to verify the accuracy of these models. This thesis focuses on the development and experimental verification of modeling approaches for the lateral force design of post-tensioned timber frame and wall buildings. The experimentation consisted of uni-direcitonal and bi-directional quasi-static earthquake simulation on a two-thirds scale, two-storey post-tensioned timber frame and wall building with timber-concrete composite floors. The building was subjected to lateral drifts of up to 3% and demonstrated excellent seismic performance, exhibiting little damage. The building was instrumented and analyzed, providing data for the calibration of analytical and numerical models. Analytical and numerical models were developed for frame, wall and floor systems that account for significant deformation components. The models predicted the strength of the structural systems for a given design performance level. The static responses predicted by the models were compared with both experimental data and finite element models to evaluate their accuracy. The frame, wall and floor models were then incorporated into an existing lateral force design procedure known as displacement-based design and used to design several frame and wall structural systems. Predictions of key engineering demand parameters, such as displacement, drift, interstorey shear, interstorey moment and floor accelerations, were compared with the results of dynamic time-history analysis. It was concluded that the numerical and analytical models, presented in this thesis, are a sound basis for determining the lateral response of post-tensioned timber buildings. However, future research is required to further verify and improve these prediction models.

An extensive research program is on-going at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand to develop new technologies to permit the construction of multi-storey timber buildings in earthquake prone areas. The system combines engineered timber beams, columns and walls with ductile moment resisting connections using post-tensioned tendons and eventually energy dissipaters. The extensive experimental testing on post-tensioned timber building systems has proved a remarkable lateral response of the proposed solutions. A wide number of post-tensioned timber subassemblies, including beam-column connections, single or coupled walls and column-foundation connections, have been analysed in static or quasi-static tests. This contribution presents the results of the first dynamic tests carried out with a shake-table. Model frame buildings (3-storey and 5-storey) on one-quarter scale were tested on the shake-table to quantify the response of post-tensioned timber frames during real-time earthquake loading. Equivalent viscous damping values were computed for post-tensioned timber frames in order to properly predict their response using numerical models. The dynamic tests were then complemented with quasi-static push and pull tests performed to a 3-storey post-tensioned timber frame. Numerical models were included to compare empirical estimations versus dynamic and quasi-static experimental results. Different techniques to model the dynamic behaviour of post-tensioned timber frames were explored. A sensitivity analysis of alternative damping models and an examination of the influence of designer choices for the post-tensioning force and utilization of column armouring were made. The design procedure for post-tensioned timber frames was summarized and it was applied to two examples. Inter-storey drift, base shear and overturning moments were compared between numerical modelling and predicted/targeted design values.

A new structural system for multi-storey timber buildings has been developed over the last seven years at the University of Canterbury. The system incorporates large timber structural frames, whereby semi-rigid beam-column connections are created using post-tensioning steel tendons. This system can create large open floor plans required for office and commercial buildings. Several material properties of the engineered timber used were determined based on small-scale experimental testing. Full-scale testing of beams, connections and frames resulted in a more comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of such systems. Numerical, analytical and framework models also led to the development of design equations and procedures which were validated with the acquired experimental data.

The deterioration of prestressed concrete structures due to corrosion is a costly problem. This problem is accelerated in cold weather climates where de-icing salts are used. These salts accelerate the corrosion of the steel tendons greatly reducing the service life of the structures and leading to constant costly repairs. Recent research has shown composite materials such as Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to be suitable alternatives to steel, providing similar strength without being susceptible to electrochemical corrosion. Carbon FRP in particular has great promise for prestressed applications, showing resistance to corrosion in environments that might be encountered in concrete and experiencing less relaxation than steel. This thesis outlines the testing and implementation of a post-tensioned system that uses CFRP tendons to replace corroded, unbonded post-tensioned steel tendons. This system was then implemented in a parking garage in downtown Toronto. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first example of an unbonded, post-tensioned tendon replacement using FRP tendons. The system used split wedge anchors designed specifically for CFRP tendons at the University of Waterloo. The dead end was anchored by directly bonding the tendon to the concrete slab. Overall, the system was shown to work and provide a durable solution for unbonded post-tensioning systems. The CFRP tendon was successfully inserted in the opening left by the removal of the corroded tendon and stressed. It was found that the current anchorage configuration experienced large load losses of up to 60 % during the transfer. Changing the orientation of the anchor was found to reduce the load lost to a range of 1 % to 9 %. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-04-09 15:30:59.865

In today's textbooks, analyzing prestressed members and bridges takes a two-dimensional approach. Two-dimensional analysis is the only way to analyze prestressed bridges and members because otherwise the hand calculations are extremely difficult. Skewed bridges, however, need to be analyzed and designed three-dimensionally. Based on engineering inspection, it is possible to tell how a non-skewed symmetric bridge will behave. However, the knowledge of how a skewed bridge will behave cannot be obtained by inspection only. Finite element analysis can be used to model a bridge and discover how the bridge will react to dead loads and post-tensioning forces. When a bridge is built on a skew, the acute corners of the bridge support much less concrete weight than the obtuse corners of the bridge. If the post-tensioning force causes a decrease in load at the acute corners of the skewed bridge and if the skew of the bridge is great enough, there is a concern that there could be uplift at these acute corners of the bridge. Uplift at any corner of the bridge should not be allowed. The objective of this study is to investigate a simple span skewed box girder bridge to see if any uplift occurs at the acute corners of the bridge due to post-tensioning forces. After careful study of a skewed simple span cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge, it was found that the post-tensioning force actually transfers more downward force into the acute corners of the bridge. Based on this study, the post-tensioning force will not cause uplift in the acute corners of the skewed bridge.