Post-Tensioning

Systems and Construction

EXAMPLES OF POST-TENSIONED
BUILDINGS IN SEISMIC REGIONS, USING
UNBONDED TENDONS

Dr Bijan O Aalami
Professor Emeritus, San Francisco
State University
Principal, ADAPT Corporation
W Hotel, San Francisco, California
www.adaptsoft.com
bijan@adaptsoft.com copyright ADAPT Corporation 2013

Infinity Towers (36 story + 4 underground)

under construction in San Francisco, California

301 Mission Street

San Francisco, California

Proposed Transbay Tower under construction

San Francisco, California

Red Lion Inn, Modesto, Ca

Mid-rise Hotel in San Francisco Bay Area

Daniel Burnham Court, San Francisco

Mid-rise Buildings

Ocean Villa Apartments

Southern California

University of California Medical Center, Irvine

Parking Structure
CONSTRUCTED WITH UNBONDED
POST-TENSIONING

Xerox Center, Santa Ana, California

Lakeshore Tower, Irvine, California

PARKING STRUCTURES

San Jose International Airport

PARKING STRUCTURES
Beam and one-way slab construction

Example of High Rise Building in Seismic

Risk Region Similar to Dubai (SDC C)

Honolulu Hawaii
Trump International Hotel and Tower

Every building in view is posttensioned using unbonded

tendon

Slab thickness = 150 mm

PT
= 3.2 kg/m2
Rebar = 5.0 kg/m2
Completed in 2009

Panama City ; Panama

With over 35 years of extensive experience in
design and construction of post-tensioned
buildings

A view from suburbs of

Panama City
Showing towers constructed with
post-tensioning

Four Seasons Hotel; Florida

Constructed in one of the highest wind
force regions in USA

Beach Tower 2
Dubai, UAE constructed with grouted
tendons

Qanat Qasba Tower

Dubai. UAE, constructed with grouted tendons

ADVANTAGES OF POSTTENSIONING
Longer clear spans
Optimum 30 ft (10 m)

Thinner slabs
Typically 1/3 reduction in thickness

Lesser floor-to-floor height

Eliminates beams

Shorter building height

Less cladding

Improved seismic performance

Lesser weight
Shorter overturning moment arm
Beach Tower 1
Dubai, UAE, constructed with grouted
tendons

Reduction in Building Height

Increased Spans Open Space

Faster construction cycle

Typically one week cycle per pour;
can be reduced to one floor per day

Increased span more open space for the

same slab thickness and floor to floor
height

MAT (RAFT) FOUNDATIONS

COLUMN/
WALL

TENDON

MAT

UNIFORM SOIL PRESSURE

(a) POST-TENSIONED MAT

Fortaleza, Brazil

POST-TENSIONED MAT
FOUNDATION USING UNBONDED
TENDONS
CONCENTRATED PRESSURE

(b) NON-PRESTRESSED MAT

Kodak Building
San Jose, California

POST-TENSIONED MAT FOUNDATION

USING GROUTED TENDONS
Example of a mat (raft) foundation, using
unbonded tendons

Post-Tensioned Slabs on Grade

SOG

Overview of post-tensioned mat foundation of

a high-rise building in KSA, using grouted
tendons

The most common application in the

US is in the foundation of residential
and light industrial buildings
Expansive soil (high clay content) undergoes
seasonal volume change that can adversely
affect the performance of the structure it
supports

Design Conditions for GroundSupported Post-Tensioned Slabs

POST-TENSIONED SLAB-ON-GRAGE
For residential and low rise buildings

em

EDGE LOAD
D

SLAB

LOSS OF
MOISTURE

Ym

DROP

"a" SOIL GAP

DRY TO WET

(a) CENTER LIFT

(a) CENTER LIFT

em

MOISTURE

EDGE LOAD

UPLIFT

(b) EDGE LIFT

Structure Interaction with

Expansive Soil and Change in
Moisture

d
Ym
"a" SOIL GAP
WET TO DRY

(b) EDGE LIFT

Post-tensioned slabs on
expansive soil (SOG)

A post-tensioned slab on
expansive soil is designed to
reduce the movement of the soil
below it to a displacement
acceptable for the structure
above it.

In many constructions, a
deformation of one vertical over
250 horizontal for the
superstructure acceptable

POST-TENSIONED GROUND
SUPPORTED SLAB
READY FOR CONCRETE POUR

In this construction, the moisture

barrier is placed above 2 inches (50
mm) of sand.
In SOG tendons are typically straight
and at mid-depth over the interior
regions of slab.

POST-TENSIONED GROUND
SUPPORTED SLAB
READY FOR CONCRETE POUR

Slab is typically 4 to 5 in (100mm to

130 mm) thick; beams are 15 ft (5 m)
apart; tendons are spaced 4 to 5 ft
(1200 to 1500 mm) apart. The above
construction shows the moisture
barrier below sand

Post-Tensioned Slab-On-Grade
Without Interior Beams
In California, the preferred construction
is slab of uniform thickness (7 to 8 inch;
180 to 200 mm) with perimeter beams,
typically 12 inch (300 mm) deep and 10
inch (250 mm) wide

Waffle foundation slabs have stems 42

(1.06 m) apart , 4 (100mm) wide, reinforced
with one 0.5 (12.7mm) strand placed
straight and at top over each stem . The slab
is 4 (10mm) and the total depth of the
foundation 16 (400 mm)

Example of Post-Tensioned ground supported

slab on expansive soil

UNITED STATES USAGE OF

POST-TENSIONING STEEL
TYPICAL STATISTICS
Earthwork,
4.0%
Bridges,
14.5%

Slab-On-Grade,
53.0%

Buildings,
27.6%
Misc, 0.9%

Post-tensioned slabs provide super-flat

crack free surfaces suitable for smooth
and stable operation of fork-lift trucks in
ware houses

Cracks on floors as observed above impede

the smooth ride of forklift trucks and endanger
loading on tall racks

Overview of an industrial floor being provided

with a post-tensioned floor for a crack-free
smooth surface

Example of an industrial building with posttensioned floor system

Example of a post-tensioned residential floor

slab ready to be cast
Floor is subdivided in smaller sections to
reduce loss of prestressing due to friction
Floor is cast on two layers of plastic sheet
to reduce friction.
The friction coefficient for slab on two layers
of plastic is generally between 0.4 to 0.6

Transfer slabs, such at the above example in

New York receive a multitude of loads from
above and transfer them to a few supports
below to create wide open spaces below, or to
straddle over obstruction as in the above
example

www.adaptsoft.com

Computer model for design of a 3.5m

transfer plate showing the walls from
above and the long span open space
supports below

Post-tensioned transfer plates are used,

where the requirements of open space at
lower levels of multi-story buildings results
in interruption of upper level columns

View of tendons in two-layered 3.5m deep

transfer plate
The first 1m layer was case with its own
post-tensioning to carry the weight of the
added 2.5m, thus reducing the necessity of
heavy formwork.
The 3.5m plate was designed to carry the
weight of the tower.

Tendon being positioned in 3.5 thick

transfer plate

POST-TENSIONED CONCRETE FLOOR

SUPPORTING A WOOD FRAME
BUILDING
Santana Row; San Jose, California

POST-TENSIONED CONCRETE FLOOR

SUPPORTING A WOOD FRAME OR
LIGHT STEEL FRAME BUILDING
Pasadena Playhouse, California

POST-TENSIONED CONCRETE
FLOOR SUPPORTING STEEL FRAME
OFFICE BUILDING

Hybrid construction in Redwood City,

California
The post-tensioned ground floor retail
and underground parking support
four levels of wood fame apartments

BASE PLATES OF STEEL COLUMNS

TERMINATE ON PT SLAB

POST-TENSIONING
SYSTEMS
Unbonded
Tendons remain detached
from concrete along their
length for the entire life of
the structure

Definition of Terms

Wire

Strand
Tendon
Monostrand

Multistrand
unbonded

grouted

Grouted (bonded)
Tendons are attached to
the encasing concrete
along their entire length
and follow the deformation
of concrete

Post-Tensioning in Building Construction

Unbonded Tendon Evolution

STRAND

PAPER

+
(a) PAPER-WRAPPED 1955 - 1970 _
SHEATH

PUSH - THROUGH HEAT- EXTRUDED

SEALED
(STUFFED)

Paper-wrapped tendons of 1950s

(b) PLASTIC SHEATH TYPES 1960 - PRESENT

GREASE FILLED PLASTIC CAP
SHEATH

TUBE

(c) ENCAPSULATED PTI RECOMMENDED SYSTEM 1985

PLASTIC COATED ANCHORAGE
SHEATH

TUBE

Todays example of moisture tight tendon

(d) ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED TENDON 1983

12.7 mm
(0.5"*)

Unbonded Post-Tensioning
Hardware

WIRE

CORROSION
INHIBITING
COATING

PLASTIC
SHEATHING

NOTE: * NOMINAL DIAMETER

(a) STRAND

(b) TENDON

GREASE FILLED PLASTIC CAP

SHEATH

TUBE

STRAND

ARRANGEMENT OF UNBONDED POSTTENSIONING SYSTE

COMPONENTS:
Tendon (greased and plastic coated)
Anchorage casting
Wedges
Pocket former (grommet) to create a
stressing recess; and
Stressing equipment

(c) ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY

Generic Anchorage Device

for 0.5 inch 13mm Strand

2.25")

5")

57mm

127mm (

(a) PLAN

1.50")
(

38mm

COMPONENTS OF A GENERIC 12 mm
(1/2in.) STRAND TENDON

1.30")
(

33mm

(b) SECTION

(c) WEDGE

Freyssinet hardware for unbonded tendons

STRESSING END
LIVE (STRESSING) ENDS AT SLAB EDGE

The picture shows anchorage assemblies for

corrosive environment. The entire strand is
protected by a water-tight plastic cover

DEAD END
Non-corrosive environment hardware

UNBONDED POST-TENSIONING
CONSTRUCTION

EXAMPLE OF A TWO-WAY FLOOR

SYSTEM (California)

Note: The continuous reinforcement on

the right are drag bars to resist
seismic forces

Tendons are commonly labeled using colorcodes. The anchors are marked with spraypaint to guarantee a fast and accurate
installation.

BLUE

A two-way post-tensioned slab reinforced

with unbonded tendons. The tendons are
banded in one direction along the column
supports and distributed uniformly in the
transverse direction. Note that all top bars
are placed over the columns. The long
bars at the bottom are support bars to
provide the correct tendon height.

GREEN

Each bundle is packaged with a metal tie.

Padding is placed between the tendons and
the tie to ensure that the metal does not
penetrate the sheath and cause damage.

David: insert cd4 299

Unroll and layout tendons

Mark and fix stressing end
at slab edges

The final clean out prior concreting

takes place by air pressure

View of job site while placing

concrete

Concrete placing crew busy

to place and finish

Elongation of tendon is measured

with a steel tape to 1/8 inch (3mm)
accuracy

Examples of Cross-Sectional
Geometry of Bonded Systems
1/2" (12.7mm) STRAND
0.079" (2mm)

0.16"
4 mm

2.83"
72 mm

0.83"
21mm
(INSIDE DIA.)

0.66"
17mm

3.39"
86 mm
SECTION

ELEVATION

(a) 4-STRAND PLASTIC FLAT CORRUGATED DUCT

2.88"
73 mm

0.43"
1.87"
11 mm
47.5 mm

2.62"
67 mm

1/2" (12.7 mm) STRAND

(b) STRAND POSITION AT HIGH POINT OF A

12 - 1/2" STRAND CIRCULAR METAL DUCT

View of construction of a floor slab

using grouted tendons

A tendon arrangement option for floor

slabs reinforced with grouted posttensioning

Tendon arrangement using slab bands

SLAB WITH GROUTED TENDON

using sheet metal ducts

Freyssinet hardware for grouted tendons

Plastic ducts provide enhanced

performance

An example of a grouted
system hardware for a single
strand

An example of a grouted
system hardware with flat duct

Ngee Ann City, Singapore

SLAB ON GRADE, USING SINGLE

STRAND GROUTED PT SYSTEM

FLAT DUCT GROUTED POST-TENSIONING

FLAT DUCT GROUTED POST-TENSIONING

Example of column-supported
grouted tendon post-tensioned
slab under construction

STRAND AND FLAT DUCTS FOR

GROUTED PT SYSTEM

THREADED FOUR STRAND DUCTS

READY FOR LAYOUT

TENDON ARRANGEMENT
AROUND COLUMN

DUCT SPLICING

VIEW OF A LIVE (STRESSING) END, TWO

DEAD ENDS AND GROUTING TUBES IN
PLACE, READY TO CONCRETING

VIEW OF A DEAD END ASSEMBLIES

Dead end; live end; and

interior stressing pocket

Stressing pans at slab interior

Tendon stressing from top

of slab

Stressing recess and finish at

slab edge

CONSTRUCTION OF GROUTED SYSTEM USING

CORRUGATED (FLEXIBLE) DUCTS

UNROLL AND LAYOUT FLAT DUCTS

TENDON LAYOUT USING

CORRUGATED DUCTS

PUSH STRANDS THROUGH EACH DUCT

Strands being pushed into ducts

IN BEAMS, OR THICK SLABS, ROUND

DUCTS ARE PREFERRABLE

Grout mixer

Where member thickness allows, a good

solution is to use rounded ducts in beams
and flat ducts in slabs

Grout pouring out of an intermediate vent

GROUTING OPERATIO

MULTI-STRAND CONSTRUCTION

Bonded (grouted) floor slab construction,

using flat ducts in the slab and multi-strand
round ducts in the beams

Requires
heavier jacks (investment);
heavier pumps; and
crane to hold the jack.

Several Other Examples of PostTensioned Building Construction

-- Unbonded Tendons --

EXAMPLE OF A GROUTING PUMP

FOR MULT-STRAND DUCTS

Post-Tensioned Multistory Hotel

Las Vegas, NV
View of an unbonded floor slab
ready to receive concrete

The Golden Moon Hotel

& Casino
The Golden Moon
Hotel and Casino
Post-Tensioned Building, ITT Center in
Plymouth, Minnesota

Several Other Examples of PostTensioned Building Construction

-- Grouted Tendons --

View of a floor slab reinforced with

grouted tendons, ready to receive
concrete

View of a floor slab reinforced with

grouted tendons, ready to receive
concrete (VSL; USA)
Marina Towers Beirut
Multi-story luxury condominium using
grouted post-tensioning system

Multi-story tower under construction,

using grouted tendons
Freyssinet Middle East

Golf Tower 2 Dubai, UAE

constructed with grouted tendons

When using Post-Tensioning:

Eliminate beams
Use simplified details

Avoid unnecessary details

In this detail, the drop panel does not play a
significant role, but requires unwarranted
construction effort

Example of uneconomical and complex

detailing
Bonded (grouted) two-way floor slab
construction, using slab bands and edge
beam
Avoid edge beams and slab bands,
where practical

Columns are too close

Beams can be eliminated

Example of uneconomical and complex

detailing
Simplify the structure by eliminating the
beams

VIEWS OF SLAB BAND

COMMENT: Avoid complex edge beam details,
where practical

Unduly complex details

EXAMPLES OF DETAILS TO AVOID IN POSTTENSIONING.

ELIMINATE BEAMS AND COMPLEX
NON-ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS

Example of expensive and unnecessary detail

Parking structure in San Francisco

Attempt to eliminate entry headers and beams

Avoid heavy and complex slab construction

for common residential and commercial
buildings

Avoid slab bands and edge beams, where

practical

SPECIAL APPLICATION OF
TENSIONING

INSERT PIER 39
HERE

Example of complex detailing with beams for

short spans and waffle construction
Av 28 du Julio; Lima, Peru

PostPost-Tensioned waffle slab

Computer models (Floor-Pro) generate a

faithful replica of the geometry and tendon
layout for analysis and design
Computer (Floor-Pro) model of tendon layout

Example of inefficient tendon layout

Straight tendons at slab mid-depth are
not the best use of post-tensioning

Another example of strings hanging

down

What are these strings hanging

down?

Another example of strings hanging

down

View of a construction joint with intermediate

stressing

Thank you

The strings were alternative to the above

practice in the US, where tendons at
construction joints with intermediate
stressing are rolled and kept on
extension of the forms. Note the
construction joint at the left