Technical Note

Structural Concrete Software System

TN243_crack_mitigation_multi_12
050807

CRACK MITIGATION DESIGN OF A POST-TENSINOED

MULTI-STORY BUILDING1
First draft

Bijan O Aalami2

This Technical Note presents the design procedure for avoiding, or reducing, the formation of cracks in
post-tensioned floor systems of multistory buildings. The material applies to cracks that can form due to
restraint of supports to free shortening of a floor system. The procedure is based upon common
practice. It can be used on its own for the final design of most multi-story buildings, or as an essential
first step in planning for crack mitigation of complex or notable multi-story buildings, when the final
design is to be confirmed by a rigorous analysis. The procedure is outlined through an example of a
multi-story building.

The Technical Note is organized as follows:

1 – Project description
2 – Crack mitigation design assumptions
3 – Long-terms shortening calculation of a typical floor
4 – Crack Mitigation Design of a Typical Floor
5 – Crack Mitigation Design of First Elevated Slab
6 – Crack Mitigation Design of Second Elevated Slab
7 – Crack Mitigation Design of Third Elevated Slab
APPENDIX A - Long-Term Shortening Calculation of Typical Floor
APPENDIX B – Variation of Long-Term Shortening with Time

FIGURE 1 – ELEVATION OF THE BUILDING

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Copyright ADAPT Corporation
2
Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University, Principal, ADAPT Corporation

E-Mail support@adaptsoft.com
1733 Woodside Road, Suite 220, Redwood City, California, 94061, USA, Tel: (650) 306-2400 Fax (650) 306 2401
 Technical Note

1 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project selected is a 14 level building in California, consisting of 10 hotel floors topped by four
floors of residential units. The overall geometry of the building’s floor plan is shown in Fig. 1. The floor
slabs are post-tensioned and supported on interior columns. The entire lateral force resisting system of
the building consists of two strong shear walls placed one at each end of the long and narrow building.
Each shear wall is shaped such as to provide resistance to both principal directions.

The unfavorable position of the shear walls at the ends of the building makes the consideration for
crack mitigation an essential part of the design process.

FIGURE 2 – SCHEMATIC OF PLAN OF THE BUILDING

2 – CRACK MITIGATION DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS

The design assumptions and procedure used for crack mitigation of multi-story buildings are empirical.
They are based on the practice of consulting engineers. The validity of the procedure is confirmed by
observation of satisfactory performance of buildings that were designed accordingly. The procedure is
applicable to post-tensioned floors commonly used in residential and commercial buildings. The details
of the procedure for a single level post-tensioned floor system is discussed in ADAPT Technical Note
TN241. The assumptions and application to a multi-level structure are given in this Technical Note.

An important alternative to the empirical procedure presented herein is the use of computer programs
that faithfully model the construction schedule and sequence of a multi-story tower, taking proper
accounts of post-tensioning, creep, shrinkage and other time-dependent parameters of the structure.
Such programs are commercially available and are used for notable structures3. Note that, when a
rigorous software application is used, the work is preceded by the empirical design presented herein, in
order to arrive at a proposed construction and release scheme, to be confirmed or fine tuned by a
rigorous program. Currently commercially available programs are “analysis tools,” as opposed to a
“design tool.” They can serve to validate the adequacy of a crack mitigation design, but do not design
for crack mitigation.

The central assumptions made for crack mitigation design of multi-level buildings are:

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ADAPT-ABI for analysis and design of post-tensioned and non-prestressed concrete frames. The software also
accounts for the differential shortening of columns and walls in multi-story towers.

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 Technical Note
™ It is not practical to fully eliminate the restraint of supports to free shortening of a floor slab, in
particular at lower levels of a building structure. An acceptable limit (0.25 “ ; 6mm) to restraint
shortening is defined. The limit is the amount of calculated movement of a point on a slab that is
not allowed to take place due to restraint of the slab supports. In other words, if the calculated
anticipated movement of a point on a slab does not exceed 0.25” (6 mm), the in-service
performance of the location is deemed to be acceptable. This practical assumption is made with
the recognition that, unless a member is allowed to shorten, it will not receive precompression
from post-tensioning. It is the combination of this premise, and the manner it is applied in the
design procedure that result in satisfactory performance.

™ For design purposes, the movement of walls at their connection to the slab for multi-story
buildings is assumed according the values listed in Table 2-1

TABLEL 2-1 THE AMOUNT OF SHORTENING ACCOMMODATED

BY WALLS SUPPORTING POST-TENSIONED FLOORS
Level Level by level Core wall
1st level 0 0
2nd level 0.125” (3mm) 0.06” (2mm)
3rd level 0.25” (6mm) 0.12” (3mm)
4th level No restraint 0.18” (5mm)
5th level No restraint 0.25” (6mm)
th
6 level No restraint No restraint
Above 6th No restraint No restraint
Note: The “level by level” condition refers to the schedule when
walls above are cast after floor slabs. In core wall construction,
walls are assumed to have been cast several levels ahead of floor
slabs. First level is referred to the first elevated floor slab above the
foundation.

3 – LONG-TERM SHORTENING OF A TYPICAL FLOOR

The design length of the floor slab is taken as 202.50 ft (61.76m) plus one half of the wall regions due
to the geometry of the end walls.

Design length of the slab in the long direction = 202.50 + 33 = 235.5 ‘

Assumed as 235’ (71.68m)

In the short direction, the design length is 66.50’ (20.28m)

The long-term shortening of a typical level of the project is estimated as 1.38” (35 mm). See appendix A
for details. In the absence of a detailed calculation, for a first estimate, assume the long-term
shortening of a typical post-tensioned floor to be 0.75” for each 100 ft of slab length (roughly 10mm for
15m span length).

From the calculations in Appendix A, the shortening at each end = 1.38 / 2 = 0.69” > 0.25 “ (6mm),
hence design for crack mitigation is required.

4 – CRACK MITIGATION DESIGN OF A TYPICAL FLOOR

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The construction sequence for a typical cycle of upper level floors is as follows (refer to Fig. 4 of the
original design):

Day 1 : cast lower wall

Day 3 : cast post-tensioned floor
Day 5 : stress post-tensioned floor to full jacking force
Day 8 : cast the upper wall – lock the slab to upper wall

The time lapse between locking the movement of a newly cast floor to the wall below it is five days. The
slab can shorten freely within this period. The construction cycle between two successive levels is 7
days.

In the case of multi-story buildings, such as the current project, as the floor shortens, it moves the walls
it supports. The following observations are made from the sequence of construction and its schedule.

™ The movement of each slab is locked to the structure on day 5 through its connection with the
wall above.
™ When a floor slab is locked to the wall above, the wall above and the walls that support the slab
under consideration are resting on the slab at a level below that is 12 days old.
™ Both the wall slab under consideration and the slab below it continue to shorten, but with a
seven day (12-5 = 7) time gap between their design shortening.
™ The differential shortening at the end of each floor slab is the difference between the shortening
that takes place between days 5 and 12. This is the shortening that will be resisted by the
restraint of the shear walls at the ends of the building.

From The graph B-1 in appendix B of this Technical Note,

Fraction of shortening that takes place on day 12 is 28 %

Fraction of shortening that takes place on day 7 is 16 %

The restraint of the end walls to the slab shortening is associated with (28-16) = 12 % of shortening.
This amounts to 0.12 * 0.69 = 0.08” (2mm) < 0.25” (6mm) OK

Hence, no crack mitigation measure is necessary for typical upper levels of the building.

FIGURE 3 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF TYPICAL FLOORS

4 – DESIGN OF FIRST ELEVATED FLOOR

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The requirement is that if a closure strip is provided, it shall be closed within 14 days to avoid
interruption in the construction schedule.

Referring to the long-term shortening calculation of typical levels, the total long-term shortening of this
level is estimated to be 1.38” (35mm). Provide a delay strip at center with stressing option (Fig. 5), and
a delay strips at the connection with each shear wall without stressing (Fig. 6). For this arrangement,
the average tendon length will be 0.5*235 = 117.5 ft (35.84 m) <125 ft (36m). Hence, one end
stressing is acceptable4.

From Table 2-1, assume no movement for the connection of the wall to the slab.

Fraction of long-term shortening taking place within 14 day is (from appendix B-1) approximately 28%

Total long-term shortening at each end = 1.38/4 = 0.35 “(9mm) > 0.25” (6mm)

Balance of long-term shortening at each end after 14 days = (1-0.28)*0.35 = 0.25” (6mm) OK

Hence, the design for this level is acceptable.

5 – CRACK MITIGATION DESIGN OF SECOND ELEVATED FLOOR

From Table 2-1, the connection of the wall to the slab at this level is assumed to accommodate 0.125”
(3mm). Providing a similar release arrangement as the level below, with the difference that at this level,
the delay pours can be designed to be cast earlier.

Total shortening of each slab region (half the total length) = 1.38/2 = 0.69” (18mm)
The shortening to be accommodated by delay strips = 0.69 – 0.125 = 0.57” (14mm)
Long-term shortening at each end of the slab region = 0.5*0.57 = 0.29” (7mm) > 0.25” (6mm)

It is best to close the delay strips of this level at the same time as the level before. Since the level
below is locked 14 days after its concrete is cast, with a construction schedule of 7 days, the age of
slab at this level will be 7days.

Check the long-term shortening after 7 days. From graph B-1 of appendix B, 21% of the shortening
takes place by day 7. The balance of shortening at each end is:

(1 – 0.21)*0.29 = 0.23” (6mm) < 0.25” (6mm) OK

Hence, cast the delay strips of this level 7 days after concrete of floor slab is cast.

4
Several tendons at the sharp corner of the shear walls will be slightly longer than the one-end stressing limit.
But it is considered acceptable due to their low numbers.

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 Technical Note

FIGURE 4 DISPLAY OF CRACK MITIGATION RELEASES

6 – CRACK MITIGATION DESIGN OF THIRD ELEVATED FLOOR

From Table 2-1, the connection of the wall to the slab at this level is assumed to accommodate 0.25”
(6mm). Provide a delay strip at center only.

Total shortening of each slab region (half the total length) = 1.38/2 = 0.69” (18mm)
The shortening to be accommodated by delay strips = 0.69 – 0.25 = 0.44” (11mm)
Fraction of shortening to be accommodated by delay strip (0.44 – 0.25)/0.44 = 0.43

From graph B-1 of appendix C, the delay strip must remain open for 28 days. If this duration is not
acceptable, on this level too, delay strips at the connection to the walls must be provided.

FIGURE 5 DETAIL A – DELAY STRIP WITH STRESSING OPTION

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FIGURE 6 - DETAIL B – DETLAY STRIP AT CONNECTION

WITH WALL

APPENDIX A

ESTIMATE OF LONG-TERM SHORTEING OF A TYPICAL FLOOR

Background to the shortening calculations is given in a separate technical note.

Design Parameters
Concrete strength, f’c 6000 psi (41 MPa)
Concrete strength at stressing , f’ci 3000 psi (20.7 MPa)
Relative humidity, H = 70%

Slab thickness 7 inch (178 mm)

Change in daily temperature 35 Fo (19 Co)
P/A, longitudinal direction 125 psi (0.86 MPa)
P/A, transverse direction 150 psi (1.00 MPa)

Shortening Calculations:

™ Elastic shortening strain, ES:

ES = (P/A) / Eci
1.5
Eci = 33*150 √3000 = 3,320,560 psi (22,895 MPa)
In SI units the relationship is :
1.5
Eci = 0.043 *2400 √20.7 = 23,002 MPa
Hence, the elastic shortening strain of the slab is:
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 Technical Note
For longitudinal direction ES = (125/3320560) = 38 * 10-6
For transverse direction ES = (150/3320560) = 45 * 10-6

™ Shrinkage shortening strain, SH:

SH = SH0 *kRH * k v/s

SH0= applicable base shrinkage strain = 510 micro-strain

Correction for relative humidity H= 70%.
kRH for 70% = 1.00
Correction for volume to surface ratio:
V/S = 0.5*7 = 3.5 inch (0.5*178 = 89 mm)

The correction factor k v/s is:

k v/s = [1064 – 94 *3.5 ]/923 = 0.80 US units (inch)

k v/s = [1064 – 3.7*89)]/923 = 0.80 SI units (mm)

Hence the long-term shrinkage strain is:
SH = 510*10-6 * 1.00 * 0.80 = 408 x10-6

• Creep shortening coefficient, CR:

CRc = CR0 * kf * kcRH * kc

CR0 = applicable base creep coefficient = 2.0

Correction for concrete strength kf ; f’c = 6000 psi (41 MPa)

In American units:
kf = 1 / ( 0.67 + 6/9 ) = 0.75
In SI units
kf = 62 / ( 42 + 41 ) = 0.75
Correction for relative humidity
kcRH = (1.58 – H/120)

kcRH = (1.58 – 70/120) = 1.00

Correction for volume to surface ratio:
V/S = 0.5*7 = 3.5 inch (0.5*178 = 89 mm)
The correction factor kc is:
In American units:

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 Technical Note
-0.54*3.5
kc = (1.80 + 1.77 * e )/2.587 = 0.80
In SI units
-0.0213*89
kc = (1.80 + 1.77 * e )/2.587 = 0.80

Having obtained the correction factors, the creep coefficient is given by:
CRC = 2.0 * 0.75 * 1.00 * 0.80 = 1.20
For longitudinal direction, CR = CRc*ES = 1.20 *38 *10 -6 = 46 * 10 -6
For transverse direction, CR = CRc*ES = 1.20 *45 *10 -6 = 54 * 10 -6

• Strain due to change in temperature:

TEM = T* α = 35* 6.0 x10-6
= 210 x10-6

™ Total shortening strains:

S= (ES + SH + CR+TEM)
In longitudinal direction:
S = (38 + 408 + 46 +210) *10 -6 = 702 micro-strain
In transverse direction:
S = (45 + 408 + 54 +210) *10 -6 = 717 micro-strain

™ Shortening, a :
Consider the longitudinal direction:
Average length = 235 ft (71.6 m)
Strain due to creep, shrinkage and elastic shortening5
S = 38 + 408 + 46 = 492 micro-strain
Shortening, a = 492 *10 -6 * 235*12 = 1.38” ( 35 mm)

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For crack mitigation design the change in length due to temperature is not considered, since the measures for
crack mitigation are likely to take place less than 30 days from the day concrete is cast, and during the same time
period in the day.
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APPENDIX B

The following figure is reproduced from ADAPT Technical Note TN 241. It gives an estimate of the
fraction of long-term shortening taking place with time.

FIGURE B-1

VARIATION WITH TIME OF THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF CREEP AND SHRINKAGE

SHORTENING FOR POST-TESIONED FLOOR SYSTEMS (FELT104)

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