7.2-L13 Crack Mitigation Schemes 121015

Crack Mitigation in Crack Mitigation Schemes
Post-Tensioned Floors
This presentation covers the

practical measures followed in North
America to allow for shortening of
post-tensioned slabs and avoid
excessive cracking
The objective of crack mitigation

schemes is to allow shortening of a
post-tensioned floor to an amount
that would ensure the design-
intended contribution of post-
Dr Bijan O Aalami tensioning to the strength of the floor
Professor Emeritus,
San Francisco State University
Principal, ADAPT Corporation; bijan@adaptsoft.com
www.adaptsoft.com
P1179 copyright 2016 PT-Structures.com
Crack Mitigation Schemes Crack Mitigation Schemes
Post-tensioned floors shorten

Adverse effects of support restraints is
Shortening is necessary for full contribution pronounced in the following instances:
of post-tensioning
¾ Subterranean floors with restraining
For common residential and commercial perimeter walls
floor slabs, the anticipated floor shortening is
approximately 10 mm for every 15 m slab ¾ First level of elevated floors supported
length; (0.75 in. for every 100 ft slab length) on stiff walls and columns
Where slab supports restrain shortening, ¾ To a lesser extend the second and
shrinkage of concrete results in cracking. possibly third elevated floors
¾ Addition of rebar disperses cracks and
reduces crack width, but does not
compensate for loss in contribution from
post-tensioning.
Crack Mitigation Schemes Crack Mitigation Schemes
In detailing for crack mitigation, it is

often necessary to also estimate the
Generally, upper floors of a building
short-term shortening of a slab
are not subject to support restraint to
the extent that it would compromise
Short-term shortening can be
the strength of the floor slab
estimated from the following graph
In most cases, crack mitigation for
upper levels is not required and not
practiced.
Characteristics of Restraint Cracks Characteristics of Restraint Cracks
Restraint cracks are long Restraint cracks are long, deep and few
Do not necessarily occur at locations of Plastic shrinkage cracks are shallow on
maximum moment surface, many and irregular
Occur where axial strength is least, such
as where bars terminate
Shallow plastic
Generally extend through the depth of slab shrinkage cracks
(through cracks)
Long deep
restrain cracks
Restraint crack Strength crack

Cracks at discontinuities are not necessarily

related to the restraint of supports
Cracks at discontinuities do not have the
same adverse effect on safety of the floor as
Restraint cracks generally extend through the cracks from restraint of supports
depth of the member
In the above first level post-tensioned floors
on perimeter walls the restraint cracks have
fully interrupted the precompression
Crack formation resulting from

lack of strength
Trim bars at joint Crack formation at joint
Example of discontinuity cracks at re-entrant RC slab Unboned PT slab

corner of a post-tensioned ground-supported
slab.
RC slabs develop numerous short and thin
Addition of rebar at discontinuity has been cracks
partially successful
Slabs with unbonded tendons develop single
long and wide cracks
Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options
1 - Favorable arrangement of walls

1 – Favorable layout of restraining supports allow the slab parts to move toward
the point of zero movement
2 – Structural separation breaking up the
floor slab
3 – Delay (closure) strips; joints; favorable

pour sequence
4 –Temporary release between the

restraining supports and floor slab
5 - Permanent released connections

between the restraining supports floor
slab
2 – Structural separation
2 – Structural separation
For floor slabs on stiff supports, such as

subterranean and first elevated
Separation allowing
Unless special provisions are made, limit horizontal
the length of contiguous post-tensioned movement only
slabs to 375 ft (115 m). For slabs longer
than 375 ft (115 m), provide a structural
separation
For slabs longer than 250 ft (76 m), but

not exceeding 375 ft (114 m), provide a
central delay strip Separation
allowing
For slabs shorter than 250 ft (76 m), movement in all
design the slab for the anticipated directions
shortening
2 – Structural separation 3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence
Delay strips are bands of about 3 ft (1

m) wide that subdivide a larger slab
area into isolated segments.
Segments on each side of the strip are

cast and allowed to shorten, before the
gap is closed
Reinforcement does not continue from

concrete on one side of the strip to the
other
Overlapping reinforcement from the

sides to the delay strip provides the
continuity
At lower levels between movement-unfavorable

slab segments
3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence 3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence
Concrete cast
on one side
Concrete cast on
both sides
Delay strip in
podium slab
3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence

3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence
Delay strip
View of interrupted tendons at a delay

strip of an analysis model
Equal spans: position strip at ¼ point

Anchor tendon at centroid
Unequal spans: position strip at mid- Typically, delay strips are required for the
depth first and possibly second and third
Anchor tendon at centroid elevated slabs
Prop both sides It is not generally necessary to continue
them to upper levels
Typical detail example from construction

drawings Construction joints allow time for one side
to shorten, before the second side is cast
The v-grooves are intended to hide For long pours, tendons are stressed at
anticipated cracks the joint
Without intermediate With intermediate With intermediate

stressing stressing
Construction joints of bonded tendons
with intermediate stressing is done
either using special couplers, or
overlapping tendons
With intermediate stressing; finished

on one side
4 – Temporary release 4 – Temporary release
A bond breaker is placed over the wall
After slab has undergone the design-intended

shortening, the fill in the corrugated tube is
removed and the void is filled with strong epoxy A bond breaker is placed over the wall
After slab has undergone the design-intended
shortening, the fill in the corrugated tube is
removed and the void is filled with strong epoxy
The dowels through the tube extend to the wall
above
4 – Temporary release 5 – Permanent release
The stubby column supporting a long-massive

post-tensioned exhibition roof is initially
supported on Neoprene pads to allow it slide
over the foundation.
Column is welded to the base, once the Permanent release is practical, where shear
anticipated shortening of the post-tensioned transfer between the slab and its support is not
roof has taken place required
5 – Permanent release Other release options
In both options above, the supporting wall is

covered with a bond breaker Tendons are stressed
alternatively from each
On the left detail, the dowel from the wall side between
terminates within the compressible cover. constructed retaining
walls
On the right, the dowel is bent into the slab and
engages in extreme events
Crack Mitigation Options - Detailing Crack Mitigation Options - Detailing
A . Favorable arrangement of tendons A . Favorable arrangement of tendons
Terminated tendons
deposit precompression
past the shear walls
Terminated tendons
Arrangement of tendons around opening deposit improve
distribution of
precompression
Crack Mitigation
Crack Mitigation Options - Detailing
Post-Tensioned Floors
B . Addition of rebar Summary
Post-tensioned slabs shorten
Slabs can crack, if shortening is restrained
Cracks caused by restraint of support impair
the design-intended function of post-tensioning
Common schemes for crack mitigation of slabs

are:
¾ Favorable arrangement of restraining
supports
¾ Structural separation (first couple of levels)
¾ Delay strips (first couple of levels)
¾ Joints; with or without intermediate
stressing
¾ Releases: temporary; permanent
Small diameter rebar next to restraining
¾ Favorable arrangement of tendons
elements disperses cracks and reduces crack
¾ Addition of rebar to disperse cracks
width
This does not compensate for loss from
contribution of prestressing to strength of the
slab
Thank you for listening
any questions?

7.2-L13 Crack Mitigation Schemes 121015

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Crack Mitigation in Crack Mitigation Schemes

This presentation covers the

The objective of crack mitigation

P1179 copyright 2016 PT-Structures.com

Crack Mitigation Schemes Crack Mitigation Schemes

 Post-tensioned floors shorten

In detailing for crack mitigation, it is

Characteristics of Restraint Cracks Characteristics of Restraint Cracks

Restraint crack Strength crack

 Cracks at discontinuities are not necessarily

Characteristics of Restraint Cracks Characteristics of Restraint Cracks

Crack formation resulting from

Trim bars at joint Crack formation at joint

 Example of discontinuity cracks at re-entrant RC slab Unboned PT slab

1 - Favorable arrangement of walls

3 – Delay (closure) strips; joints; favorable

4 –Temporary release between the

5 - Permanent released connections

Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options

For floor slabs on stiff supports, such as

For slabs longer than 250 ft (76 m), but

2 – Structural separation 3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence

 Delay strips are bands of about 3 ft (1

 Segments on each side of the strip are

 Reinforcement does not continue from

 Overlapping reinforcement from the

At lower levels between movement-unfavorable

Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options

3 – Delay strips; joints; pour sequence

 View of interrupted tendons at a delay

 Equal spans: position strip at ¼ point

Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options

 Typical detail example from construction

Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options

Without intermediate With intermediate With intermediate

With intermediate stressing; finished

4 – Temporary release 4 – Temporary release

 A bond breaker is placed over the wall

 After slab has undergone the design-intended

Crack Mitigation Options Crack Mitigation Options

4 – Temporary release 5 – Permanent release

 The stubby column supporting a long-massive

5 – Permanent release Other release options

 In both options above, the supporting wall is

Crack Mitigation Options - Detailing Crack Mitigation Options - Detailing

A . Favorable arrangement of tendons A . Favorable arrangement of tendons

 Common schemes for crack mitigation of slabs

Thank you for listening

You might also like

This presentation covers the

The objective of crack mitigation

Post-tensioned floors shorten

In detailing for crack mitigation, it is

Cracks at discontinuities are not necessarily

Example of discontinuity cracks at re-entrant RC slab Unboned PT slab

For slabs longer than 250 ft (76 m), but

Delay strips are bands of about 3 ft (1

Segments on each side of the strip are

Reinforcement does not continue from

Overlapping reinforcement from the

View of interrupted tendons at a delay

Equal spans: position strip at ¼ point

Typical detail example from construction

A bond breaker is placed over the wall

After slab has undergone the design-intended

The stubby column supporting a long-massive

In both options above, the supporting wall is

Common schemes for crack mitigation of slabs