• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-359
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• 2024

This study aims to investigate the effect of restraint configuration on crack formation due to shrinkage-and-creep-induced volumetric change in unbonded post-tensioned slabs. The first part of this study focuses on the comparison of existing shrinkage and creep calculation models that are used to predict the volume-changing behavior of concrete. The second part of this study presents the finite element analysis of a series of architectural configuration prototypes subjected to shrinkage and creep, which comprise unbonded post-tensioned slabs with various restraint configurations. The shrinkage and creep effects were simulated in the analysis by imposing strains obtained from one selected calculation model. The results suggest that a slab up to 300 ft. (90 m) in length does not require a closure strip if it is unrestrained by perimeter walls, and that the most effective restraint crack mitigation strategy for a slab restrained by perimeter walls is a partial wall release.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop the design methodology of gap slabs for the post-tensioned concrete pavement (PTCP). The gap slabs were considered as unbonded, half bonded, and bonded types. According to the types of the gap slabs, the curling stresses were investigated first under the environmental loads. The stresses due to the vehicle loads were analyzed considering both the single and tandem axles. The method to calculate the prestressing amount was suggested by comparing the combined stresses due to both loads and the allowable tensile stress of concrete. The prestressing amount for the unbonded type gap slab could be designed by considering only the gap slab; however, for the half bonded and bonded gap slabs, the whole PTCP slab should be analyzed to properly design the prestressing amount.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 2016

In this experimental study, six post-tensioned light weight concrete (LWC) continuous one-way slabs were tested in the following manner: the flexural behaviors of the members were compared with the calculations from the existing standards. The test also examined the effect of prestressing in tendons and proper prestress conditions to reduce the deflection and crack width, and to enhance the flexural capacity and ductility of LWC members. Flexural capacity and stress increments in unbonded tendons of the specimens were compared with those of the simply supported normal and the lightweight concrete members. The suggested safety limit from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) regulation on the maximum capacity and the stress incremental in unbonded tendons were also compared with the test results under simple and continuous supporting conditions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1083-1104
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• 2015

This paper provides the results of an experimental investigation into the flexural behavior of continuous two-span unbonded post-tensioned high strength concrete (HSC) beams, strengthened by end-anchored CFRP laminates of different configurations in the hogging region. Implementing two different configurations of end-anchorage systems consisting of steel plates and bolts and carefully monitoring the development of strains throughout the load history using sufficiently large number of strain gauges, the response of beams including the observed crack propagations, beam deflection, modes of failure, capacity enhancement at service and ultimate and the amount of moment redistribution are measured, presented and discussed. The study is appropriate in the sense that it covers the more commonly occurring two span beams instead of the simply supported beams investigated by others. The experiments reconfirmed the finding of others that proper installation of composite strengthening system is most important in the quality of the bond which is essential for the internal transfer of forces. It was also found that for the tested two span continuous beams, the capacity enhancement is more pronounced at the serviceability level than the ultimate. This is an important finding as the design of these beams is mostly governed by the serviceability limit state signifying the appropriateness of the suggested strengthening method. The paper provides quantitative data on the amount of this capacity enhancement.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2022

This study introduced a post-tensioned precast concrete system that was developed and designed to improve the performance of joints by post-tensioning. Full-scaled specimens were tested to investigate flexural performances at the negative moment region, where the test variables were the presence of slabs, tendon types, and post-tensioned lengths. A specimen with slabs exhibited significantly higher stiffness and strength values than a specimen without slabs. Thus, it would be reasonable to consider the effects of a slab on the flexural strength for an economical design. A specimen with unbonded mono-tendons had slightly lower initial stiffness and flexural strength values than a specimen with bonded multi-tendons but showed greater flexural strength than the value specified in the design codes. The post-tensioned length was found to have no significant impact on the flexural behavior of the proposed post-tensioned precast concrete system. In addition, a finite element analysis was conducted on the proposed post-tensioned precast concrete system, and the tests and analysis results were compared in detail.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2019

Unbonded Post-Tensioned (UPT) precast concrete systems have been shown to provide excellent seismic resistance. In order to improve understanding of the dynamic response of UPT systems, a series of snap back tests on four UPT systems was undertaken consisting of one Single Rocking Wall (SRW) and three Precast Wall with End Columns (PreWEC) systems. The snap back tests provided both a static pushover and a nonlinear free vibration response of a system. As expected the SRW exhibited an approximate bi-linear inertia force-drift response during the free vibration decay and the PreWEC walls showed an inertia force-drift response with increased strength and energy dissipation due to the addition of steel O-connectors. All walls exhibited negligible residual drifts regardless of the number of O-connectors or the post-tensioning force. When PreWEC systems of the same strength were compared the inclusion of further energy dissipating O-connectors was found to decrease the measured peak wall acceleration. Both the local and global wall parameters measured at pseudo-static and dynamic loading rates showed similar behaviour, which demonstrates that the dynamic behaviour of UPT walls is well represented by pseudo-static tests. The SRW was found to have Equivalent Viscous Damping (EVD) between 0.9-3.8% and the three PreWEC walls were found to have maximum EVD of between 14.7-25.8%.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2018

Introduction of prestressed concrete slabs based on post-tensioned (PT) method aids in constructing larger spans, more useful floor height, and reduces the total weight of the building. In the present paper, for the first time, simulation of 32 two-way PT slab-edge column connections is performed and verified by some existing experimental results which show good consistency. Finite element method is used to assess the performance of bonded and unbonded slab-column connections and the impact of different parameters on these connections. Parameters such as strand bonding conditions, presence or absence of a shear cap in the area of slab-column connection and the changes of concrete compressive strength are implied in the modeling. The results indicate that the addition of a shear cap increases the flexural capacity, further increases the shear strength and converts the failure mode of connections from shear rigidity to flexural ductility. Besides, the reduction of concrete compressive strength decreases the flexural capacity, further reduces the shear strength of connections and converts the failure mode of connections from flexural ductility to shear rigidity. Comparing the effect of high concrete compressive strengths versus the addition of a shear cap, shows that the latter increases the shear capacity more significantly.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.147-154
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• 2008

Experimental study has been performed in order to investigate the behavior of RC beams strengthened with externally unbonded post-tensioned CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) strips using embedded or stud-type plate anchorages. Total 10 small-scaled specimens were manufactured with the different post-tensioning level and types of mechanical anchorage as a main test parameter. A control specimen and specimens with simply bonded CFRP strips were included to compare the structural performances of each system. From the test results, it was observed that the specimens strengthened with simply bonded CFRP strips showed debonding failure below 50% of CFRP tensile strength due to premature debonding. On the other hand, all the specimens strengthened with post- tensioned unbonded CFRP strips reached the rupture strength of the CFRP strip. Also, it was observed that the specimens with stud-type anchorage have equivalent strengthening performance compared with embedded-type anchorage.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.763-771
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• 2009

As the demand on long span structures increases more in recent years, the excessive deflection, in addition to the ultimate strength, in horizontal members becomes a very important issue. For this reason, as an alternative method to effectively solve the deflection problems, the application of post-tensioned structural system with unbonded tendon increases gradually. However, most of the existing researches on post-tensioned members with unbonded tendons (UPT) focused on the ultimate flexural strength, which would be impossible or improper to check serviceability such as deflections. Therefore, this study aims at proposing a stress prediction model for unbonded tendons that is applicable to the behavior of UPT members from the very initial loading stages, post-cracking states, and service to ultimate conditions. The applicability and accuracy of the proposed model were also evaluated comparing to the existing test results from literature. Based on such comparison results, it was verified that the proposed model provided very good predictions on tendon stresses of UPT members at various loading stages regardless their different characteristics; wide range of reinforcement index, different loading patterns, and etc. The proposed model especially well considered the effect of various loading types on stress increases of unbonded tendons, and it was also very suitable to apply on the over-reinforced members that easily happened during strengthening/repairing work.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.3-10
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• 2018

Hybrid Prestressed Precast Concrete System (HPPC system) is a newly developed frame system that can improve the performance of precast concrete (PC) joints by post-tensioning. In particular, the details proposed in this study can reduce the lifting weight of the PC members and eliminate problems caused by cracks in the joints that occur under service loads. This study performed an evaluation on the negative moment performance of full-scaled HPPC girders. The test specimens were cast with or without slabs, with bonded or unbonded tendons, and had different post-tensioned lengths in tensile section. The test results showed that the specimens with slabs had significantly higher stiffness and strength than those without slabs. There were no differences in the flexural behavior between those with bonded or unbonded tendons, and between those with short or long post-tensioned lengths in the negative moment region.