Development of a

Post-Tensioning System Using

Unbonded CFRP Tendons
Thierry BERSET
Paper submitted for publication in Proceedings of the
Fourth PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering
Munich, 19-21 September 2002
Development of a Post-Tensioning System Using
Unbonded CFRP Tendons
Thierry Berset, Research Associate
Summary
A new post-tensioning system using unbonded CFRP tendons is described. A
tentative recommendation for the permissible prestress of unbonded CFRP
tendons is made based on a comparison of the deformation capacities of
structural members reinforced by the new system and by conventional bonded
steel tendons.
Keywords: carbon fibre reinforced polymer, concrete structures, external
prestressing, post-tensioning, strengthening.
1. Introduction
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips have been used for more than
ten years to strengthen existing concrete structures [1]. Typically, CFRP strips
are epoxy-glued to the concrete surface. Normally, they are not prestressed [2]
but there have been attempts to use bonded prestressed CFRP strips [3].
This paper deals with the development of a post-tensioning system using
unbonded CFRP tendons. Compared to non-prestressed external
reinforcements, prestressing results in a considerably better behaviour under
service loads, i.e. reduced deflections and crack widths. Compared to bonded
systems the danger of premature failures due to strain localisation effects is
eliminated and the high tensile strength of the CFRP tendons can be fully
utilised.
A brief description of the system components is followed by some
considerations regarding the deformation capacity of structural members
reinforced by the new system. A tentative recommendation for the permissible
prestress of unbonded CFRP tendons is made.
Fig. 2: Stressing anchorage
2. System Components
2.1 Tendon
Fig. 1 shows the end of a tendon including a CFRP strip being held by a
factory-mounted CFRP anchor head.
The 60 mm wide and 2.4 mm thick Sika CarboDur S624 CFRP strips have a
characteristic tensile
strength f
tk
of 2800 MPa
and a modulus of
elasticity of 170 GPa.
Their stress-strain
behaviour is linear elastic
up to failure. Failure
occurs in a brittle manner
at an elongation of about
16.5
0
/
00
. The radius of
curvature of the strips
about their weak axis
should normally be not less than 1 m; considerably lower values are feasible if
certain special measures are taken.
The 110 mm long anchor head has an elliptical cross-section with major and
minor diameters of 80 and 60 mm, respectively. At its end the CFRP strip is
split along the middle
plane and the two halves
are anchored via wedges
positioned in an elliptical
sleeve. All parts of the
anchor head are made of
CFRP.
The tendons are
preassembled in a
factory. During
fabrication each tendon
is prestressed to 100 %
of its design working
tension. Thus a very
effective quality control
is provided.
Fig. 1: CFRP anchor head
2.2 Anchorages
The development of stressing and fixed anchorages is not yet complete. Pilot
strengthening projects have necessitated the development of a variety of
solutions, adapted to the particular requirements of each application.
Fig. 2 shows a stressing
anchorage involving a
slotted steel plate placed
in front of the CFRP
anchor head. Threaded
rods passing through the
steel plate allow the
prestressing force to be
applied with a hydraulic
jack.
Fig. 3 shows a fixed
anchorage. The CFRP
anchor head bears against
a steel plate supported by a steel tube. The steel is core drilled into the
concrete.
3. Deformation Capacity
In the following the load-deformation response of structural members
prestressed by unbonded CFRP tendons will be compared with the behaviour
of members prestressed by conventional bonded steel tendons. On this basis a
tentative recommendation for the permissible prestress of unbonded CFRP
tendons will be made.
Consider a simply supported beam subjected to a monotonically increasing
load F applied at midspan; see Fig. 4(a). The beam has a span of 12 m and its
cross-section is idealised to consist of two stringers as shown in Fig. 4(b). Fig.
4(c) shows the stress-strain diagrams of the reinforcement used, i.e.
conventional bonded steel tendons and unbonded CFRP tendons, respectively.
For the steel tendons a bilinear diagram with a modulus of elasticity of
195 GPa, a yield strength of 1650 MPa, an ultimate strength of 1850 MPa and
an ultimate elongation of 50
0
/
00
is assumed; the initial prestress is set equal to
65 % of the characteristic tensile strength, i.e. 1150 MPa. For the CFRP
tendon a linear elastic behaviour with a modulus of elasticity of 170 GPa and
an ultimate strength of 2800 MPa is assumed.
Fig. 3: Fixed anchorage
kN
w [mm]
e
s
100 [
GPa
3
2
1
4 2
300
200
100
prestressing
ultimate
[ ]
F[ ] %]
CFRP
Steel
300
600
500
120
120
F
w
6 m 6 m
a) b)
c)
A = 250 mm
2
CFRP
A
2
= 300 mm
Steel
Fig. 4: Response of beams reinforced with unbonded CFRP tendons or
conventional bonded steel tendons: (a) structural system and notation;
(b) beam cross-sections; (c) stress-strain and load-deflection diagrams
The lower part of Fig. 4(c) illustrates the development of the midspan
deflections for the two beams.
The response of the bonded system has been calculated according to the
tension chord model [4]. Values of 3.2 MPa and 50 MPa have been assumed
for the concrete tensile strength and the cube strength of the grout,
respectively, whereas the modulus of elasticity of the concrete has been set
equal to 33 GPa. The deformations of the compression chords have been
ignored and the maximum crack spacing according to the tension chord model
has been assumed.
The response of the unbonded system has been treated according to [5]. A
nominal ultimate midspan deflection of 1/40 of the span has been assumed [6]
and the cross-sectional areas of CFRP and steel tendons have been chosen
such that the ultimate loads are approximately equal for the two systems, cf.
Figs. 4(b) and (c).
It can be seen that despite the limited deformation capacity of the CFRP
tendon itself, the behaviour of the CFRP-reinforced beam compares
favourably with that of the conventionally prestressed beam. Thus, the
prestress level of 0.55 f
tk
= 1540 MPa assumed for the present calculation can
tentatively be recommended for applications of unbonded CFRP tendons
provided that it is ensured that there is no premature anchorage failure.
4. Conclusions
CFRP tendons consisting of CFRP strips with CFRP anchor heads at either
end have been developed for unbonded prestressing applications.
Based on deformation capacity considerations and comparisons with
conventionally reinforced systems a permissible prestress of 55% of the
tendons characteristic tensile strength can tentatively be recommended.
The development of stressing and fixed anchorages is not yet complete but
several suitable solutions have been successfully used in pilot applications.
Acknowledgements
The new post-tensioning system was developed by StressHead AG, Luzern.
The system development was accompanied by a research project conducted at
ETH, Zrich. Financial support for this project was provided by StressHead
AG and the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (KTI).
References
[1] MEIER, U., Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers: Modern Materials in
Bridge Engineering, Structural Engineering International, IABSE,
Vol. 2, No. 1, February 1992, pp. 7-12.
[2] KAISER, H.P., Bewehren von Stahlbeton mit
kohlenstoffaserverstrkten Epoxidharzen, Diss. ETH Nr. 8918, Zrich
1989, 224 pp.
[3] DEURING, M., Verstrken von Stahlbeton mit gespannten
Faserverbundwerkstoffen, EMPA Bericht Nr. 224, Eidgenssische
Materialprfungs- und Forschungsanstalt, Dbendorf, 1993, 279 pp.
[4] MARTI, P., ALVAREZ, M., KAUFMANN, W. and SIGRIST, V.,
Tension Chord Model for Structural Concrete, Structural
Engineering International, IABSE, Vol. 8, No. 4, November 1998, pp.
287-298.
[5] RITZ, P., Biegetragverhalten von Platten mit Vorspannung ohne
Verbund, Institut fr Baustatik und Konstruktion, ETH Zrich, IBK
Bericht Nr. 80, Mai 1978, 131 pp.
[6] SIA Norm 162 Ausgabe 1989, Teilrevision 1993: Betonbauten,
Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architekten-Verein, Zrich, 1993,
86 pp.
Thierry Berset, Research Associate
Institute of Structural Engineering
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
CH - 8093 Zurich
Tel.: +41 1 633-3162
Fax: +41 1 633-1064
Email: berset@ibk.baug.ethz.ch
Prof. Dr. Peter Marti
Institute of Structural Engineering
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH),
CH 8093 Zurich