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Bijan O Aalami2
By way of a simple design example, this Technical Note illustrates the basic assumptions and
procedures used in design for crack mitigation in post-tensioned floor systems. The information offered
applies to cracks that can develop, due to the restraint of supports to free shortening of post-tensioned
floors. The procedure is based on practice, supported by observation of satisfactory performance of
post-tensioned floors designed accordingly.
Long-term shortening of a post-tensioned floor consists of contributions from, elastic shortening, creep,
shrinkage and changes in temperature. The contribution of each factor and the method of calculation of
the long-term shortening are given in the literature. ADAPT Technical Note TN241 presents a full
account of shortening calculations specific to the floor system of common building structures.
There are many options available for crack mitigation. The focus of this Technical Note is crack
mitigation based on providing releases between a slab and its wall supports.
1
2
1733 Woodside Road, Suite 220, Redwood City, California, 94061, USA, Tel: (650) 306-2400 Fax (650) 306 2401
Technical Note
ASSUMPTIONS
The central assumptions made for crack mitigation design are:
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 walls are assumed not to shorten in direction of the plane of the slab.
Once a slab is tied to a wall, it is assumed that slabs shortening is fully inhibited.
EXAMPLE
Figure 2 shows the simplified floor plan of a rectangular slab resting on interior columns and walls, and
a continuous perimeter wall. It is the first elevated floor above the foundation. It is assumed that the
bottoms of the lower walls are attached to a non-moving foundation. Support restraints will be less, if
the bottoms of the walls also moves in the direction a slab tends to shorten. This is the condition, when
dealing with the upper levels of a multistory tower.
The requirements of this design example are:
Each of the long walls must have a minimum of 150 ft (45.75m) of shear wall. This requires full
connection between the wall and the slab.
Each of the short walls must have a minimum of 100 ft (30.5m ) of shear walls
If a delay pour (closure strip) is provided, it may not be kept open more than a total of 20 days,
to avoid interruption in construction schedule.
Technical Note
Restraint Cracks and Their Mitigation in Unbonded Post-Tensioned Building Structures, Post-Tensioning
Institute, 1989.
Technical Note
The discrepancy is due to soft conversion of 0.75 for 100 ft to 10mm for every 15m
Technical Note
FIGURE 4 - PARTIAL PLAN OF POST-TENSIONED SLAB
6 DETAIL THE REMAINDER OF WALL CONNECTION.
Since section c of the wall is practically the same length as section a, it is concluded that by day 20,
its design shortening has taken place, and it can be locked to the slab. If practical, the preferred option
is to leave the connection as permanently released, since the other requirements of design have
already been met.
If this connection is detailed as permanently released, it should be checked that the wall below has
adequate strength to resist the nominal horizontal forces that building codes specify. There are details
that allow for transfer of horizontal forces normal to a wall to a post-tensioned slab, either due to code
specified requirements, or soil pressure, without restraining the relative movement of wall and slab
interface.
The release over the wall length c is between the soffit of the slab and the top of wall below. The
connection between the wall above and the slab will be detailed as fixed
Technical Note
COMMENTS
The information used in this design example is based on practice, as opposed to rigorous engineering
principles. The practice followed in the example is observed to be effective in eliminating cracks in posttensioned floors that can result from the restraint of supports. Its application in each instance is highly
subject to engineering judgment.
Technical Note
APPENDIX A
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 A-1
VARIATION WITH TIME OF THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF CREEP AND SHRINKAGE
SHORTENING FOR POST-TESIONED FLOOR SYSTEMS (FELT104)