The Viability of Partially Post-Tensioned Concrete

Partially prestressed concrete offers several
advantages over fully prestressed designs. However,
design codes have been slow to adopt provisions for
the design of partially prestressed concrete because
of concerns over fatigue and corrosion. The overall
objective of this study was to determine the
viability of partially post-tensioned concrete
members in an aggressive environment, including the
impact of cyclic loading. This objective was
investigated through an experimental program, which
included both individual strand testing and full-
scale, post-tensioned beam specimens. The strand
testing phase consisted of corroding samples to
different amounts of section loss, and then testing
them under cyclic loading until failure. The beam
testing phase included 12 full-scale, post-tensioned
beam specimens combining long-term static exposure
testing with fatigue testing. The results of this
study will be helpful to structural engineers
designing new partially post-tensioned concrete
structures or evaluating existing post-tensioned
concrete structures that have suffered deterioration
and/or damage.

Autorentext

Jeffery S. Volz, SE, PE, PhD. Doctoral Degree in Structural
Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University. Practicing
Structural Engineer for 16 years including Skidmore, Owings &
Merrill LLP, CTLGroup, Harza Engineering Co., and Holabird &
Root LLC. Currently Assistant Professor at Missouri University
of Science and Technology.

Klappentext

Partially prestressed concrete offers several
advantages over fully prestressed designs. However,
design codes have been slow to adopt provisions for
the design of partially prestressed concrete because
of concerns over fatigue and corrosion. The overall
objective of this study was to determine the
viability of partially post-tensioned concrete
members in an aggressive environment, including the
impact of cyclic loading. This objective was
investigated through an experimental program, which
included both individual strand testing and full-
scale, post-tensioned beam specimens. The strand
testing phase consisted of corroding samples to
different amounts of section loss, and then testing
them under cyclic loading until failure. The beam
testing phase included 12 full-scale, post-tensioned
beam specimens combining long-term static exposure
testing with fatigue testing. The results of this
study will be helpful to structural engineers
designing new partially post-tensioned concrete
structures or evaluating existing post-tensioned
concrete structures that have suffered deterioration
and/or damage.