An evaluation of force-based design vs.direct displacement-based design of jointed precast post-tensioned wall systems

The unique features of jointed post-tensioned wall systems, which include minimum structural damage and re-centering capability when subjected to earthquake lateral loads, are the result of using unbonded post-tensioning to attach the walls to the foundation, along with employing energy dissipating shear connectors between the walls. Using acceptance criteria defined in terms of inter-story drift, residual drift, and floor acceleration, this study presents a multiplelevel performance-based seismic evaluation of two five-story unbonded post-tensioned jointed precast wall systems. The design and analysis of these two wall systems, established as the direct displacement-based and force-based solutions for a prototype building used in the PREcast Seismic Structural Systems （PRESSS） program, were performed at 60% scale so that the analysis model could be validated using the PRESSS test data. Both buildings satisfied the performance criteria at four levels of earthquake motions although the design base shear of the direct displacement-based jointed wall system was 50% of that demanded by the force-based design method. The study also investigated the feasibility of controlling the maximum transient inter-story drift in a jointed wall system by increasing the number of energy dissipating shear connectors between the walls but without significantly affecting its re-centering capability.

Numerical study of a multiple post-tensioned rocking wall-frame system for seismic resilient precast concrete buildings

A multiple rocking wall-frame(MRWF)system,in which the wall panels are directly connected to the adjacent beams and foundation is presented herein.In the MRWF system,the unbonded post-tensioned(PT)tendons are used to promote the self-centering ability,and O-shaped steel dampers are applied to enhance the energy dissipation capacity and reparability of the structure.First,analytical equations are proposed to determine the behavior of the O-shaped dampers.Then,the MRWF system is numerically evaluated for five different models consisting of rocking walls with varying numbers and arrangements while keeping the total effective width of wall panels constant.The numerical results show that with an increase in the number of wall panels and a decrease in the wall width,the hysteretic behavior of the MRWF system tends to the ideal flag-shaped pattern,resulting in little damage to the beams,insignificant strain in the wall toe,negligible residual drifts and damage index of less than 0.2 under severe earthquakes.In contrast,the conventional model demonstrates extensive damage to the structural elements due to undesirable wall-to-frame interaction,which leads to a damage index of 0.78 and residual drifts of 0.42%under seismic loads.

Rock engineering design of post-tensioned anchors for dams - A review

High-capacity, post-tensioned anchors have found wide-spread use, originally in initial dam design and construction, and more recently in the strengthening and rehabilitation of concrete dams to meet modern design and safety standards. Despite the advances that have been made in rock mechanics and rock engineering during the last 80 years in which post-tensioned anchors have been used in dam en- gineering, some aspects of the rock engineering design of high-capacity rock anchors for dams have changed relatively little over the last 30 or 40 years. This applies, in particular, to the calculations usually carried out to establish the grouted embedment lengths required for deep, post-tensioned anchors. These calculations usually make simplified assumptions about the distribution and values of rock-grout interface shear strengths, the shape of the volume of rock likely to be involved in uplift failure under the influence of a system of post-tensioned anchors, and the mechanism of that failure. The resulting designs are generally conservative. It is concluded that these aspects of the rock engineering design of large, post- tensioned rock anchors for dams can be significantly improved by making greater use of modern, comprehensive, numerical analyses in conjunction with three-dimensional （3D） models of the rock mass structure, realistic rock and rock mass properties, and the results of prototype anchor tests in the rock mass concerned.

SOG预应力整体地坪在高端工业厂房中的应用研究

本文结合工程实例,从SOG预应力整体地坪受力原理,根据国内现有规范,结合材料性能等条件,对SOG预应力整体地坪的各种参数进行受力分析和验算,从而确定各种关键参数。该文以设计入手,结合SOG地坪施工过程中的材料要求,工艺流程,预应力张拉等方面详细的介绍了SOG预应力地坪在高精尖工业厂房首层地坪中的应用技术和研究,指出了施工的关键工序和重点过程中的要求,实现了单仓约6000㎡的超大面积预应力整体无缝地坪的要求,为后续同类SOG地坪的施工提供了参考,具有重要的指导意义。

Shake-table testing of a self-centering precast reinforced concrete frame with shear walls

The seismic performance of a self-centering precast reinforced concrete （RC） frame with shear walls was investigated in this paper. The lateral force resistance was provided by self-centering precast RC shear walls （SPCW）, which utilize a combination ofunbonded prestressed post-tensioned （PT） tendons and mild steel reinforcing bars for flexural resistance across base joints. The structures concentrated deformations at the bottom joints and the unbonded PT tendons provided the self-centering restoring force. A 1/3-scale model of a five-story self-centering RC frame with shear walls was designed and tested on a shake-table under a series of bi-directional earthquake excitations with increasing intensity. The acceleration response, roof displacement, inter-story drifts, residual drifts, shear force ratios, hysteresis curves, and local behaviour of the test specimen were analysed and evaluated. The results demonstrated that seismic performance of the test specimen was satisfactory in the plane of the shear wall; however, the structure sustained inter-story drift levels up to 2.45%. Negligible residual drifts were recorded after all applied earthquake excitations. Based on the shake-table test results, it is feasible to apply and popularize a self-centering precast RC frame with shear walls as a structural system in seismic regions.

Seismic performance evaluation of a self-centering precast reinforced concrete frame structure

The seismic performance of a five-story,four-bay,self-centering precast reinforced concrete frame(SC-RCF),which was redesigned using the direct displacement-based design method,was analytically investigated.The analytical model of the overall structure was developed in OpenSees.The multi-spring contact element was adopted to simulate gap open-close behavior at connection interfaces.The limit states of external mild steel dampers and unbonded post-tensioning strands were considered.Static pushover analyses were performed up to the roof drift of 10%.The nonlinear dynamic responses under four groups of ground motions(with different fault distances and site conditions)at six hazard levels(from the service to the very rare earthquake(VRE))were compared.Incremental dynamic analyses were implemented to quantify the structural collapse risk.The results showed that the structural responses of SC-RCF were satisfactory under all levels of earthquakes.The collapse safety of the structure under earthquakes up to VRE1 was adequate,while the structure would collapse to a large extent under VRE2 and VRE3.

Test and simulation of full-scale self-centering beam-to-column connection

A new type of beam-to-column connection for steel moment flames, designated as a ＂self-centering connection,＂ is studied. In this connection, bolted top-and-seat angles, and post-tensioned （PT） high-strength steel strands running along the beam are used. The PT strands tie the beam flanges on the column flange to resist moment and provide self-centering force. After an earthquake, the connections have zero deformation, and can be restored to their original status by simply replacing the angles. Four full-scale connections were tested under cyclic loading. The strength, energy-dissipation capacity, hysteresis curve, as well as angles and PT strands behavior of the connections are investigated. A general FEM analysis program called ABAQUS 6.9 is adopted to model the four test specimens. The numerical and test results match very well. Both the test and analysis results suggest that： （1） the columns and beams remain elastic while the angles sustain plastic deformations for energy dissipation when the rotation of the beam related to the column equals 0.05 tad, （2） the energy dissipation capacity is enhanced when the thickness of the angle is increased, and （3） the number of PT strands has a significant influence on the behavior of the connections, whereas the distance between the strands is not as important to the performance of the connection.

Estimation of Load-Induced Damage and Repair Cost in Post-Tensioned Concrete Rocking Walls

Post-tensioned concrete rocking walls might be used to avoid severe seismic damage at the base of structural walls, decrease residual drift, and lessen post-earthquake repair costs. The prediction of load-induced damage to the rocking wall resulting from seismic loading can provide an extremely valuable tool to evaluate the status and safety of structural concrete walls following earthquakes. In this study, the behavior and the damage state of monolithic, self-centering, rocking walls, as a new type of concrete rocking wall, are investigated. The nonlinear mechanical behavior of the wall is first modeled numerically, and subsequently the mechanical parameters from the numerical simulation are used to generate the local damage index. The results from the damage index model are compared with the full-scale test results, confirming the viability of the numerically based damage index method for estimating the seismically induced damage in concrete walls. Moreover, the estimated damage can be utilized as a qualitative and quantitative scale to assess the status of the wall following seismic loading events.Finally, an equation is proposed to estimate the repair cost based on the predicted damage state for the studied structural system.

Seismic tests of post-tensioned self-centering building frames with column and slab restraints

Post-tensioned(PT)self-centering moment frames have been developed as an alternative to typical moment-resisting frames(MRFs)for earthquake resistance.When a PT frame deforms laterally,gaps between the beams and columns open.However,the gaps are constrained by the columns and the slab in a real PT selfcentering building frame.This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the column restraint and beam compression force based on the column deformation and gap openings at all stories.The method is verified by cyclic tests of a full-scale,two-bay by one-story PT frame.Moreover,a sliding slab is proposed to minimize restraints on the expansion of the PT frame.Shaking table tests were conducted on a reduced-scale,two-by-two bay one-story specimen,which comprises one PT frame and two gravitational frames.The PT frame and gravitational frames are self-centering throughout the tests,responding in phase with only minor differences in peak drifts caused by expansion of the PT frame.When the specimen is excited by a simulation of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake with a peak ground acceleration of 1.87 g,the maximum interstory drift and the residual drift are 7.2%and 0.01%,respectively.

Parametric study of hexagonal castellated beams in post-tensioned self-centering steel connections

The effects o f important parameters (beam reinforcing plates, initial post-tensioning, and material properties o f steel angles) on the behavior o f hexagonal castellated beams in post-tensioned self-centering (PTSC) connections undergone cyclic loading up to 4% lateral drift have been investigated by finite element (FE) analysis using ABAQUS. The PTSC connection is comprised o f bolted top and bottom angles as energy dissipaters and steel strands to provide self-centering capacity. The FE analysis has also been validated against the experimental test. The new formulations derived from analytical method has been proposed to predict bending moment o f PTSC connections. The web-post buckling in hexagonal castellated beams has been identified as the dominant failure mode when excessive initial post-tensioning force is applied to reach greater bending moment resistance, so it is required to limit the highest initial post-tensioning force to prevent this failure. Furthermore, properties o f steel material has been simulated using bilinear elastoplastic modeling with 1.5% strain-hardening which has perfectly matched with the real material of steel angles. It is recommended to avoid using steel angles with high yielding strength since they lead to the yielding o f bolt shank. The necessity o f reinforcing plates to prevent beam flange from local buckling has been reaffirmed.

Rock engineering design of post-tensioned anchors for dams-A review

High-capacity, post-tensioned anchors have found wide-spread use, originally in initial dam design and construction, and more recently in the strengthening and rehabilitation of concrete dams to meet modern design and safety standards. Despite the advances that have been made in rock mechanics and rock engineering during the last 80 years in which post-tensioned anchors have been used in dam engineering, some aspects of the rock engineering design of high-capacity rock anchors for dams have changed relatively little over the last 30 or 40 years. This applies, in particular, to the calculations usually carried out to establish the grouted embedment lengths required for deep, post-tensioned anchors.These calculations usually make simpli fi ed assumptions about the distribution and values of rock e grout interface shear strengths, the shape of the volume of rock likely to be involved in uplift failure under the in fl uence of a system of post-tensioned anchors, and the mechanism of that failure. The resulting designs are generally conservative. It is concluded that these aspects of the rock engineering design of large, posttensioned rock anchors for dams can be significantly improved by making greater use of modern,comprehensive, numerical analyses in conjunction with three-dimensional(3D) models of the rock mass structure, realistic rock and rock mass properties, and the results of prototype anchor tests in the rock mass concerned.

Secondary transfer length and residual prestress of fractured strand in post-tensioned concrete beams

An experimental study is performed on five post-tensioned concrete beams to explore the effects of different fracture positions on secondary transfer length and residual prestress of fractured strand.A numerical model is developed and used to predict the secondary transfer length and residual prestress of fractured strand in post-tensioned concrete beams.The model change interaction,which can deactivate and reactivate the elements for simulating the removal and reproduction of parts of the model,is used to reproduce the secondary anchorage of fractured strand.The numerical model is verified by experimental results.Results shows that the fractured strand can be reanchored in concrete through the secondary anchorage,and the secondary transfer length of fractured strand with the diameter of 15.2 mm is 1133 mm.The residual prestress of fractured strand increases gradually in the secondary transfer length,and tends to be a constant beyond it.When the fractured strand is fully anchored in concrete,a minor prestress loss will appear,and the average prestress loss is 2.28%in the present study.

Application of Strut-and-Tie Model for Design of Interior Anchorage Zone in Post-tensioned Concrete Structure

This paper presents an application of strut-and-tie model(STM) to design the interior anchorage zone(IAZ) in the post-tensioned concrete structure.The STM theory and range of IAZ are introduced.Then,based on the finite element analysis,a series of simplified equations to calculate internal forces in IAZ are presented.Finally,the STM model for IAZ is given.In the proposed STM model,internal forces in ties vary with the dimension ratio and the eccentricity of load.The U-turn of internal forces is suggested to allocate rebar to resist bearing flexural tensile force.Compared with the FIP(International Federation for Prestressing) model,the proposed STM model is more reasonable and applicable.

Seismic design and analysis of a high-rise self-centering wallbuilding:Case study

Post-tensioning self-centering walls are a well-developed and resilient technology.However,despite extensive research,the application of this technology has previously been limited to low-rise buildings.A ten-story selfcentering wall building has now been designed and constructed using the state-of-art design methodologies and construction detailing,as described in this paper.The building is designed in accordance with direct displacement-based design methodology,with modification of seismic demand due to relevant issues including higher-mode effects,second order effects,torsional effects,and flexural deformation of wall panels.Wall sections are designed with external energydissipating devices of steel dampers,and seismic performance of such designed self-centering walls is evaluated through numerical simulation.It is the first engineering project that uses self-centering walls in a high-rise building.The seismic design procedure of such a high-rise building,using self-centering wall structures,is comprehensively reviewed in this work,and additional proposals are put forward.Description of construction detailing,including slotted beams,flexible wall-to-floor connections,embedded beams,and damper installation,is provided.The demonstration project promotes the concept of seismic resilient structures and contributes to the most appealing city planning strategy of resilient cities at present.The paper could be a reference for industry engineers to promote the self-centering wall systems worldwide.

Self-centring segmental retaining walls—A new construction system for retaining walls

This paper reports on an experimental study on a new self-centring retaining wall system.Four post-tensioned segmental retaining walls(PSRWs)were experimentally tested.Each of the walls was constructed using seven T-shaped concrete segments with a dry stack.The walls were tested under incrementally increasing cyclic lateral load.The effect of the wall height,levels of post-tensioning(PT)force,and bonded versus unbonded condition of PT reinforcement on the structural behavior of the PSRWs was investigated.The results showed that such PSRWs are structurally adequate for water retaining structures.According to the results,increasing the wall height decreases initial strength but increases the deformation capacity of the wall.The larger deformation capacity and ductility of PSRW make it a suitable structural system for fluctuating loads or deformation,e.g.,seawall.It was also found that increasing the PT force increases the wall’s stiffness;however,reduces its ductility.The residual drift and the extent of damage of the unbonded PSRWs were significantly smaller than those of the bonded ones.Results suggest that this newly developed self-centring retaining wall can be a suitable structural system to retain lateral loads.Due to its unique deformation capacity and self-centring behavior,it can potentially be used for seawall application.

Self-centering steel plate shear walls for improving seismic resilience

As part of a Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation research project led by researchers at the University of Washington with collaborators at University at Buffalo, and Taiwan National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, a self-centering steel plate shear wall （SC-SPSW） system has been developed to achieve enhanced seismic performance objectives, including recentering. The SC-SPSW consists of thin steel infill panels, referred to as web plates that serve as the primary lateral load-resisting and energy dissipating element of the system. Post- tensioned （PT） beam-to-column connections provide system recentering capabilities. A performance-based design procedure has been developed for the SC-SPSW, and a series of nonlinear response history analyses have been conducted to verify intended seismic performance at multiple hazard levels. Quasi-static subassembly tests, quasi-static and shake table tests of scaled three-story specimens, and pseudo-dynamic tests of two full-scale two-story SC-SPSWs have been conducted. As a culmination of this multi-year, multi-institutional project, this paper will present an overview of the SC- SPSW numerical and experimental research programs. This paper will also discuss innovative PT connection and web plate designs that were investigated to improve constructability, resilience, and seismic performance and that can be applied to other self-centering and steel plate shear wall systems.