Performance of grouts for post-tensioned prestressed structures

New high performance grouts with high volume stability and good fluidity were prepared with Portland cement and a multifunctional admixture (MFA). The theological characteristics and mechanical performance of the grouts were investigated. The addition of MFA effectively improves the pseudo-plasticity of the grout. The Ma cone flow time decreases obviously, and the bleeding rate tends to be zero. The deformation behaviors of fresh mixture and hardened grout are systematically studied. Mercury injection method (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractory analysis experiments are used to analyze the microstructure evolution of the grouts, which manifests that the co-action of the early bubble reaction and the latter ettringite crystallization ensure the volume stability throughout the whole hydration process and result in refined pore structure of the grout.

Theoretical Analysis on Deflection and Bearing Capacity of Prestressed Bamboo-Steel Composite Beams

A theoretical analysis of upward deflection and midspan deflection of prestressed bamboo-steel composite beams is presented in this study.The deflection analysis considers the influences of interface slippage and shear deformation.Furthermore,the calculation model for flexural capacity is proposed considering the two stages of loading.The theoretical results are verified with 8 specimens considering different prestressed load levels,load schemes,and prestress schemes.The results indicate that the proposed theoretical analysis provides a feasible prediction of the deflection and bearing capacity of bamboo-steel composite beams.For deflection analysis,the method considering the slippage and shear deformation provides better accuracy.The theoretical method for bearing capacity matches well with the test results,and the relative errors in the serviceability limit state and ultimate limit state are 4.95%and 5.85%,respectively,which meet the accuracy requirements of the engineered application.

Vibration attenuation performance of wind turbine tower using a prestressed tuned mass damper under seismic excitation

With the rapid development of large megawatt wind turbines,the operation environment of wind turbine towers(WTTs)has become increasingly complex.In particular,seismic excitation can create a resonance response and cause excessive vibration of the WTT.To investigate the vibration attenuation performance of the WTT under seismic excitations,a novel passive vibration control device,called a prestressed tuned mass damper(PS-TMD),is presented in this study.First,a mathematical model is established based on structural dynamics under seismic excitation.Then,the mathematical analytical expression of the dynamic coefficient is deduced,and the parameter design method is obtained by system tuning optimization.Next,based on a theoretical analysis and parameter design,the numerical results showed that the PS-TMD was able to effectively mitigate the resonance under the harmonic basal acceleration.Finally,the time-history analysis method is used to verify the effectiveness of the traditional pendulum tuned mass damper(PTMD)and the novel PS-TMD device,and the results indicate that the vibration attenuation performance of the PS-TMD is better than the PTMD.In addition,the PS-TMD avoids the nonlinear effect due to the large oscillation angle,and has the potential to dissipate hysteretic energy under seismic excitation.

Exploring the feasibility of prestressed anchor cables as an alternative to temporary support in the excavation of super-large-span tunnel

Excavating super-large-span tunnels in soft rock masses presents significant challenges.To ensure safety,the sequential excavation method is commonly adopted.It utilizes internal temporary supports to spatially partition the tunnel face and divide the excavation into multiple stages.However,these internal supports generally impose spatial constraints,limiting the use of large-scale excavation equipment and reducing construction efficiency.To address this constraint,this study adopts the“Shed-frame”principle to explore the feasibility of an innovative support system,which aims to replace internal supports with prestressed anchor cables and thus provide a more spacious working space with fewer internal obstructions.To evaluate its effectiveness,a field case involving the excavation of a 24-m span tunnel in soft rock is presented,and an analysis of extensive field data is conducted to study the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock and the mechanical behavior of the support system.The results revealed that prestressed anchor cables integrated the initial support with the shed,creating an effective“shed-frame”system,which successively maintained tunnel deformation and frame stress levels within safe regulatory bounds.Moreover,the prestressed anchor cables bolstered the surrounding rock effectively and reduced the excavation-induced disturbance zone significantly.In summary,the proposed support system balances construction efficiency and safety.These field experiences may offer valuable insights into the popularization and further development of prestressed anchor cable support systems.

Experimental Study on Flexural Behavior of Post-Tensioning Bonded Partially Prestressed Ultra-High Strength Concrete Beams

This paper presents the results of four partially prestressed ultra-high strength concrete beams in flexure. The test results are used to evaluate the effects of prestressing tendon depth and area on flexure behavior of specimen beams. The test results indicate that: the cracking load,yielding load,peak load and stiffness postcracking of specimen beams are enhanced by reducing prestressing tendon depth or increasing prestressing tendon area, and the flexural ductility is improved by increasing prestressing tendon depth or reducing prestressing tendon area. The effect of complex reinforcement index considering the strength of the equivalence principle and the reinforcement position on loading levels under serviceability limit state,flexural strength and displacement ductility factor are studied. The influence coefficient of prestressing tendon kpis introduced in the complex reinforcement index. As the complex reinforcement index increases, the loading levels under serviceability limit state and flexural strength increases linearly,and the displacement ductility factor decreases linearly. The test results also verify the conventional beam flexural theory based on the plane cross-section assumption for predicting ultimate flexural strength of partially prestressed ultra-high strength concrete beams is valid. After the introduction of the coefficient kp,the calculation method of cracks in code for design of concrete structure in china are appropriated for the specimen beams.

Investigation of the Effect of the Force Arm on the Bending Capability of Prestressed Glulam Beam

Prestress enables the Glulam beam could make full use of the compression strength,and then increase the span,but it still could not reduce all drawbacks,such as cross-section weakening and small force arm.To avoid slotting and ensure suitable tension and compression couple,one kind of novel anchor has been proposed,which could meet the bearing capacity requirement.And then the bending test of prestressed Glulam beams with a geometric scale ratio of 1:2 was simulated,to investigate the effect of the force arm on bending capacities,failure modes,and deformation performance.Results show that increasing the force arm could improve the ultimate bending per-formance of the beam significantly,and the anchor arm length has a certain effect on the performance,but it is not obvious.Finally,based on Finite element method analysis,the practice design suggestions have been offered.

Laminated Solid Timber Slab with Transverse Prestressing Using the Strategy of Interleaved Vertical Displacement of Lamellae

This article presents a study on the structural behavior of transversely prestressed laminated timber slabs,focusing on an innovative approach:vertically misaligned lamellae.This misalignment,achieved by sliding vertically the wooden lamellae rather than aligning them,enhances the slab’s cross-section moment of inertia,thereby improving load-bearing capacity and stiffness.Testing involved two groups of structural size specimens:one with vertically aligned lamellae(control group)and the other with misaligned lamellae(study group).Results showed the study group exhibited 42%superior stiffness and 10%less load capacity compared to the control.Failures typically occurred individually in the lamellae,particularly in those with defects or lower modulus of elasticity,concentrated in the middle third of the slabs’free span where tensile stresses peak.Despite a higher number of failed lamellae,the study group demonstrated promising performance.Analysis of prestressing bar indicated no damage at all in the thread,suggesting potential for reducing bar diameter.These findings offer crucial insights into applying these slabs in timber construction as well as to any kind of construction.

Unanticipated Bond Failure over Supporting Band Beams in Grouted Post-Tensioned Slab Tendons with Little or No Initial Prestress

After grouting the ducts in a large band beam and one-way slab post-tensioned floor system in a large shopping mall （in excess of 1.5 km2 in plan）, doubts arose concerning the level of initial prestress and the strength and serviceability of the slabs was questioned. To assess the strength of the slabs, it was assumed, as a worst case scenario, that some spans may have been constructed with zero initial prestress. Load tests on prototype specimens, with similar dimensions and reinforcement quantities as the floor slabs, were performed to assess the stress development in initially unstressed, but fully grouted, tendons. Unexpected bond failures occurred at the junctions of slab and band beam where the abrupt change in section depth caused a sudden change in tendon stress. The maximum stress that was developed in the initially unstressed tendons at these locations was about 60% of the strength of the tendons.

Discussion on Detection and Evaluation of Simply Supported Prestressed Concrete Small Box Girder Bridge After a Fire

The article takes a simply supported prestressed concrete small box girder bridge project as an example for inspection and evaluation after a fire incident.This includes appearance detection,concrete color hardness detection,concrete strength detection,concrete surface damage layer detection,reinforcement protective layer detection,and concrete carbonation detection.It is hoped that this analysis can be used as a reference for the detection and evaluation of future bridge projects with fire incidents to smoothen its subsequent repair and maintenance.

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.

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.

Effect of insufficient tunnel crown thickness on the post-tensioned concrete lining of the Yellow River Crossing Tunnel and its strengthening schemes

The effect of deficiency in tunnel crown thickness on the Yellow River Crossing Tunnel with post-tensioned concrete inner lining was investigated by the elasto-plastic finite element method. Changes in the deformations and circumferential stresses of the post-tensioned concrete inner lining with the gradual decrease of the tunnel crown thickness were compared, and the potential bearing risk of insufficient tunnel crown thickness for the Yellow River Crossing Tunnel was revealed. Based on the finite element calculation results of circumferential stresses under different defective cases, the corresponding reinforcement schemes were proposed. The calculation results show that the inner lining can still maintain a satisfactory stress state when the tunnel crown thickness is equal to or greater than 0. 28 m. When the tunnel crown thickness decreases below 0.28 m, the external surface of the crown and internal surface of the crown＇s adjacent areas may be under tension. The tension stresses will incrementally increase and ultimately exceed the tensile strength of the inner lining concrete as the tunnel crown thickness further decreases gradually. Then, the Yellow River Crossing Tunnel cannot operate normally, and severe cracking, leaking or even failure may occur. When the tunnel crown thickness is equal to or greater than 0.28 m, the reinforcement suggestions are that the void spaces between the inner lining and the outer lining should be back-filled with concrete. When the tunnel crown thickness is less than 0. 28 m, the inner lining should be reinforced by steel plates after concrete back-filling.

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.

Stresses induced by post-tensioned anchor in jointed rock mass

A new analytical study on stresses around a post-tensioned anchor in rocks with two perpendicular joint sets is presented. The assumptions of orthotropic elastic rock with plane strain conditions are made in derivation of the formulations. A tri-linear bond-slip constitutive law is used for modeling the tendon-grout interface behavior and debonding of this interface. The bearing plate width is also considered in the analysis. The obtained solutions are in the integral forms and numerical techniques that have been used for evaluation. In the illustrative example given, the major principal stress is compressive in the anchor free zone and compressive stress concentrations of 815 k Pa and 727 k Pa(for the anchor load of 300 k N) are observed under the bearing plate and the bond length proximal end, respectively. However, large values of tensile stresses with the maximum of-434 k Pa are formed at the bond length distal end. The results obtained using the proposed solution are compared very those of numerical method(FEM).

Study on damage-stress loss coupling model of rock and prestressed anchor cable in dry-wet environment

The loss of anchoring force is one of the problems to be solved urgently.The anchorage loss is a key factor causing the failure of anchoring engineering,so it is crucial to study the time-dependent variation of anchoring force.Alternating dry and wet(D-W)conditions have a significant effect on deformation of rock.The anchoring system is composed of anchoring components and rock mass,and thus rock deformation has a significant impact on the loss of anchoring force.Quantifying rock deformation under the effects of D-W cycles is a prerequisite to understanding the factors that influence loss of anchoring force in anchor bolts.In this study,we designed an anchoring device that enabled real-time monitoring of the variation in strain during D-W periods and rock testing.Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)measurements showed that under D-W conditions,the increment in porosity was smaller for prestressed rock than unstressed rock.The trends of prestress loss and strain variation are consistent,which can be divided into three characteristic intervals:rapid attenuation stage,slow attenuation stage and relatively stable stage.At the same stress level,the rate of stress loss and strain for the soaking specimen was the highest,while that of the dried specimen was the lowest.In the same D-W cycling conditions,the greater the prestress,the smaller the strain loss rate of the rock,especially under soaking conditions.The characteristics of pore structure and physical mechanical parameters indicated that prestress could effectively suppress damage caused by erosion related to D-W cycles.The study reveals the fluctuation behavior of rock strain and prestress loss under D-W conditions,providing a reference for effectively controlling anchoring loss and ideas for inventing new anchoring components.

Design on the Prestressed Concrete Frame Beam-column

A bidirectional ribbed concrete beam slab structure was widly adopted for the upper space of industrial buildings.To maintain ample space and minimize the presence of conventional columns,a bidirectional prestressed concrete beam is often employed.The intersection node of the prestressed concrete frame beam column was characterized by a high density of steel reinforcement,significant structural loads,and complex construction requirements.To ensure the quality,safety,and progress of prestressed frame beamcolumn intersection nodes during construction,this article proposed a new technology for constructing such nodes,which includes setting the tensioning and haunching ends of nodes at different positions,using ABAQUS finite element software to optimize the design of cross-sectional dimensions,conducting stress analysis simulations.

预应力在我国大跨度结构中的应用研究综述

为了提高大跨度结构的正常使用性能,通常在混凝土结构中施加预应力.结果表明,预应力混凝土结构具有更好的使用性、耐久性和大跨度适用性,其中预应力混凝土空心板结构在不显著降低承载力和刚度的前提下明显减小结构自重,预应力型钢混凝土梁(板)结构采用较小的截面尺寸即可满足承载力和刚度的需求.开发城市地下空间是解决城市用地紧张的有效手段,我国地下大跨空间常用的结构形式主要包括密排框架(肋梁)结构、折板或拱形结构、变截面(加腋)板结构、预应力混凝土结构、型钢-混凝土组合结构和Y形柱结构6种形式,相比之下,跨度较大时宜采用预应力结构.

考虑锚杆预应力作用下隧道围岩力学分析及参数设计

隧道工程中锚杆设计多依靠经验法和类比法,为研究预应力锚杆支护体系下围岩的力学效应,建立预应力锚杆与围岩力学耦合模型,考虑围岩开挖损伤效应,通过弹塑性力学理论推导出隧道开挖后围岩应力分布及径向位移解析表达式,采用有限差分软件FLAC3D进行算例验证并分析预应力锚杆参数对围岩状态的影响。研究结果表明:理论解析和数值模拟中最大切向应力和围岩塑性区半径分别为4.77 MPa、15 m和4.49 MPa、15.86 m,理论解析与数值模拟所计算隧道围岩应力分布、位移基本一致,在Ⅳ、Ⅴ级围岩地层中验证了理论解析解的合理性;随着预紧力增大,处于塑性区的围岩径向位移及塑性区半径逐渐减小,弹性区基本不受影响;当锚杆自由段长度位于塑性区时,随着锚杆长度增加,围岩塑性区径向位移及塑性区半径逐渐减小。在实际工程中应尽量增大锚杆预紧力,锚杆长度增加对围岩位移以及塑性区的发展控制效果有限,应控制锚杆自由段长度在塑性区内。

预应力UHPC槽形节段与整体式混凝土板组合梁受剪性能

将预制的UHPC槽形节段通过干缝连接和预应力张拉形成槽形梁,再与整体现浇的混凝土板组合成的组合梁,称为预应力UHPC槽形节段与整体式混凝土板组合梁(PUCS-MCS组合梁)。它是一种能充分发挥不同材料的性能、施工方便且整体性能好的新型桥梁结构。为探究其抗剪性能,开展了9根模型梁的试验。分析了接缝数、接缝处剪力键数、剪跨比、UHPC钢纤维体积率、配箍率和纵筋率等参数对试件变形、破坏模式、抗剪承载力的影响;基于试验研究结果,提出了PUCS-MCS组合梁抗剪承载力计算方法。结果表明:PUCS-MCS组合梁均为剪压破坏,所有梁在开裂前的荷载-挠度曲线差异不大,在开裂后刚度不断下降;PUCS-MCS组合梁的抗剪承载力随接缝处剪力键数、UHPC钢纤维掺量、配箍率和纵筋率的增大而增大,随干接缝数量增加和剪跨比的增大而减小,其中影响最显著的是干接缝和剪力键,影响最小的是钢纤维掺量和配箍率,因此PUCS-MCS组合梁可不配箍筋,并可采用较低钢纤维掺量的UHPC。