Updated November 30, 2012

NOTES TO ENGINEERS: MISCELLANEOUS POST-TENSIONED DETAILS

GENERAL NOTES

1. These details are used for special conditions or are non-typical to most post-tensioned
concrete projects. Some of these details require complete design by the engineer.

2. These typical details include information from the following sources:

a. ACI 318-11
b. The Post-Tensioning Manual published by the Post-Tensioning Institute, 6th Edition
c. Design Fundamentals of Post-Tensioned Concrete Floors, published by the Post-
Tensioning Institute, 1st Edition
d. Guide for Design of Post-Tensioned Buildings, published by the Post-Tensioning
Institute, 1st Edition
e. Legacy TT details and best practice

PT-MS-01 TYPICAL POST-TENSIONED PAN GIRDER SECTION

PT-MS-02 TYPICAL POST-TENSIONED PAN JOISTS SECTION

1. These details are meant to be used with when a prefabricated metal pan form is used to
create a joist and beam system.

2. It is generally ideal to specify either open top or, where required for torsion or used to
support top bars, two piece beam stirrups to allow for the long post-tensioning tendons to
be dropped into the beam after the mild steel bottom bars and ties are in place. This will
avoid the need to thread the tendons through the rebar stirrups.

3. Post-tensioning of joists is rare because it is difficult to place and anchor the tendons
within their small cross section. Consideration should be given to framing options that will
limit joist spans and allow them to be designed as reinforced concrete joists.

4. Note that for tapered pan girders or joists, the design width is the narrowest dimension at
the bottom of the members.

PT-MS-03 TYPICAL POST-TENSIONED BEAM / COLUMN JOINT DETAILS AT VERTICAL

OFFSET BEAMS

Notes to the Engineer:

1. These details are typically applicable to parking garage ramps, but may be used
elsewhere.

2. The indication to continue post-tensioning tendons into the adjacent beam where possible
does not mean that the center of gravity of the tendons given in the schedule may be
revised. The scheduled center of gravity of tendon force must be maintained. Running
low tendons through the joint requires shifting anchor plates of the upper tendons further
upward, and it should be verified that there is adequate space for the tendon anchors.

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3. The engineer should pay special attention to the design of the column between offset
beams. As the beams above and below the column elastically shorten due to the
prestressing force in the beams a shear and moment is created in the column. Any
tendons that are able to continue through the joint will not contribute to this effect. Closely
spaced column ties are recommended.

4. Consideration must be given to how the column length is treated in the design. When the
column becomes short the column will become very stiff and will absorb very large
moments. It is common to design the beam assuming a longer column than is actually
present (to conservatively reduce end restraint and increase the midspan moment) and
then provide closely space column ties to help control cracking.

5. Small offsets (approximately one half the beam depth) should be designed as continuous
beams as opposed to single spans.

PT-MS-04 TYPICAL POST-TENSIONED SLAB OR BEAM SUPPORT DETAILS AT WALL

AND SHEARWALL

Notes to the Engineer:

1. See CN-SW-20 for additional Notes to Engineer.

2. These details are meant to communicate how the wall and horizontal framing joint is to be
built. Option A shows a floor-by-floor approach that allows all of the post-tensioning
anchors to extend into the wall. Option B would be used for slip-form or similar
construction where the wall is placed prior to the horizontal framing.

3. If option B is selected the reinforcement called out in the schedule or on the plan must be
adequate to carry the shear into the wall through shear friction, any negative moment that
is transferred to the wall, and the PT force from the tendons which stop short of the wall.

PT-MS-05 TYPICAL POUR STRIP AT POST-TENSIONED SLAB

Notes to the Engineer:

1. Pour strips are segments of the slab that are left out to allow for stressing of the tendons
at an interior portion of the slab. They are frequently used to break up long slab pours,
reduce the effects of shrinkage, or allow for the slab to compress between shear wall
cores (or other vertical stiff elements).

2. There are at least three ways to treat the design of pour strips:
1) Design the slab spans on either side of the pour strip to cantilever out from the nearest
support (strip is generally placed midway between supports). An additional super-
imposed dead load and live load are placed at the tip of the cantilever to account for
the self-weight of the pour strip, super-imposed dead load, and live load. The pour
strip concrete is designed as a single span from the tip of one cantilever to the other.
This is similar to a drop-in beam system used for steel roof girders. This is the
method that is generally recommended because it allows the contractor to remove the
formwork with the rest of the slab and is relatively simple to design.
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2) Design the slab spans on either side of the pour strip to cantilever out from the nearest
support for self-weight and construction live load (50 psf for heavy concrete work).
Again, the strip is generally placed midway between supports. The slab is then
reanalyzed as continuous between the supports for service dead and live loads. The
pour strip concrete must be designed for the resulting moments and shears from the
continuous span design. The post-tensioned tendons must be designed for the more
critical of the two cases of construction condition or service condition. This method
still allows the contractor to remove the formwork with the rest of the slab, but is more
complicated to design. Also, depending on the service loading there may not be a
significant savings in reinforcement.

3) Design the slab as continuous with the pour strip concrete designed for the resulting
moments and shears. The pour strip is generally placed near of the span to
minimize the demand moments. This method is generally not recommended because
it requires the formwork to remain in place until the pour strip concrete has been
placed and reached the design strength. If the strip is required to be left open for an
extended period of time (30 days, 60 days, etc.) this could have a detrimental impact
on the schedule. For high-rise construction the delay is most likely not practical.

The designer should modify note 2 to inform the contractor if the slab is designed to
cantilever or if the formwork must remain in place.

3. The Post-Tensioning Manual, 6th Edition, Section 6.2.3.4 recommends the following:
1) If slab length is less than 250 feet, no pour strip or expansion joint is needed (unless
needed for vertical stiff elements)
2) For slab lengths between 250 feet and 325 feet, provide one centrally located pour
strip open for at least 30 days.
3) For slab lengths between 325 feet and 400 feet, provide two pour strips open for at
least 60 days.
4) For slab length greater than 400 feet, provide an expansion joint

The designer should indicate how long the pour strip is to remain open in note 1.

4. Contractors do not generally like to have pour strips because it leaves a portion of the
floor that must be placed at a later date. The engineer should be prepared to answer
questions about reducing the amount of time the strip must be left open, and engineering
judgment/shrinkage calculations may be required.

5. Hairline cracks where the slab pour meets the pour strip concrete are common and may
take time to develop as the slab shrinks. This detail provides a groove to initiate the crack
and allow it to be caulked before any finish is placed on top of the slab or on the slab
soffit.

6. The width of the pour strip should not be less than is required for the jack to stress the
tendon (about 3-0) with 4-0 being relatively common. The nonprestressed
reinforcement should be coordinated with the strip width. If the pour strip concrete is
designed as continuous with the adjacent concrete the strip width must allow for a Class B
lap splice. If the pour strip concrete is not designed as continuous with the adjacent
concrete the strip width should allow for the bar to be fully developed across the width of
the strip.

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PT-MS-06 POST-TENSIONED SLAB / WALL RELEASE DETAILS

Notes to the Engineer:

1. Vertically stiff elements can prevent the slab from obtaining intended precompression
forces. Examples include basement walls, prestressed elements between shear wall
cores, and cores which are placed near corners of slabs. The result of not obtaining
proper precompression is restraint cracking. These details are used to create a slip
condition and allow the slab to move independently of the stiff wall during stressing of the
tendons.

2. It is generally best to avoid the use of slip details because of the requirement the
contractor to go back and grout or cast the remainder of the slab. It is ideal to locate stiff
elements in the center of the slab and allow the slab to compress around it. Other
techniques include careful placement of construction joints, pour strips, and the addition of
nonprestressed reinforcement.

3. These details should be fully engineered to transfer applied forces through the indicated
dowels.

4. Detail A indicates a PVC sleeve to form the dowel opening. Consideration should be
given to diaphragm or other forces that may require a steel sleeve.

5. The engineer should ensure that the bond breaker is clearly described in the specification.
The engineer must also specify the amount of time required before grouting or casting of
the remainder of the slab to allow for adequate shrinkage of the slab.

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