5.04.2 PRESTRESSING SYSTEM APPROVAL.

1. Contractor shall submit to Saudi Aramco for review and approval working drawings of the
pre-stressing system proposed for use.
2. Contractor shall submit six (6) sets of such drawings for initial review. Saudi Aramco shall
return one (1) approved set or one (1) set with corrections and modifications. After
modification, six (6) sets showing any required corrections shall be submitted for final
approval.
3. Working drawings shall be submitted sufficiently in advance of the start of the affected
work to allow time for review by Saudi Aramco and correction by the Contractor of the
drawings without delaying the approved programmed commencement of the Work.
4. Such time shall be proportional to the complexity of the work but, in no case, shall such
time be less than two months.
5. The working drawings of the pre-stressing system shall show complete details and
substantiating calculations of the method and materials the Contractor proposes to use in
the pre-stressing operations, including any additions or rearrangement of reinforcing steel
and any revision in concrete dimensions from that shown on the plans.
6. Such details shall outline the method and sequence of stressing and shall include complete
specifications and details of the pre-stressing steel and anchoring devices, working stresses,
anchoring stresses, stress-strain curves of the pre-stressing steel, anticipated gauge
pressures, cable profiles, elongation of pre-stressing cables, type of ducts and all other data
pertaining to the pre-stressing operation, including the proposed arrangement of the pre-
stressing steel in the members.
7. The designs shall be prepared and signed by a qualified contractor's Structural Engineer
who has been approved in advance by Saudi Aramco.
8. Approval of working drawings and other submittals does not absolve the Contractor of the
responsibility for any of his Contractual obligations.
9. No additional payment will be made to the Contractor for any changes required as a result
of reviews or approvals.
10. The Contractor shall submit for approval experience records and qualification details of all
the Contractor's key structural design, fabrication, installation, and quality control
personnel who will be working on the pre-stressing and concrete operation.
 11. Once approved, the Contractor shall not change or substitute any of the personnel without
the prior approval of the Saudi Aramco.
12. All criteria covered by this Section on submittals and approval shall also apply to any
subcontractor intended to be employed respective to pre-stressed concrete work.

5.04.3 Materials
5.04.3.1 Concrete. Concrete shall be controlled, mixed and handled as specified in 09-
SAMSS0097, as per TQ No. Section 5.01, "Portland Concrete Cement" in these General
Specifications, unless otherwise specified herein or on the drawings. Class shall be as indicated.
Concrete for prestressed work shall be designated Class S, having a 28-day cylinder test
compressive strength of not less than three hundred fifty (350) kilograms per square centimeter.
5.04.3.2 Concrete Reinforcement. Concrete reinforcement shall be in accordance with Section
5.02, "Reinforcing Steel" in these General Specifications unless otherwise specified herein or on
the drawings.
5.04.3.3 Prestressing Reinforcement.
1. Prestressing reinforcement shall be high tensile strength steel wire, high-tensile strength
seven wire strand or high-tensile strength alloy bars as called for on the plans or in these
specifications.
2. High-tensile strength wire shall conform to AASHTO M 204.
3. High-tensile strength seven-wire strand shall conform to the requirements of AASHTO M
203.
4. High-tensile strength alloy bars shall be stress relieved and then cold stretched to a
minimum of nine hundred (900) MPa. After cold stretching, the physical properties shall
be as follows:
Minimum ultimate tensile strength 1000 MPa
Minimum yield strength, measured by the 0.7 percent extension under load method shall
not be less than 900 MPa
Minimum modulus of elasticity 172369 MPa
Minimum elongation in 20 mm bar diameter after rupture 4 percent, min.
Diameter tolerance +0.76 mm, - 0.25 mm
 5. Subject to the Saudi Aramc approval, prestressing steel manufactured to standards
equivalent to those indicated herein may be used, provided that all requirements be
satisfied.
6. In addition to the requirements of ASTM A722 for deformed bars, the reduction of area
shall be determined from a bar which the deformations have been removed. Such a bar
shall be machined no more than necessary to remove the deformations over a length of
three hundred (300) millimeters and reduction will be based on the area of the machined
portions.
7. All bars in any individual member shall be of the same grade, unless otherwise permitted
by the Saudi Aramco.
8. When bars are to be extended by the use of couplers, the assembled units shall have a
tensile strength of not less than the manufacturer's minimum guaranteed ultimate tensile
strength of the bars.
9. Failure of any one sample to meet this requirement will be cause for the rejection of the
heat of the bars and lot of couplers.
10. The location of the couplers in the member shall be subject to the approval of the Saudi
Aramco.
11. Wire shall be straightened if necessary to produce equal stress in all wires or wire groups
or parallel lay cables that are to be stressed simultaneously or when necessary to ensure
proper positioning in the ducts.
12. Where wires are to be button-headed, the buttons shall be cold formed symmetrically about
the axis of the wires.
13. The buttons shall develop the minimum guaranteed ultimate tensile strength of the wire.
14. No cold forming process shall be used that causes indentations in the wire. Button heads
shall not contain wide open splits, more than two (2) splits per head, or splits not parallel
with the axis of the wire.
15. Tendons shall not be welded within the length to be tensioned and, unless other methods
of cutting are approved by Saudi Aramco, tendons shall be sawn or cropped using an
abrasive disc cutter.
5.04.3.4 Duct Enclosures.
 1. Duct enclosures shall be rigid ferrous metal galvanized and mortar tight. Ducts shall be
fabricated with either welded or interlocked seams. Galvanizing of the welded seam will
not be required.
2. Ducts shall have sufficient strength to maintain their correct alignment during placing of
concrete.
3. Joints between sections of duct shall be positive metallic connections which do not result
in angle changes at the joints. Waterproof tape shall be used at the connections.
4. Ducts shall be bent without crimping or flattening.
5. Transition couplings, connecting said ducts to anchoring devices need not be galvanized.
6. When approved by the Saudi Aramco, ducts shall be of the flexible, corrugated type,
delivered to the site on large diameter wooden drums.
7. Ducts shall be protected from rusting, damage, oil, or any other deleterious matter.
8. All ducts or anchorage assemblies shall be provided with pipes or other suitable
connections for the injection of grout after prestressing.
9. Joints in adjacent ducts shall be staggered by at least thirty (30) centimeters.
10. Provide ducts with an inside diameter at least ten (10) millimeters larger than the nominal
diameter of a single wire, bar, or strand tendon.
11. For multiple wire, bar or strand tendons, provide a duct cross-sectional area at least two (2)
times the net area of the prestressing steel.
12. Ducts for prestressing steel when bars are used shall have a minimum inside diameter ten
(10) millimeters larger than the diameter of the bars to be used.
5.04.3.5 Anchorages.
1 All anchorages shall be approved cast anchorages complying with the requirements of BS
5557 or approved equivalent specifications and capable of securing the permanent type
anchoring device.
2 All anchorages and couplers for posttensioning shall be capable of holding the
prestressing steel at a load producing a stress of not less than ninety-five (95) percent of
the specified ultimate tensile strength of the prestressing steel.
3 The coupling of tendons shall not reduce the elongation at rupture below the requirements
of the tendon itself.
4 Couplers and coupler components shall be enclosed in housings long enough to permit
necessary movements.
5 Couplers for tendons shall be used only at locations specifically indicated or approved by
the Saudi Aramco.
6 Couplers shall not be used as points of sharp tendon curvature.
7 Anchorage devices shall have a minimum clear concrete or grout coverage of fifty (50)
millimeters in every direction.
8 Alternate corrosion protection methods for anchorages shall be shown on the shop
drawings submitted by the Contractor.
9 The prestressing force shall be effectively distributed to the concrete by means of an
approved anchoring device.
10 Any allowance for draw-in of the tendon during anchoring shall be in accordance with
the Saudi Aramco's instructions, and the actual slip occurring shall be recorded for each
individual anchorage.
11 When headed wires are used, the outside edge of any hold for any prestressing wire,
through a stressing washer or through an unthreaded bearing ring or plate, shall not be
less than six (6) millimeters from the root of the thread of the washer or from the edge of
the ring or plate.
12 If loop tendon anchorages are used, they shall be enclosed in ducts for their entire length.
5.04.3.6Grout.
1 The Grout shall conform to the following requirements:
- Portland Cement Conforming to ASTM C 150, Type 1 and Water conforming to
MRDTM 514.
- Maximum water cement ratio: 0.45
- Initial Set of 3.5 MPa with a 161 mm2 probe according to AASHTO T 197.
- Minimum compressive strength per AASHTO T 106.
o Three days: 23 MPa
o Seven days: 30 MPa
o Twenty-eight days: 35 MPa
2 The grout shall be mixed for a minimum of two minutes and until a uniform consistency
is obtained.
3 The pumpability of the grout shall be determined in accordance with the US Corp of
Engineers Method ASTM C 939.
4 The efflux time of the grout sample immediately after mixing shall not be less than eleven
(11) seconds.
5 The flow cone test does not apply to grout which incorporates a thixotropic additive.
6 Admixtures, if used, should impart the properties of low water content, good flowability,
minimum bleed and expansion if desired.
7 Its formulation should contain no chemicals in quantities that may have harmful effect on
the prestressing steel or cement. Admixtures containing chlorides (as C1 in excess of
0.5% by weight of admixture), fluorides, sulfites and nitrates shall not be used.
8 Aluminum powder of the proper fineness and quantity or other approved gas evolving
material which is well dispersed through the other admixture may be used to obtain five
(5) to ten (10) percent unrestrained expansion of the grout.
9 All admixtures should be used in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.

5.04.4 EQUIPMENT.
1 Equipment shall conform to the requirements specified in the Contractor's Program of
Work as approved by the Saudi Aramco.
2 Equipment for effectively distributing the load from anchoring devices to the concrete
shall be such that the final unit compressive stress on the concrete directly underneath the
plate or assembly does not exceed twenty (20) MPa.
3 Jacks used to stress tendons shall be equipped with either a pressure gauge or a load cell
for determining the jacking stress.
4 The pressure gauge shall have an accurately reading dial at least one hundred fifty (150)
millimeters in diameter and each jack and its gauge shall be calibrated as a unit with the
cylinder extension in the approximate position that it will be at final jacking force, and
shall be accompanied by a certified calibration chart.
5 The load cell shall be calibrated and shall be provided with an indicator by means of
which the prestressing force in the tendon may be determined.
6 The range of the load cell shall be such that the lower ten percent (10%) of the
manufacturer's rated capacity will not be used in determining the jacking stress.
7 Grouting equipment shall be capable at a pressure of at least seven (7) kilograms per
square centimeter (0.669 MPa).
8 Grouting equipment shall be furnished with a pressure gauge having a full-scale reading
of not more than twenty (20) kilograms per square centimeter (2.07 MPa).
9 Reciprocating pumps or equipment that produces a pulsating flow shall not be used.
10 Grouting equipment shall be thoroughly washed with clean water at least once every three
(3) hours during the grouting operations and at the end of use each day.
11 Unless waived by the Saudi Aramco, a complete grouting plant for immediate use in case
of emergency or breakdown of the equipment in operation shall be available on stand-by.
12 When vents are required, standby flushing equipment capable of developing a pumping
pressure of eighteen (18) kilograms per square centimeter and/or sufficient capacity to
flush out any partially grouted ducts shall be provided.
13 Grout injection pipes shall be fitted with positive mechanical shutoff valves. Vents and
ejection pipes shall be fitted with valves capable of withstanding the pumping pressure.

5.04.5 CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES. Contractor Quality Control

Procedures shall conform to the requirements of Subsection 5.01.8, "Contractor Quality Control
Procedures" in these General Specifications. Contractor Process Control
Sampling and Testing of prestressing bars and wires shall conform to the requirements of ASTM
A 416 and A 421 and as follows:
1. Samples from each size and each heat of prestressing bars, from each manufactured reel of
prestressing steel strand, from each coil of prestressing wire and from each lot of anchorage
assemblies and bar couplers to be used shall be furnished and tested by a testing laboratory
approved by the Saudi Aramco. With each sample of prestressing steel wires, bars or strands
furnished for testing, there shall be submitted a certification stating the manufacturer's minimum
guaranteed ultimate tensile strength of the sample furnished.
2. All materials for testing shall be furnished by the Contractor at his expense. The
Contractor shall have no claim for additional compensation in the event his work is delayed
awaiting approval of the materials furnished for testing.
3. All bars of each size from each mill heat, all wire from each coil, and all strand from each
manufactured reel to be shipped to the site shall be assigned an individual lot number and shall be
tagged in such a manner that each such lot can be accurately identified at the job site. Each lot of
anchorage assemblies and bar couplers to be installed at the site shall be likewise identified. All
unidentified prestressing steel, anchorage assemblies or bar couplers received by the site will be
rejected.
4. The following sample materials and tendons, selected by the Saudi Aramco from the
prestressing steel at the plant site, shall be furnished by the Contractor to the Saudi Aramco for
check testing well in advance of anticipated use:
(1) For wire or bars, one two (2) meters long sample and for strand, one one and five tenths (1.5)
meters long sample of each size shall be furnished for each heat or reel.
(2) If the prestressing tendon is a bar, one two (2) meters long length shall be furnished and in
addition, if couplers are to be used with the bar, two one (1) meter lengths of bar equipped with
one coupler and fabricated to fit the coupler shall be furnished.
5. For prefabricated tendons, the Contractor shall give the Saudi Aramco at least ten (10) days
notice before commencing the installation of end fittings or the heading of the wires.
The Saudi Aramco will inspect end fitting installations and wire headings while such fabrication
is in progress at the plant and will approve the required testing of the materials before they are
shipped to the site
6. No prefabricated tendon shall be shipped to the site without first having been released by the
Saudi Aramco, and each tendon shall be tagged before shipment for identification purposes at the
site. All unidentified tendons received at the site will be rejected.
7. The release of any material by the Saudi Aramco shall not preclude subsequent rejection if the
material is damaged in transit or later damaged or found to be defective.
5.04.6 STORAGE AND HANDLING.
1. All prestressing steel shall be protected against physical damage and rust or other results
of corrosion at all times from manufacture to grouting or encasing in concrete.
2. Prestressing steel that has sustained physical damage at any time shall be rejected.
3. The development of visible rust or other results of corrosion shall be cause for rejection,
when ordered by the Saudi Aramco.
4. Prestressing steel shall be packaged in containers or shipping forms for the protection of
the steel against physical damage and corrosion during shipping and storage.
 5. A corrosion inhibitor which prevents rust or other results of corrosion shall be placed in a
corrosion inhibitor carrier type packing material, or when permitted by the Saudi Aramco,
may be applied directly to the steel. The corrosion inhibitor shall have no deleterious effect
on the steel or concrete or bond strength of steel to concrete.
6. Packaging or forms damaged from any cause shall be immediately replaced or restored to
original condition.
7. The shipping package or form shall be clearly marked with a statement that package
contains high-strength prestressing steel, and the type of corrosion inhibitor used, including
the date packed.
8. Prestressing steel for post-tensioning which is installed in members prior to placing and
curing of the concrete, shall be continuously protected against rust or other corrosion, until
grouted, by means of a corrosion inhibitor placed in the ducts or applied to the steel in the
duct. The corrosion inhibitor shall conform to the requirements specified herein.
9. Precast prestressed members shall be transported in an upright position, and points of
support and directions of the reactions with respect to the girders should be approximately
the same during transportation and storage as when the member is in its final position.
10. In the event that the Contractor deems it expedient to transport or store members in other
than this position, it shall be done at his own risk.
11. Care shall be taken during storage, hoisting, and handling of the precast units to prevent
cracking or damage.
12. Units damaged by improper storing or handling shall be replaced by the Contractor at his
expense.
5.04.7 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.
5.04.7.1 Formwork.
1. Formwork and casting beds shall be designed to withstand all pressure due to compaction
of concrete and also all stressing induced during prestressing operations.
2. The forms shall be constructed such that shortening of member during prestressing shall
be permitted and resistance to relative movement of member shall be minimized.
3. Side and bottom surface forms shall be constructed without joints or with joints smooth
and flush with the surface. The requirements in these General Specifications shall also
apply.
 4. All exposed edges shall be chamfered and chamfer strips secured in place to prevent
movement during subsequent operations.
5. All forms shall be thoroughly coated with form release agent prior to each casting.
6. The reinforcing steel shall not be contaminated by form release agent.
5.04.7.2 Shoring.
1. Adequate shores, shoreheads, rakers, trusses and other suitable form supports shall be
provided as necessary to prevent deflection of forms and nonprestressed members.
2. Shoring or form supports shall not be removed until sufficient prestressing has been applied
enabling the member to carry all dead loads including forms, and all anticipated
construction loads.
5.04.7.3 Concrete and Reinforcement.
1. All work involving concrete and reinforcement shall be carried out in accordance with
Section 5.03, "Concrete Structures" and Section 5.02, "Reinforcing Steel" in these General
Specifications or as shown on the drawings.
2. Concrete shall not be placed in the forms until the placing of reinforcement, conduits,
anchorages, and prestressing steel has been inspected and approved by the Saudi Aramco.
5.04.7.4 Prestressing Steel.
1. When steam curing is used, prestressing steel for post-tensioning shall not be installed until
the steam curing is completed.
2. When acceptable prestressing steel for post-tensioning is installed in the ducts after
completion of concrete curing, and if stressing and grouting are completed within ten (10)
days after the installation of the prestressing steel, rust which may form during said ten
(10) days will not be cause for rejection of the steel.
3. Prestressing steel installed, tensioned and grouted in this manner, all within ten (10) days,
will not require the use of a corrosion inhibitor in the duct following installation of the
prestressing steel.
4. Prestressing steel installed as above but not grouted within ten (10) days shall be subject to
all the requirements in this Specification pertaining to corrosion protection and rejection
because of rust.
5. Whenever electric welding is performed on or near members containing prestressing steel,
the welding ground shall be attached directly to the steel being welded.
5.04.7.5 Anchoring Devices and Load Distribution.
1. The load from the anchoring device shall be distributed to the concrete by means of
apparatus that will effectively distribute the load to the concrete. Such approved devices
shall conform to the following requirements:
2. The final unit compressive stress on the concrete directly underneath the anchoring plate
or assembly shall not exceed two hundred (200) kilograms per square centimeter but shall
also not exceed ninety (90) percent of the ultimate strength of the concrete at time of post-
tensioning.
3. Bending stresses in the anchoring plates or assemblies induced by the pull of the
prestressing steel shall not exceed the yield point of the material or cause visible distortion
in the anchorage plate when one hundred percent (100%) of the ultimate load is applied as
determined by the Saudi Aramco.
4. Should the Contractor elect to furnish an anchoring device of a type which is sufficiently
large and which is used in conjunction with a steel grillage embedded in concrete that
effectively distributes the compressive stresses to the concrete, the steel distribution plates
or assemblies may be omitted.
5. Where the end of a post-tensioned assembly will not be covered by concrete, the anchoring
device shall be recessed so that the ends of the prestressing steel and all parts of the
anchoring devices will be at least fifty (50) millimeters inside of the end surface of the
members, unless a greater embedment is shown on the plans.
6. Following posttensioning, the recesses shall be filled with concrete conforming to the
requirements for the structure and finished flush.
5.04.7.6 Ducts.
1. Ducts enclosures for prestressing steel shall be accurately placed at the locations shown on
the plans or approved by the Saudi Aramco and securely fastened in place to prevent
movement.
2. After installation in the forms, the ends of ducts shall at all times be covered as necessary
to prevent the entry of water or debris.
3. If prestressing steel is to be installed after the concrete has been placed, the Contractor shall
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco that the ducts are free of water and
debris immediately prior to installation of the steel.
4. All ducts over one hundred twenty-two (122) meters long shall have vents placed within
one and eight-tenths (1.8) meters of the high points in the duct profile so that spacing of
vents does not exceed one hundred twenty-two (122) meters.
5. Vents shall be thirteen (13) millimeters minimum diameter standard pipe or suitable plastic
pipe.
6. Connections to ducts shall be made with metallic or plastic structural fasteners.
7. Plastic components, if selected, shall not react with the concrete or enhance corrosion of
the prestressing steel, and shall be free of water soluble chlorides.
8. The vents shall be mortar tight, taped as necessary, and shall provide means for injection
of grout through the vents and for sealing the vents.
9. Ends of vents shall be removed twenty (20) millimeters below the roadway surface after
grouting has been completed.
5.04.7.7 Post-Tensioning Equipment and Procedures.
1. The post-tensioning process as applied to post-tensioned members shall be so conducted
that tension being applied and the elongation of the prestressing steel may be measured at
all times.
2. Prior to placing of forms for closing slabs of box girder cells, the Contractor shall
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco that either the prestressing steel is free
and unbonded in the duct, or, if prestressing steel has not yet been placed, that all ducts are
unobstructed.
3. Prior to post-tensioning any member, the Contractor shall demonstrate to the satisfaction
of the Saudi Aramco that the prestressing steel is free and unbonded in the duct.
4. Post-tensioning forces shall not be applied to cast-in-place concrete until at least ten (10)
days after the last concrete has been placed in the member to be post-tensioned and until
the concrete complies with one of the following requirements:
1 . When the concrete is designated by compressive strength, the concrete compressive
strength shall have reached the strength shown on the plans at the time of post-
tensioning.
2 At least twenty-eight (28) days shall have elapsed since the last concrete to be
posttensioned has been placed.
5 Unless otherwise indicated on the plans, the tendons in continuous post-tensioned
members shall be tensioned by jacking at each end of the tendon.
6 For patented prestressing systems, the manufacturer's procedure and instruction shall
be strictly complied with.
7 Tensioning shall be done with approved jacking equipment.
8 Hydraulic jacks shall be equipped with accurate pressure gauges at least one hundred
fifty (150) millimeters in diameter.
9 The combination of jack and gauge shall have been calibrated within the last twelve
(12) months.
10 A certified calibration chart, graph, or table showing this calibration of the jack and
gauge combination shall be furnished to the Saudi Aramco.
11 The range of calibrations must encompass the range of required forces indicated on the
shop plans.
12 The jacking equipment shall be capable of simultaneously stressing all wire, strands,
or bars for each individual tendon, unless otherwise approved.
13 Tendons shall be stressed in accordance with the approved sequence as indicated on
the approved shop drawings.
14 If the Contractor chooses to deviate from the approved sequence, the Contractor shall
resubmit the shop drawings for approval.
15 The sequence shall not cause stresses in excess of the maximum allowable stresses
shown on the plans.
16 Tendons shall be preloaded to twenty percent (20%) of their total jacking force.
17 Accessible dead end anchors shall be inspected by the Saudi Aramco for adequacy
before completing the post-tensioning of the tendon.
18 The following procedure shall apply to groups of similar tendons. (The same duct type,
the same prestressing steel size, similar path, and similar length.)
After the first three (3) tendons are pulled to the jack force stipulated on the
approved shop drawings, stressing shall stop until an evaluation of jacking forces
and elongations can be completed by the Saudi Aramco as described herein. The
actual measurable elongations from these first three (3) tendons are to be compared
to the calculated measurable elongations. If the three (3) actual measurable
 elongations are not within eight percent (8%) of the calculated measurable
elongations, the tensioning shall be stopped and the tendons and elongations shall
be evaluated by the Saudi Aramco. If each of the actual measured elongations is
within eight percent (8%) of its calculated measurable elongation, the following
procedures shall apply:
(1) Determine the following factor:
5/8 + 1/8 Tendon 1 AE + 1/8 Tendon 2 AE + 1/8 Tendon 3 AE
Tendon 1 CE Tendon 2 CE Tendon 3 CE
Where "AE" is the actual measured elongation observed in the field and
"CE" is the calculated measurable elongation for each tendon. This factor
multiplied by the calculated measurable elongations for the tendons
remaining to be tensioned will be the new base elongations for the
remainder of the member tensioning.
2) Acceptance of any remaining tendon will be made if that tendon
elongation is within five percent (5%) of the new base elongation at the
required jacking force.
(3) If a tendon's measurable elongation is five percent (5%) more than that
of the new base elongation, then the tendon will be evaluated and will be
subject to rejection.
(4) If a tendon's measurable elongation is less than the new base elongation
by more than five percent (5%), the tendon may be overjacked to eighty
percent (80%) of its ultimate strength, and it may be jacked from either end.
If this yields an elongation within five percent (5%) of the new base
elongation, the tendon will be accepted; otherwise it will be evaluated and
will be subject to rejection.
19 A broken or damaged strand is cause for rejection of the tendon. If rejected, the strands
in the tendon will be evaluated by the Saudi Aramco for reuse.
20 Where dead end anchorages and tendons are accessible, the anchorage system and
length of projecting prestressing steel shall permit jacking with the same jacking
equipment that was used on the live end.
 21 Tendon projections at the live end and accessible dead ends shall not be cut off until all
post-tensioning is completed and accepted.
22 The use of water soluble oil is an accepted method for loosening bound tendons.
23 The Contractor shall keep full and detailed record of all tensioning operations,
including the measured elongations, pressure gauge or load cell readings and the
amount of pull-in at each anchorage. Copies of these records shall be submitted to the
Saudi Aramco within twenty-four (24) hours of each tensioning operation.
5.04.7.8 Bonding and Grouting.
1. Post-tensioned prestressing steel shall be bonded to the concrete by completely filling the
entire void space between the duct and the tendon with grout carried out not sooner than
two (2) hours and not later than forty-eight (48) hours after completion of the stressing
operations and in accordance with Section 10.4.2.2.1 in the AASHTO Bridge Standard
Specifications Division II – Construction (Protection of Steel After Installation).
2. Grout shall consist of Portland cement and water, and may contain an admixture if
approved by the Saudi Aramco.
3. Water shall be first added to the mixer followed by cement and admixture. The grout shall
be mixed in mechanical mixing equipment of a type that will produce uniform and
thoroughly mixed grout. Retempering of grout will not be permitted. Grout shall be
continuously agitated until it is pumped.
4. The quality of the grout shall be approved by the Saudi Aramco. The efflux time of a grout
sample immediately after mixing shall not be less than eleven (11) seconds.
5. Grouting equipment shall be furnished with a pressure gage having a full-scale reading of
not more than twenty (20) kilograms per square centimeter.
6. Standby flushing equipment capable of developing a water pumping pressure of fifteen
(15) kilograms per square centimeter and of sufficient capacity to flush out any partially
grouted ducts shall be provided.
7. All ducts shall be clean and free of water and deleterious materials that would impair
bonding of the grout or interfere with grouting procedures.
8. All grout shall pass through a two (2) millimeter (No. 10) sieve prior to being introduced
into the grout pump.
9. Grout injection pipes shall be fitted with positive mechanical shutoff valves. Vents and
ejection pipes shall be fitted with valves capable of withstanding the pumping pressures.
10. Leakage of grout through the anchorage assembly shall be prevented by positive
mechanical means.
11. Grout shall be pumped through the duct and continuously wasted at the outlet until no
visible slugs or other evidence of water or air are ejected and the efflux time of ejected
grout is not less than eleven (11) seconds. The outlet valve shall then be closed and the
pumping pressure held for a minimum of ten (10) seconds. The valve at the inlet shall then
be closed while maintaining this pressure. Valves shall not be removed or opened until the
grout has set.
12. When hot weather conditions would contribute to quick stiffening of the grout, the grout
shall be cooled by approved methods as necessary to prevent blockages during pumping
operations.
13. When temperatures below two degrees Celsius (2o C.) will prevail during and following the
placement of grout, the Contractor shall provide adequate means to protect the grout in the
ducts from damage by freezing or other causes.
14. The surfaces of concrete against which concrete encasement over anchorage assemblies is
to be placed shall be abrasive blast cleaned and clean aggregate exposed after grouting of
the ducts has been completed.
15. Vents shall be sealed consecutively in the direction of flow and the injection tube shall be
sealed under pressure until the grout has set.
16. The filled ducts shall be protected to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco, to ensure that
they are not subjected to shock or vibration for one day and that the temperature of the
grout in them does not fall below three (3) degrees Celsius (3 C) for at least three (3) days
after its injection.
17. Two days after grouting, the level of grout in the injection and vent tubes shall be inspected
and made good, if necessary.
18. The Contractor shall keep full and detailed records of grouting, including the date each
duct was grouted, the proportion of the grout and any admixtures used, the pressure, details
of any interruptions and topping up required. Copies of these records shall be submitted to
the Saudi Aramco within three (3) days of grouting.
19. Where required by the Saudi Aramco, the Contractor shall provide facilities and attendance
for the radiographic testing of ducts.
5.04.7.9 Workmanship. Pretensioned & Post-tensioned Members.
1. The following Table 5.04.1 contains dimension tolerances that will be used by the Saudi
Aramco as a guide for acceptance of pretensioned and post-tensioned members.
2. The Contractor shall make every effort to furnish acceptable members of uniform high
quality that are within these dimensional tolerances.
3. Any member not within these tolerances is subject to rejection depending on the effect of
the deficiency on the structural adequacy and visual quality of the member in the completed
structure as determined by the Saudi Aramco.
5.04.8 COMPOSITE SLAB CONSTRUCTION.
1. Where in-situ concrete deck is cast to act compositely with pre-cast beams, the beams shall
be installed to correct line and level, starting from the outer most beam and working inward
progressively.
2. When the beams are laid side-by-side just before erection, the difference in soffit level
between beams shall nowhere exceed six (6) millimeters.
3. Where permanent soffit shutter are used, they shall be to the approval of the Saudi Aramco
and they shall be fixed securely so that there is no movement or grout loss during deck
concreting.
4. The in-situ concrete deck over any one span shall be poured in one continuous operation
and shall be placed in such a sequence that the advancing edge of the freshly deposited
concrete over the full width of deck or between longitudinal construction joints is
approximately parallel to the deck supports.
5. Lateral displacement of beams shall be prevented during the placing of in-situ concrete.
5.04.9 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES.
1. Quality assurance procedures used on prestressed concrete structures shall be in accordance
with Subsection 5.01.9, "Quality Assurance Procedures" in these General Specifications.
Unless otherwise stated in the Special Specifications the lot size will be each unit of precast,
pretensioned concrete members.
2. The concrete in cast-in-place prestressed concrete structures shall be sampled and tested in
accordance with Subsection 5.01.3, "Concrete Structures," in these General Specifications.
 3. Quality assurance sampling and testing of the prestressing wires, bars and tendons shall be
in accordance with Subsection 1.08.2, "Visual Inspection” and Subsection 1.08.3,
"Certification of Compliance" of these General Specifications.
4. Quality assurance sampling and testing of prestressed concrete structure construction shall
be in accordance with Subsection 1.08.4, "Measured or Tested Conformance" in these
General Specifications.

5.03.4.23 Precast Concrete. In addition, precast concrete Work shall conform to the following
requirements, except when otherwise specifically indicated on the plans or approved by the
Saudi Aramco:
1. The Contractor shall submit shop drawings showing complete information for the
fabrication and installation of precast concrete units.
2. The drawings shall indicate member dimensions and cross-section, location, size and type
of reinforcement and special reinforcement and lifting devices necessary for handling and
erection.
3. The drawings shall detail the erection procedure for precast units, sequence of erection
and required handling equipment.
4. Each precast unit shall be identified to correspond to the sequence and procedure of
installation.
5. All inserts, anchorage devices that are to be embedded, openings, connections, joints, and
accessories shall be indicated on the drawings.
6. Precast concrete units shall be delivered to the site in such quantities and at such times as
will assure the continuity of the installation.
7. Units shall be stored so as to ensure against cracking, distortion, staining, or other
physical damage, and so that markings are visible.
8. Units shall be lifted and supported at the designated lift points only.
9. All parts of the supporting structure and the conditions under which the precast concrete
work is to be erected shall be examined and verified.
10. Installation shall not proceed until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected.
11. Design modifications may be made only as necessary to meet field conditions and to
ensure proper fitting of the Work, and only as approved by the Saudi Aramco.
12. If design modifications are anticipated, the Contractor shall provide complete design
calculations and drawings prepared by a qualified professional, for approval by the Saudi
Aramco.
13. Concrete shall be placed in a continuous operation to prevent the formation of seams or
planes of weakness in precast units.
14. Placed concrete shall be thoroughly consolidated in each precast unit by internal and
external vibration without dislocation of or damage to reinforcement and built-in items.
15. Precast units shall be provided with permanent markings to identify pick-up points and
orientation in the structure, complying with the markings indicated on the approved shop
drawings.
16. The date of casting shall be imprinted on each precast unit where it will not show in the
finished structure.
17. Curing by low-pressure steam, by steam vapor, by radiant heat and moisture, or other
similar process may be employed to accelerate concrete hardening and to reduce the
curing time, only as approved by and to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco.
18. Powder-actuated fasteners for surface attachment of accessory items in any precast,
prestressed unit shall not be used, unless approved in writing by the precast manufacturer,
if any, and only as approved by and to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco.
19. Grouting connections and joints after precast concrete units have been placed and
secured, shall be performed as follows:
19.01 Cement grout consisting by volume of one (1) part Portland cement, two and one-
half (2 1/2) parts sand, and only enough water to properly mix and for hydration.
19.02 Shrinkage-resistant grout consisting of premixed compound and only enough water
to provide a flowable mixture without segregation or bleeding.
19.03 Forms or other acceptable method shall be provided to retain the grout in place,
until sufficiently hard to support itself.
19.04 Pack spaces with stiff grout material, tamping until voids are completely filled.
19.05 Place grout to finish smooth, plumb, and level with adjacent concrete surfaces.
19.06 Keep grout damp for not less than twenty-four (24) hours after it has taken its
initial set.
19.07 Promptly remove any grout material from exposed surfaces before it hardens.

20. Testing Precast Concrete Units for Strength:

20.01 When there is evidence that the strength of a constructed precast concrete unit does
not meet the specification requirements, the Contractor shall take cores drilled from
hardened concrete for compressive strength determination.
20.02 Take at least three (3) representative cores from precast units of suspect strength,
from locations directed by the Saudi Aramco.
20.03 Test cores in a saturated-surface-dry condition per ACI 318 if the concrete will be
wet during the use of the completed structure.
20.04 Test cores in an air-dry condition per ACI 318 if the concrete will be dry at all
times during use of the completed structure.
20.05 Strength of concrete for each series of cores may be considered satisfactory if their
average compressive strength is at least ninety percent (90%) of and if no single
core test is less than eighty percent (80%) of the twenty-eight-day design
compressive strength.
20.06 Test results will be made in writing on the same day that tests are made, with
copies to the Saudi Aramco, and precast manufacturer, if any. Include in test
reports the project identification name and number; date; name of precast concrete
manufacturer; name of individual responsible for concrete testing; identification
letter, number, and type of member or members represented by core tests; nominal
maximum size aggregate, design compressive strength, compression breaking
strength and type of break (corrected for length-diameter ratio); direction of applied
load to core with respect to horizontal plane of the concrete as placed; and the
moisture condition of the core at the time of testing.
20.07 Where core test results are satisfactory and precast units are acceptable for use in
the Work, core holes shall be filled solid with low-slump concrete or patching
mortar, and finished to match adjacent concrete surfaces.
 20.08 1All testing, making good and replacement of precast units as described
hereinabove, shall be carried out by the Contractor at his expense, under the
direction and supervision of the Saudi Aramco. Precast concrete units which do not
conform to the specified requirements, including strength, tolerances, and finishes,
shall be replaced with precast concrete units that meet the requirements of this
section. The Contractor shall be responsible for the cost of corrections to any other
work affected by or resulting from corrections to the precast concrete work.
21. When directed by the Saudi Aramco or indicated on the plans, precast concrete Work to
be placed in contact with soil shall be waterproofed or dampproofed.
22. Precast concrete surfaces below water table shall be waterproofed and the water-proofing
shall be extended to five hundred (500) mm above the water table. Waterproofing and
shall be in accordance with Section 5.12, "Waterproofing for Structures," in these
General Specifications and will be paid for separately as specified therein.

IFC Drawings 035101-001

1. Pre-stressing shall be applied when concrete is at least 10 days old, and have
achieved a minimum compressive strength of 40MPA.
2. Pre-stressing jacks and their gauges shall be is good working condition and free
from any error.
3. The jacking force for each anchor shall be applied simultaneously, tendons shall
be jacked maintaining symmetry in respect of axis of the girder and with approval
of the Saudi Aramco representative and according to recommendation of the
manufacturer.
4. If the specified stressing force has been applied and the expected extension has
not been attained, stressing may continue to the expected extension, the maximum
applied force however shall not exceed the specified force by5%.
5. If the expected extension has been achieved before the specified force has been
applied, stressing may continue to the specified force, the maximum extension
achieved however shall not exceed the specified extension by 5%.
6. If the above said procedure fails to produce satisfactory results, all stressing shall
cease and the situation shall be reported to Saudi Aramco representative.
7. Extension shall be checked 24 hours after the cables have been anchored to guard
against the possibility, if any, of significant slow slippage.
8. If average observed slow slip at cable anchorage exceeds 3mm, the matter shall be
reported to Saudi Aramco representative for further instruction.
9. All cables which satisfy the above said criteria shall immediately be grouted
taking care that cables remaining unstressed are not accidently blocked due to
grout leakage.
10. Cables shall be grouted after pre-stressing per AASHTO specifications. The
compressive strength of the grout mortar at 28 days shall be 40 MPA.
11. The internal cross section area of sheathing shall be at least 2 times the net area of
the pre-stressing cables
12. If the contractor request to use a different pre-stressing system from that shown
on the drawings, or proposes to make any modification to suit his construction
methodology, he shall use a technically equivalent system and submit full set of
relevant design calculations and detailed shop drawings for approval. Contractor
can use the proposed system subject to approval of Saudi Aramco.
13. Before casting concrete, check sizes and location of all openings required for
ducts, pipes, electrical conduits and other items to be embedded in concrete or
otherwise incorporated in structural work.
14. All exposed concrete edges shall be chamfered 20mm.
15. Unless otherwise noted, minimum cover shall be:
i. Pre-stressing steel and main reinforcement – 50mm
ii. Stirrups and ties – 40mm
16. The tops faces of piers and abutment bearing shelves, other than the bearing seats,
shall have a minimum slope of 5% towards their edges.
17. All forms and false work shall be approved by Saudi Aramco.
18.