Arlegui, Manila

Prestressed Concrete Design

CE 513
CE52FA2

Written Report

Prestressing Systems:
“Gifford Udall System”

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Submitted by: Submitted to:

Ambojia, Vernine A. (1411967) Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima

Boco, Marco A. (1211059)
Burce, Paulo Bruce N. (1212579)
Sy, Tchin Tchin Athina P. (1311484)

Date:
March 9, 2017
 Prestressed Concrete Design
Written Report
CE 513
CE52FA2 Prestressing Systems

History

Remembering Edwin Gifford

Dr Edwin “Giff” Gifford, founder of Gifford & Partners,

passed away at the age of 93 on 16th May 2014 after a
long illness.

He was an inspired and inspirational civil engineer,

structural engineer and naval architect; a remarkable
innovator, inventor and pioneer whose work has had
international influence particularly in the fields of bridges,
roads, hovercraft, fishing and marine archaeology.

Utilising his innovative thinking, civil and structural

expertise and enthusiasm for engineering challenges, Giff
founded Gifford & Partners in 1951 and helped grow the
practice to over 100 people by his retirement in 1986. The
Dr. Edwin Gifford
consultancy was acquired by Ramboll in 2011.

Giff pioneered the use of prestressed concrete and in collaboration with Southampton building
contractor, Udall, devised a new prestressing system, which became known internationally as the
Gifford-Udall system. It used wire and strands of metal to strengthen concrete and was soon adopted
around the world. Giff designed the superstructure for two major bridges in Australia – the Narrows
Bridge in Perth and the Tasman Bridge in Hobart, breaking new ground in scale and economy.

In the 1960s Giff’s initial collaboration with Sir Christopher Cockerell, on the landing and
terminal facilities for hovercraft around the world, led to his own significant involvement in this mode
of transport. In 1965 he became a founder director of Hovertravel Ltd, the world’s first passenger
hovercraft service, which still provides the fastest link to the Isle of Wight.

Giff’s family have written a full obituary. Gordon Clark, Ramboll Technical Director, who
worked closely with Giff, commented: “It was a great privilege to spend the early years of my career
working directly for Giff, he was an inspirational leader.”

Steve Canadine, Ramboll UK MD, added: “Giff’s obituary paints a picture of someone in whose
footsteps we should be proud to follow.”

Submitted by: Page | 1

Ambojia, Boco, Burce, Sy (1411967, 1211059, 1212579, 1311484) Date:
Submitted to: March 9, 2017
Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima
 Prestressed Concrete Design
Written Report
CE 513
CE52FA2 Prestressing Systems

Gifford Udall System

In this system (see Figure), essentially a wedge action is used. The individual wires are
gripped in between the edges. A small wedge is split into two. The cut pieces have teeth on the inner
face. Wires of 2.6 mm to 7 mm are used. The wires are tensioned separately using Gifford Udall
jacks. The individual wires are gripped in between the edges. The ducts are of size 25, 40 and 50 mm
to house different number of wires in the tendons. There will be slip loss at the jacking end. It is the
order of 3 mm.

Gifford Udall System

Submitted by: Page | 2

Ambojia, Boco, Burce, Sy (1411967, 1211059, 1212579, 1311484) Date:
Submitted to: March 9, 2017
Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima
 Prestressed Concrete Design
Written Report
CE 513
CE52FA2 Prestressing Systems

Company

Usha Martin Group

Started in 1961 in Ranchi, Jharkhand as a wire rope manufacturing

company, today the Usha Martin Group is a USD 1 billion
conglomerate with a global presence. The group has set new
standards in the manufacture of wire rods, bright bars, steel wires,
speciality wires, wire ropes, strand, conveyor cord, wire drawing and
cable machinery. With continuous growth in both the domestic and
international markets, Usha Martin, the Groups flagship company
has emerged as Indias largest and the worlds Second largest steel
wire rope manufacturer.

For Usha Martin, the path to sustainable growth was long; the management constantly tried out
innovative business practices. With initiative to diversify the customer base by venturing into the
international markets, moving up the value chain and fully integrating its business process to
maximize stakeholder value.

Product Description:

Ismal Prestressing System is based on Gifford Udall System and is used extensively by all major
construction companies in India. The post-tensioning products, such as anchorage, sheathing,
multipull & single pull hydraulic jacks & pumps, grout pumps & agitators are manufactured at the
factory of Usha Ismal Division at Ranchi.

Anchorage

Ismal anchorage is manufactured (in compliance with BS 4447:1973 and FIP

recommendations:1993) to suit cables having 4,7,12, 19, 27 & 31 numbers of 12.7 mm strands and
also cables up to 19 nos. of 15.2 mm strands. Anchorage to suit cables of any intermediate number of
strand can also be manufactured on request.

The anchorage comprise the following

a) One cast iron tube unit, which guides the strands into the duct.
b) One forged steel bearing plate having taper holes for seating of wedges.
c) Necessary number of hardened wedges for locking of strands after stressing. : Anchorage

Submitted by: Page | 3

Ambojia, Boco, Burce, Sy (1411967, 1211059, 1212579, 1311484) Date:
Submitted to: March 9, 2017
Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima
 Prestressed Concrete Design
Written Report
CE 513
CE52FA2 Prestressing Systems

While standard anchorage are for use as live end, dead end anchorage (for ends buried in concrete)
and anchorage coupling (used in continuous spans) are also available.

References

http://www.ramboll.co.uk/news/ruk/remembering%20edwin%20gifford

https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=g5kPDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=gifford+udall+sys
tem&source=bl&ots=thlSPk_3KK&sig=ZrqGl5FDpo520PKpHA1s17fphHA&hl=fil&sa=X&ved=0ahUKE
wj5yKnntsLSAhXLUbwKHQ4nD604ChDoAQguMAI#v=onepage&q=gifford%20udall%20system&f=tru
e

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/post-tensioning-6792858030.html

Submitted by: Page | 4

Ambojia, Boco, Burce, Sy (1411967, 1211059, 1212579, 1311484) Date:
Submitted to: March 9, 2017
Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima
 Prestressed Concrete Design
Written Report
CE 513
CE52FA2 Prestressing Systems

Submitted by: Page | 5

Ambojia, Boco, Burce, Sy (1411967, 1211059, 1212579, 1311484) Date:
Submitted to: March 9, 2017
Engr. Arnulfo P. Delima