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The Myths and Realities of Prestressing

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The Myths and Reality of Prestressing

Rey C. D. Singh Manager, BBR Philippines Corporation

Overview
Introduction to prestressing To compare the myths and realities of prestressing The application of prestressing

What is prestressing ?
Definition of prestressing Pre-tensioning and Post-tensioning Bonded and Unbonded Post-tensioning System

Why is there a need for prestressing ?

Advantages of prestressing:

Advantages of prestressing
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Effective use of high strength material Shallow and attractive structure Long and economical span Control of deflection Elimination of crack Fire resistant characteristics

Advantages of prestressing
7. Self testing of structure during construction 8. Constructability of structure 9. Lighter structure saving on foundation

Myths of prestressing
1. Prestressing causes delay in construction works. 2. Prestressing is more costly when compare to conventional reinforced concrete works. 3. Prestressing causes hogging/chamber in the slabs. 4. Prestressing causes cracks and leakage

Myths of prestressing
5. Not able to create any future opening in prestressed slab. 6. Prestressing is not able to sustain earthquake design

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 1 : Prestressing causes delay in construction works Reality : Prestressing improves the construction cycles of typical concrete slabs

Myths and Realities

Typical layout of a RC beam & slab scheme

Myths and Realities

Typical layout of a PT flat plate scheme

Myths and Realities

Flat Plate

Myths and Realities

Flat Slab with Drop Panel

Myths and Realities

Flat Slab with Banded Beam

Myths and Realities

Myth no.1 Factors which improve productivity and thus increase the speed of construction:
1. Utilisation of system formwork 2. Use of wiremesh for bottom reinforcement 3. Ease of M & E installation

Myths and Realities

Time comparison between Prestressed and Reinforced Concrete slab
1 ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Conventio nal Reinforced Concrete Preparation of Formwork Lay ing of bottom reinf orcement Lay ing of top reinf orcement Inspection & casting Curing Remov al of formwork 11/11 Task Name Post-tensioning works Preparation of Formwork Lay ing of bottom reinf orcement Lay ing of prestressing tendons Lay ing of top reinf orcement Inspection & casting Curing Stressing Remov al of formwork 11/11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 2 : Prestressing is more costly when compare to conventional reinforced concrete works. Reality : Prestressing is more economical when compared to conventional reinforced concrete works

Myths and Realities

Typical layout of a RC beam & slab scheme

Myths and Realities

Typical layout of a PT flat plate scheme

Myths and Realities

Cost comparison of Prestressing & Reinforced Concrete Works.
Prestressed Flat Plate
DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

Reinforced Concrete Beam & Slab

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

0.200

83

16.60

0.25

83

20.75

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.000

21

21.00

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.09

21

22.89

REBAR

kg/m2

9.0

0.90

8.10

REBAR

kg/m2

37.5

0.90

33.75

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

16.00

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

TOTAL

61.70

TOTAL

77.4

(A)

Residential 7.5 x 3.5 m grid

LL = 1.5 2 kN/m2

(1) Prestressed Flat Plate

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

(2) Reinforced Concrete

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

0.20

83.00

16.60

0.201

83.00

16.68

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.00

21.00

21.00

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.40

21.00

29.40

REBAR

kg/m2

10.00

0.90

9.00

REBAR

kg/m2

35.00

0.90

31.50

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

16.00

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

TOTAL

62.60

TOTAL

77.58

There is a savings of 20% in cost

(B)

Office 8 x 8 m grid

LL = 3 kN/m2 (2) Reinforced Concrete

(1) Prestressed Flat Plate

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

DESCRIPTION

UNIT

QTY

RATE (S $)

AMOUNT (S $)

0.23

83.00

18.68

CONCRETE

m3/m2

0.273

83.00

22.66

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.00

21.00

21.00

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.50

21.00

31.50

REBAR

kg/m2

12.00

0.90

10.80

REBAR

kg/m2

47.00

0.90

42.30

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

24.00

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

TOTAL

S $/m2

74.48

TOTAL

S $/m2

96.46

There is a savings of 23% in cost

(C)

Office 8 x 8 m grid

LL = 3 kN/m2

(3) Prestressed Flat Slab with Drop Panel

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

0.22

83.00

18.43

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.03

21.00

21.63

REBAR

kg/m2

10.00

0.90

9.00

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

21.00

TOTAL

S $/m2

70.06

There is a savings of 28% in cost ( S$70.06 against S$96.46)

(D)

Office 12 x 8 m grid

LL = 3 kN/m2

(4) Prestressed Banded Beam & Slab

DESCRIPTION UNIT QTY RATE (S $) CONCRETE m3/m2 AMOUNT (S $)

0.29

83.00

23.90

FORMWORK

m2/m2

1.08

21.00

22.68

REBAR

kg/m2

15.00

0.90

13.50

PRESTRESS

S $/m2

30.25

TOTAL

S $/m2

90.33

Even at longer span, there is savings ( S$90.06 against S$96.46)

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 3 : Prestressing causes hogging/chamber in the slabs works. Reality : Prestressing has been applied in the construction of hotels, offices, high end condominium, public housing & shopping complexes with marble tiles, ceremic tiles finishing.

Myths and Realities

Photograph showing the high end condominium and the public housing with tiles.

High end residential and commercial development in downtown Singapore

Myths and Realities

Photograph showing the high end condominium and the public housing with tiles.

Public Housing at Choa Chu Kang, Singapore

Myths and Realities

Photograph showing the high end condominium and the public housing with tiles.

Public Housing at Sembawang, Singapore

Myths and Realities

Photograph showing the high end condominium and the public housing with tiles.

Public Housing at Woodlands, Singapore

Myths and Realities

Photograph showing the high end condominium and the public housing with tiles.

Commercial and hotel development at Ermita Manila (Robinson Twin Tower)

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 4 : Prestressing causes cracks and leakage in the concrete. Reality : Prestressing induces the compression in the concrete thereby reducing the tensile stress that causes cracks in the concrete.

Myths and Realities

One of the largest water tank in California, USA

Myths and Realities

The layout of the proposed prestressed watertank construction in Singapore

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 5 : Not able to create future openings in prestressed slab. Reality : Openings can be created in the prestressed slab as per reinforced concrete slab

Myths and Realities

Myths and Realities

Myths and Realities

Myths and Realities

Myths and Realities

Myths and Realities

Cost and complexity comparison between RC and PS slab openings

Myths and Realities

Creating opening in prestressed slab for escalator pit

Myths and Realities

Creating opening in the prestressed slab for fountain feature

Myths and Realities

Locking back of tendons after cutting the strands

Myths and Realities

Creating a large opening and its structural support system

Myths and Realities

Therefore, openings can be made in both RC and PS structures. Creating opening in PS structure will cost slightly more than in RC structure. Creating opening in PS structure will require slightly more engineering consideration and analysis. Savings in the initial construction of Prestressed buildings far outweigh the slightly higher cost of alteration work.

Myths and Realities

Myth no. 6 : Prestressing is not able to withstand earthquake loading. Reality : Prestressing has used in many areas where earthquake has occurs frequently, for example, in Los Angeles, San Francisco in the US.

Some application of prestressing

In civil engineering works Commercial building,residential building Others

Segment being off-loaded from the low-loader

Some application of prestressing

Lifting in progress

Some application of prestressing

Fitting the segment in place

Some application of prestressing

Construction of the pier San Juan Bridge, Laguna

Some application of prestressing

Cantilevering construction of the bridge span

Some application of prestressing

Another view of the San Juan Bridge, Laguna

Some application of prestressing

Closing the last segment

Conclusion
Prestressing is comparable to RC structure, if not better, in terms of: Cost savings Time savings Ease of construction Flexibility