PTE Strand’s Post-Tension
Materials provide advantages over
convention designs (rebar &
concrete) and pre-cast structures
for several reasons. Concrete is
very weak in tension but extremely
strong in compression. Post-
tensioning acts on the concrete
structure or elements by
compressing the cast-in-place
concrete to high pressures. Some
advantages of post-tensioned
concrete include crack control and
lower construction costs.
Architects like having a PT
option since increased span
lengths also increases the usable
floor space in buildings and
provides more parking spaces in
garages. Post-tensioning has
advantages over pre-cast since it
has lower maintenance costs over
the life-cycle of the structure.
Architectural shapes other than
rectangles give post-tensioning an
advantage over pre-cast, as well,
since strands in cast-in-place
construction can be curved or
swept into place.
Post-tension systems use
high strength steel strands that are
comprised of seven individual
wires spiraled together tightly. The
most common diameter of the
strands are 0.5” and 0.6”. These
strands are stressed under high
forces and an anchoring device,
along with wedges, clamp down
on the strand to retain the force
applied while stressing. These
anchorages help to distribute
BONDED MULTI-
these forces into the concrete
STRAND
resulting in the desirable concrete
compression.
UNBONDED
MONOSTRAND
TWO TYPES OF POST TENSIONING SYSTEM
There are basically two types of post-tension system categories – “Bonded Multi-
strand” and “Un-bonded Mono-strand”. Both types have a wide range of uses and applications.
Another post-tensioning material is the PT Threaded Bar. It is a piece of steel rod that has
threads that are cold-rolled into the rod. These bars can be stressed and anchored similar to the
strands.
UN-BONDED MONO-STRAND
Most common diameter utilized is
0.5” although 0.6” has been used to decrease
congestion in designs that have high design
forces resulting in increased materials. The
seven-wire strand goes through an extrusion
process that covers them with corrosion-
inhibiting grease along with a seamless plastic
sheathing. These systems are further
categorized into “Standard” or “Encapsulated”
Standard System has anchoring devices that
are most commonly cast pieces of steel. The
anchor has a “Wedge Cavity” where the wedge
set seats down and bites into the strand.
Although the strand is coated by grease and
plastic, the anchorage, along with its wedges,
are bare steel. Used in the correct
applications and the proper environments, this
system has proven to be very versatile.
Encapsulated System is very similar to the
Standard System but has anchoring devices
that are encased in a thick plastic coating. This
system is most widely used in corrosive or
aggressive environments such as near salt
water, ground moisture, de-icing materials,
industrial compounds, etc. This type system is
commonly considered “water-tight” since the
strand also utilizes grease filled tubes and a
grease filled cap to connect to the plastic
coated anchors. These all work together to
help prevent corrosion of the PT system.
Although the Encapsulated System is
sometimes considered as a premium system,
the added cost for this system is roughly only
7% to 10% more than the Standard System.
The Encapsulated System helps to increase
the life-cycle of the post-tensioned structure
as well.
BONDED MULTI-STRAND
A “Tendon” in a Mono-Strand System
is defined as a 7-wire bare strand that has had
grease and plastic extruded over the steel
strand so the stressing operations can occur
after the “Tendon” is cast in concrete.A
“Tendon” in a Multi-Strand System is defined as
multiple 7-wire strands in plastic, steel or
aluminum curved duct. The multiple strands
within the duct are now deemed a “Tendon” in
multi-strand systems.- This duct material
creates a void within the cast concrete so bare
strand can be fished through after the concrete
reaches an acceptable strength. Depending on
the design requirements, and accompanying
loads for a given structure (or concrete
member), anywhere from 2 to 39 individual
strands are strung through this planned void in
the concrete. - Much larger anchors are used
in multi-strand systems compared to mono-
strand anchorage. Once the strands are in
place, they are usually stressed at the same
with high capacity multi-strand hydraulic jacks
capable of pulling the strands in unison. Some
lighter multi-strands systems can have their
strands stressed individually with a special
mono-strand jack. - After the strands are
stressed, the duct is then pumped with grout so
as to achieve a homogenous bond between the
cast concrete outside the duct along with the
grout inside the duct. Since the strands are
under tension, and grout has been pumped into
the remaining space within the duct, the bare
steel strands achieve a highly compressive
force along the whole concrete member. T-
“Tendons” that are cut, corrode or damaged
within a Mono-Strand System usually lose their
force over the whole length of the tendon.