International codes for unbonded post-tensioned

precast concrete structures

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• Unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete (UPC)

• Benefits of both precast construction and unbonded post-tensioning

• Elastic behavior of PT tendon-

 low damage
 negligible residual drift
 re-centering capacity

• U.S.-Japan co-operative research program in 1990 – PRESSS

• Use of UPC elements for the first time- Priestly and Tao (1993)
 based on research carried out as a part of PRESSS coordination project
 to tie precast components into building frame
 reduced stiffness degradation and pinching

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• Downside: no energy dissipation
• Solution: use of energy dissipators
• Hybrid system1: Self-centering + Energy dissipation

Figure 1- Flag-shape hysteresis loop for a hybrid system 2

1 Cheok, G. S. (1997). A hybrid reinforced precast frame for seismic regions. PCI journal, 42(2)
2Park, R. (2003). The fib state-of-the-art report on the seismic design of precast concrete building structures. In 2003 Pacific conference on
3
earthquake engineering in Auckland, New Zealand, Paper (No. 11).
• U.S. Standard
• New Zealand Standard
• European Standard

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 Standards in the US
Minimum design load and
ASCE/SEI 7-162 associated criteria

IBC-181
Minimum requirement for structural
ACI 318-19 3
concrete design or construction

1
IBC (International Building Code). (2017). “2018 International Building Code.” IBC-18, International Code Council, Country Club Hills, IL.
2
IBC (International Building Code). (2017). “2018 International Building Code.” IBC-18, International Code Council, Country Club Hills, IL.
3
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2019). “Building code requirements for structural concrete and commentary.” ACI Committee 318-19, Farmington
Hills, MI. 5
ACI 318-19
• For members with unbonded PT

• Provision for flexural members slab and beam

 Stress at nominal flexural strength
 Minimum bonded reinforcement
 Strain in PT tendon ≤ 0.01

• ACI 423.3R-171: for concrete members prestressed with single-strand

unbonded tendons

1
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2017). “Recommendations for concrete members prestressed with single-strand unbonded tendons.” ACI
423.3R-17, Farmington Hills, MI. 6
 ACI 550.3-131
• design specification of unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete
special moment frames satisfying ACI 374.12
defines a protocol for establishing a design procedure,
validated by analysis and laboratory tests, for special precast
moment frames that do not satisfy the criteria of ACI 318

• generic design procedure for prototype moment frames should be

developed
• conditions to use this standard
 Same moment strengths for top and bottom ED bars
 PT tendon should be unbonded from anchor to anchor and concentrically placed in the beam

1
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2013). “Design specification for unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete special moment frame satisfying ACI
374.1 and commentary.” ACI 550.3-13, Farmington Hills, MI.
2 7 Hills, MI .
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2005). “Criteria for moment frames based on structural testing and commentary.” ACI 374.1-05, Farmington
….ACI 550.3-13
• Prohibit the use of PT Bars
• Permits the use of PT Strand
• Continuous columns, single bay beam
• Friction induced by PT—responsible to transfer vertical shears for both
gravity and lateral loading
• Limits drift angle for DBE and MCE

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 For walls

ACI ITG-5

ACI ITG 5.1-071

ACI ITG 5.2-092

1
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2007). “Acceptance criteria for special unbonded post-tensioned precast structural walls based on validation
testing and commentary.” ACI ITG 5.1-07, Farmington Hills, MI.
2
ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2009). “Requirements for design of a special unbonded post-tensioned precast shear wall satisfying ACI ITG-5.1
and commentary.” ACI ITG 5.2-09, Farmington Hills, MI. 9
•ACI
  ITG 5.1-07
• provides framework that establishes a test for experimental evidence needed to
satisfy the use of UPC structural walls
• requirements for the
 Design procedure of test module
 Testing, reporting and accessing the satisfactory performance

• For ≥ 0.5
• For walls with openings:
 load path should not be disturbed
 Influence of opening on shear and flexural strength should be considered
• Test module

 Moment shear ratio at base must be representative of prototype wall

 No requirement for duplication of wall height
 Similitude principle is applicable
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 ACI ITG 5.2-09
• outlines design provision for UPC cantilever shear walls to comply with acceptance
criteria of ACI ITG 5.1-07
• PT strand, bar, wire, tendon – anything can be used
• Capacity design principle for joints other than the one at foundation
Should not open
• No permanent lateral deformation-damage to cover concrete and joint filler material
is okay
 strain in PT tendon ≤ 0.01
• Only mechanical coupling devices are permitted
• Based on model proposed by Sritharan et al.1

1
Sritharan, S.; Aaleti, S.; and Thomas, D. J., 2007, “Seismic Analysis and Design of Precast Concrete Jointed Wall Systems,” ISU-ERI-Ames Report ERI-
07404, Iowa State University, Dec. 11
 Standards in New Zealand
• New Zealand Standard and Commentary for Concrete Structures, NZS
3101:20061 Strong
Equivalent connection
monolithic
system Ductile
connection
Precast concrete Connection of
seismic system limited
ductility

Ductile jointed
Jointed system
connection
Appendix B
Ductile hybrid
connection

Standards New Zealand. (2006). “Concrete structures standard: Amendment 2.” NZS 3101, Wellington, New Zealand.
1 12
… NZS 3101:2006
• Design method for both force based and displacement based
• Permits 50% higher drift limit for serviceability LS in UPC
(no such provision for ultimate LS)
• For hybrid system: moment contribution ratio (λ) dictates self-centering
and energy dissipating capability
Self-centering

For full self-centering; αo ≥ 1.15

Energy dissipation

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… NZS 3101:2006
• Moment-rotation: iterative procedure using member compatibility and
section equilibrium
• Provision for equivalent viscous damping
Two ways
1. Using flag shaped hysteresis rule (considering moment contribution from
PT tendon and ED
2. Interpolating between lower bound (unbonded connection-5%) and upper
bound (monolithic frame)

• Contact damping can also be considered (given the evidence of dynamic

rocking behavior)

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 … NZS 3101:2006
• System displacement incompatibility
1. Beam elongation
2. Floor-lateral load resisting system incompatibility

• refer ACI T1.1-011 for acceptance criteria for development and adoption
of alternative jointed solution
• PRESSS Design Handbook2 – by working group of NZCS
 More specific guidelines with design examples
 Researches backing the provision of NZS 3101
 Design example of DDBD procedure
 Modeling technique: lumped plasticity and multi-spring model (to account for beam
elongation)

ACI (American Concrete Institute). (2001). "Acceptance criteria for moment frames based on structural testing." T1.1-01/T1.1R-01, Farmington Hills, MI.
1

Pampanin, S., Marriott, D., and Palermo, A. (2010). “PRESSS design handbook”. New Zealand Concrete Society, Auckland, N.Z.
2
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 Standards in European Union
• Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1)1: Design of concrete structures

• Eurocode 8 (EN 1998-1)2: Design of structures for earthquake resistance

No provision for UPC !!!
• Eurocode 2:
 Provision for prestress loss due to friction and time dependent loss
 Provision for section design for flexure and shear in ULS and SLS
• Relevant European Technical Assessment (ETA) document can be used
• ETA-13/09793 -material description and installation procedure (by
manufacturer)
1
EN 1992-1-1. (2004). “Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures—Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings.” CEN, European Committee for
Standardization, Brussels.
2
EN 1998-1. (2005). “Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance-part 1: general rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings.” European
Committee for Standardization, Brussels.
3
European Technical Assessment Post-Tensioning Systems. (2018). “DYWIDAG external and internal unbonded strand post-tensioning system.”16
DYWIDAG Systems International.
Conclusion
• Transfer of research and codification process to practice is slow.
 Uncertainty in the behavior of UPC
 Lack of recommendation for practical details as compared to monolithic RC
 Prescriptive nature of guidelines given by national standards

• Performance level need to be defined and evaluated

• Quantification of damage limit for different limit states
• Relatively new technology—prospects for addition and revision of
specifications

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