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ITEM 406 – PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES


406.1 Description
This Item shall consist of prestressed concrete structures and the prestressed concrete portions of composite structures, constructed in reasonably close conformity with the lines, grades and dimensions shown on the Plans or established by the Engineer and in accordance with this Specification. It shall also include the furnishing and installing of any appurtenant items necessary for the particular prestressing system to be used, including but not limited to ducts, anchorage assemblies and grouts used for pressure grouting ducts.

406.2 Material Requirements

406.2.1 Concrete and Grout
The materials for concrete and grout shall conform to Item 405, Structural Concrete. The concrete shall be Class P as shown in Table 405.2, unless otherwise shown on the Plans or specified in the Special Provisions. The proportions of the grout will be as set out in Subsection 406.3.11, Bonding Steel.

406.2.2 Prestressing Reinforcing Steel
It shall conform to Item 710, Reinforcing Steel and Wire Rope.

406.2.3 Prestressing Steel
It shall conform to the requirements of Item 710, Reinforcing Steel and Wire Rope.

All prestressing steel shall be protected against physical damage and rust or other results of corrosion at all times from manufacture to grouting. Prestressing steel that has sustained physical damage at any time shall be rejected.

406.2.4 Packaging, Storing and Shipping
Prestressing steel shall be packaged in containers or other shipping forms for the protection of the steel against physical damage and corrosion during shipping and storage. A corrosion inhibitor which prevents rust or other results of corrosion shall be placed in the package or form, or when permitted by the Engineer, may be applied directly to the steel. The corrosion inhibitor shall have no deleterious effect on the steel or concrete or bond strength of concrete to steel. Packaging or forms damaged from any cause shall be immediately replaced or restored to original condition.

This shipping package or form shall be clearly marked with a statement that the package contains high-strength prestressing steel and the care to be used in handling, and the type, kind and amount of corrosion inhibitor used, including the date when placed, safety orders and instructions for use.

406.2.5 Elastomeric Bearing Pads
This shall conform to Item 412, Elastomeric Bearing Pads.

406.2.6 Water
It shall conform to the requirements of Subsection 311.2.4, Water.

406.2.7 Enclosures
Duct enclosures for prestressing steel shall be galvanized ferrous metal or of a type approved by the Engineer, mortar tight and accurately placed at the locations shown on the Plans or approved by the Engineer. Transition couplings connecting said ducts to anchoring devices need not be galvanized.

406.2.8 Sampling and Testing
All wire, strand, anchorage assemblies or bars to be shipped to the site shall be assigned a lot number and tagged for identification purposes.

All samples submitted shall be representative of the lot to be furnished and in the case of wire or strand, shall be taken from the same master roll.

All of the materials specified for testing shall be furnished free of cost and shall be delivered in time for tests to be made well in advance of anticipated time of use.

The Contractor shall furnish for testing the following samples selected from each lot, if ordered by the Engineer. The selection of samples will be made at the manufacturer’s plant by the Engineer or his representative.

1. For pretensioning work-samples at least 2 m long shall be furnished of each size of wire or strand proposed
.
2. For post-tensioning work-samples of the following lengths shall be furnished of each size of wire proposed.

a. For wire requiring heading, 2 m.
b. For wires not requiring heading, sufficient length to make up one parallel-lay cable of 1.50 m long consisting of the same number of wires as the cable to be furnished.
c. For strand to be furnished with fittings, 1.50 m between near ends of fittings.
d. For bars to be furnished with thread ends and nuts, 1.5 m between threads at ends.
3. Anchorage assemblies – If anchorage assemblies are not attached to reinforcement samples, two (2) anchorage assemblies shall be furnished, completed with distribution plates of each size and type to be used.

When prestressing system has been previously tested and approved for similar projects by an agency acceptable to the Engineer, complete tendon samples need not be furnished, provided there is no change whatsoever in the materials, design or details previously approved.

406.3 Construction Requirements

406.3.1 General
Prestressed concrete structural members shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of Item 405, Structural Concrete and Reinforcing Steel shall be placed in accordance with the requirements of Item404, Reinforcing Steel, subject to the modifications and amendments contained herein.

406.3.2 Prestressing Method
The method of prestressing to be used shall be optional with the Contractor subject to all requirements hereinafter specified.

The Contractor, prior to casting any members to be prestressed, shall submit to the Engineer for approval complete details of the methods, materials and equipment he proposes to use in the prestressing operations. Such details shall outline the method and sequence of stressing, complete specifications and details of the prestressing, steel and anchoring devices proposed for use, anchoring stresses, type of enclosures and all other data pertaining to the prestressing operations, including the proposed arrangement of the prestressing units in the members, pressure grouting materials and equipment.

406.3.3 Prestressing Equipment
Hydraulic jacks used to stress tendons shall be equipped with either a pressure gauge or a load cell for determining the jacking stress. The pressure gauge, if used, shall have an accurate reading dial at least 154 mm (6 inches) 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. The load cell, if used, shall be calibrated and shall be provided with an indicator by means of which the prestressing force in the tendon may be determined. The range of the load cell shall be such that the lower ten (10) percent of the manufacturer’s rated capacity will not be used in determining the jacking stress.

Safety measures shall be taken by the Contractor to prevent accidents due to possible breaking of the prestressing steel or the slipping of the grips during the prestressing process.

406.3.4 Casting Yard
The precasting of prestressed concrete structural members may be done a ta location selected by the Contractor, subject to the approval of the Engineer.

406.3.5 Placing Enclosures
Enclosures for prestressed reinforcement shall be accurately placed at locations shown on the Plans or approved by the Engineer.

406.3.6 Placing Steel
Steel units shall be accurately placed at the position shown on the Plans and firmly held during the placing and setting of the concrete.

Ducts may be fabricated with either welded or interlocked seams. Galvanizing of the welded steel will not be required. Ducts shall have sufficient strength to maintain their correct alignment and shape during placing of concrete. Joints between sections of ducts shall be positive metallic connections which do not result in angle changes at the joints. Waterproof tape shall be used at the connections.
All ducts or anchorage assemblies shall be provided with pipes or other suitable connections for the injection of grout after prestressing.

Ducts for prestressing steel shall be securely fastened in place to prevent movement.
After installation in the forms, the end of ducts shall at all times be covered as necessary to prevent the entry of water of debris.

All ducts for continuous structures shall be vented over each intermediate support, and at additional locations as shown on the Plans. Vents shall be 12.7 mm minimum diameter standard pipe. 

Connections to ducts shall be made with metallic structural fasteners. 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. Ends of vents shall be removed 25.4 mm (1 inch) below the roadway surface after grouting has been completed.

Distances from the forms shall be maintained by stays, blocks, ties, hangers or other approved supports. Blocks for holding units from contact with the forms shall be precast mortar blocks of approved shape and dimensions. Layers of units shall be separated by mortar blocks or other equally suitable devices. Wooden blocks shall not be left in the concrete.

When acceptable prestressing steel for post-tensioning is installed in ducts after completion of concrete curing, and if stressing and grouting are completed within ten (10) calendar days after the installation of the prestressing steel, rust which may form during said ten (10) days will not be caused for rejection of the steel. Prestressing steel, installed, tensioned and grouted in this manner, all within ten (10) calendar days, shall be subject to all the requirements in this Item pertaining to corrosion protection and rejection because of rust.

No welds or grounds for welding equipment shall be made on the forms or on the steel in the manner after the prestressing steel has been installed.

Wires, wire groups, parallel-lay cables and any other prestressing elements shall be straightened to insure proper positioning in the enclosures.

Suitable horizontal and vertical spacers shall be provided, if required, to hold the wires in place in true position in the enclosures.

406.3.7 Pretensioning
The prestressing elements shall be accurately held in position and stressed by jacks. A record shall be kept of the jacking force and the elongations produced thereby. Several units may be cast in one continuous line and stressed at one time. Sufficient space shall be left between ends of units to permit access for cutting after the concrete has attained the required strength. No bond stress shall be transferred to the concrete, nor end anchorages released until the concrete has attained a compressive strength, as shown by cylinder tests, of at least 28MPa unless otherwise specified. The elements shall be cut or released in such an order that lateral eccentricity or prestress will be a minimum.

406.3.8 Placing Concrete
Concrete shall not be deposited in the forms until the Engineer has inspected the placing of the reinforcement, enclosures, anchorages and prestressing steel and given his approval thereof. The concrete shall be vibrated with care and in such a manner as to avoid displacement of reinforcement, conduits, or wires.

Prior to placing concrete, the Contractor shall demonstrate to the Engineer that all ducts are unobstructed.

406.3.9 Curing
Steam curing process may be used as an alternative to water curing. The casting bed for any unit cured with steam shall be completely enclosed by a suitable type of housing, tightly constructed so as to prevent the escape of steam and simultaneously exclude outside atmosphere. Two to four hours after placing concrete and after the concrete has undergone initial set, the first application of steam or radiant heat shall be made unless retarders are used, in which case the waiting period before application of the steam or radiant heat shall be increased to from four to six hours.

During the waiting period, the temperature within the curing chamber shall not be less than 10.00C and live steam or radiant heat may be used to maintain the curing chamber at the proper minimum temperature. The steam shall be at 100 percent relative humidity to prevent loss of moisture and to provide moisture for proper hydration of the cement. Application of the steam shall not be directly on the concrete. During application of the steam, or of radiant heat, the ambient air temperature shall increase at a rate not to exceed 4.410C per hour until the curing temperature is reached. The maximum curing temperature within the enclosure shall not exceed 71.10C. The maximum temperature shall be held until the concrete has reached the desired strength. Detensioning shall be accomplished immediately after the steam curing or the heat curing has been discontinued and additional curing is not required after detensioning.

1. Curing with Low Pressure Steam
Application of live steam shall not be directed on the concrete forms as to cause localized high temperatures.

2. Curing with Radiant Heat
Radiant heat may be applied by means of pipes circulating steam, hot oil or hot water, or by electric heating elements. Radiant heat curing shall be done under a suitable enclosure to contain the heat and moisture loss shall be minimized by covering all exposed concrete surfaces with plastic sheeting or by applying an approved liquid membrane curing compound to all exposed concrete surfaces. Top surface of concrete members to be used in composite construction shall be clear of residue of the membrane curing compound so as not to reduce bond below design limits.

If the Contractor proposes to cure by any other special method, the method and its details shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer.

406.3.10 Post-tensioning
Tensioning of the prestressing reinforcement shall not be commenced until tests on concrete cylinders, manufactured of the same concrete and cured under the same conditions, indicate that the concrete of the particular member to be prestressed has attained compressive strength of at least 28 MPa unless otherwise specified.

After all concrete has attained the required strength, the prestressing reinforcement shall be stressed by means of jacks to the desired tension and the stress transferred to the end anchorage.

Cast-in-place concrete shall not be post-tensioned until at least ten (10) days after the last concrete has been placed in the member to be the post-tensioned and until the compressive strength of said placed concrete has reached the strength specified for the concrete at the time of stressing.

All side forms for girders shall be removed before post-tensioning. The falsework under the bottom slab supporting the superstructure shall not be released until a minimum of 48 hours have elapsed after grouting of the post-tension tendons nor until all other conditions of the Specifications have been met. The supporting falsework shall be constructed in such a manner that the super restructure will be free to lift off the falsework and shorten during post-tensioning. Formwork left inside box girders to support the roadway slab shall be detailed in such a manner so as to offer minimum resistance to girder shortening due to shrinkage and post-tensioning.

The tensioning process shall be so conducted that the tension being applied and the elongation of the prestressing elements may be measured at all times. The friction loss in the element, i.e., the difference between the tension of the jack and the minimum tension, shall be determined in accordance with Article1.6.7 of AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges.

Suitable shims or other approved devices shall be used to insure that the specified anchor set loss is attained.

Prestressing tendons in continuous post-tensioned members shall be tensioned by jacking at each end of the tendon. Such jacking of both ends need not be done simultaneously.

A record shall be kept of gage pressure and elongation at all times and submitted to the Engineer for his approval.

406.3.11 Bonding Steel
Prestressing steel shall be bonded to the concrete by filling the void space between the duct and the tendon with grout.

Grout shall consist of Portland Cement, water and an expansive admixture approved by the Engineer.
Water shall be potable.

No admixture containing chlorides or nitrates shall be used.

Water shall first be 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. The water content shall be not more than 19 liters per sack of cement. Retempering of grout will not be permitted. Grout shall be continuously agitated until it is pumped.
Grouting equipment shall be capable of grouting at a pressure of at least0.6894 MPa.

Grouting equipment shall be furnished with a pressure gauge having a full-scale reading of not more than 2.07 MPa.

Standby flushing equipment capable of developing a pumping pressure of1.72 MPa and of sufficient capacity to flush out any partially grouted ducts shall be provided.

All ducts shall be clean and free of deleterious materials that would impair bonding of the grout or interfere with grouting procedures. All grout shall pass through a screen with a 2 mm (0.0787 inch) maximum clear openings prior to being introduced into the grout pump.

Grout injection pipes shall be fitted with positive mechanical shutoff valves. Vents and ejection pipes shall be fitted with valves, caps or other devices capable of withstanding the pumping pressures. Valves and caps shall not be removed or opened until the grout has set.

Post-tensioned steel shall be bonded to the concrete. All prestressing steel to be bonded to the concrete shall be free of dirt, loose rust, grease or other deleterious substances.

Immediately after completion of the concrete pour, the metal conduit shall be blown out with compressed oil free air to the extent necessary to break up and remove any mortar in the conduit before it hardens. Approximately 24 hours after the concrete pour, the metal conduits shall be flushed out with water and then blown out with compressed oil free air.

Prior to placing forms for roadway slabs of box girder structures, the Contractor shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Engineer that all ducts are unobstructed and if the prestressing reinforcement has been placed, that the steel is free and unbonded in the duct.

After the tendons have been stressed to the required tension, each conduit encasing the prestressing steel shall be blown out with compressed oil free air. The conduit shall then be completely filled from the low end with grout under pressure. Grout shall be pumped through the duct and continuously wasted at the outlet until no visible slugs of water or air are ejected and the efflux time of ejected grout is not less than 11 seconds. All vents and openings shall then be closed and the grouting pressure at the injection end shall be raised to a minimum of0.6894 MPa and held for a minimum of 10 seconds.

If aluminum powder is used to expand the grout, it shall be added as follows:
From 2 to 4 grams of the unpolished variety (about 1 to 2 teaspoons) shall be added for each sack of cement used in the grout. The exact amount of aluminum powder will be designated by the Engineer. The dosage per batch of grout shall be carefully weighed. A number of weighings may be made in the laboratory and doses placed in glass vials for convenient use in the mix. The aluminum powder shall be blended with pumicite or other inert powder in the proportion of one (1) part powder to fifty (50) parts pumicite (or other inert powder) by weight. The blend shall be thoroughly mixed with the cement. The amount of the blend used should vary from 120 g (4-1/2 ounces) per sack of cement for concrete having a temperature of 21.10C to 190 g (7 ounces) for a temperature of 4.440C after all ingredients are added, the batch shall be mixed for 3 minutes. Batches of grout shall be placed within 45 minutes after mixing.

406.3.12 Unbonded Steel
Where the steel is not to be bonded to the concrete, it shall be carefully protected against corrosion by a coating of tar of other waterproofing material, in addition to any galvanizing which may be specified in addition to the requirements of ASTM A 416 (AASHTO M 203) and ASTM A 421 (AASHTO M 204.)

406.3.13 Handling
Extreme care shall be exercised in handling and moving precast prestressed concrete mortar members. Precast girders and slabs shall be transported in an upright position and the points of support and directions of the reactions with respect to the member shall be approximately the same during transportation and storage as when the members are in their final position. If the Contractor deems it expedient to transport or store precast units in other than this position, it shall be done at his own risk after notifying the Engineer of his intention to do so.

Prestressed concrete girders shall not be shipped until tests on concrete cylinders, manufactured of the same concrete and cured under the same conditions as the girders, indicate that the concrete of the particular girder has attained a compressive strength equal to the specified design compressive strength of the concrete in the girder and has attained a minimum age of 14 days.

406.3.14 Composite Slab Construction
The manufacturing tolerances for pre-cast members shall not exceed those given for length, cross-section and straightness on the Plans, as specified in the Contract or as approved by the Engineer. In addition, where beams are laid side by side in a deck:

1. The difference on soffit level between adjacent units before the in-sit concrete is placed shall not exceed 5 mm for units up to 10 mm for longer units.
2. The width of the deck soffit shall be within ±25 mm.
3. In adjacent span, the continuity of the outside beams shall be maintained.
4. The width of gap between individual beams shall not exceed twice the nominal gap.
5. The alignment of transverse holes shall permit the reinforcement or prestressing cables to be placed without distortion.

406.4 Method of Measurement406.4.1 Structural Members
The quantity to be measured for payment will be the actual number of precast prestressed concrete structural members, except piling, of the several types and sizes, installed in place, completed and accepted. Each member will include the concrete, reinforcement and prestressing steel, anchorages, plates, nuts, elastomeric bearing pads, and other such material contained within or attached to the unit.

Piling will be measured as provided in Item 400.

406.4.2 Other Items
The quantities of other Contract items which enter into the completed and accepted structure will be measured for payment in the manner prescribed for the several items involved.

406.5 Basis of Payment
The accepted quantities, measured as prescribed in Section 406.4 shall be paid for at the contract unit price for each of the particular item listed below that is included in the Bill of Quantities, which price and payment shall be full compensation for furnishing and placing all materials, including all labor, equipment, tools and incidentals necessary to complete the work prescribed in this Item.

Payment will be made under:
Pay Item Number
Description
Unit of Measurement
406 (1)
406 (2)
Prestressed Structural Concrete
Members (Identification)
Prestressed Concrete
Each
Lump Sum

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