Monitoring Strains In A Post-Tensioned Parking Deck made

with Shrinkage-Compensating Concrete

Presented by Jim Richardson

Structural Engineer: University of Alabama Project Supported by:
Sam Eskildsen, The University of Alabama
Structural Design Group Ed Rice, CTS Cement
The primary goal was to measure contraction of the deck
and column-restraint forces.
Sensors were located in regions of anticipated maximum
restraint forces (1st story columns at slab perimeter).

Elevation View of Parking Deck

 59 Geokon Rebar Strain MetersSister
Barswere installed in the structure.

#4 Rebar welded to
strain gage housing

Photo not of Geokon sister bar

Vibrating Wire Strain
Gage & Thermistor

Geokon Sister Bar

Strain Meter
Stain meters were installed one above the other in slab.
Strain meters were installed in each corner of columns.
Strain meter cables were
routed through the slab,
through a conduit,
down to the data logger.
Nearly all strain meters were operational after concrete was placed.
Reference blocks containing a single strain meter were cast when
the deck was placed.
 An increase in concrete temperature caused a decrease in
transducer strain
70 75

60 Transducer 70

Temperature, oF
Temperature
50 65
Strain, x10-6

40 60

30 55
Transducer
20 Strain 50

10 45
12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM
Time

When heated, steel vibrating wire expands more than surrounding concrete

conc = trans + steel T

concrete concrete

resulting in an apparent strain decrease

 200
100 P2-33N
Axial strain in slab at

Axal Strain, x10-6

0
-100
Level P2, N of Col. D33 -200
-300 with thermal effects
is least restrained -400
-500
-600
location in slab -700
-800

4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
12/1/08

12/2/09
Date

200
100
P2-33N
Axal Strain, x10-6 0
-100
-200 without thermal effects
-300
-400
-500
4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
12/1/08

12/2/09
Date
 Peak expansion occurred in Day 2,
Much of the creep and shrinkage occurred by Day 15

200
100
Axal Strain, x10-6

0
-100
-200 without thermal effects
-300
-400
-500
-600
-700 with thermal effects
-800
4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
12/1/08

12/2/09
Date
 200
100 P2-33N
Axal Strain, x10-6

0
-100
-200
-300
-400
-500

The reference block

4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
12/1/08

12/2/09
Date (no PT)
200
experienced much
100 Reference Block 1 less long-term
Axal Strain, x10-6

0
-100 volume change.
-200
-300
-400
-500
4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
12/1/08

12/2/09

Date
 Measured creep and shrinkage are significantly
less than predicted by ACI 209.2R-08.
200
Elastic
0

Creep
-200
Strain, x10-6

-400
Measured Strain
-600 Shrinkage

-800

-1000
12/1/08

12/2/09
4/1/08

8/1/08

4/2/09

8/2/09

4/3/10
Date
Effects of construction loading are readily visible
in deck curvature data for Level P2.

P2-41/43
30
Positive Curvature = sag
20 Negative curvature = camber
PT
Curvature, x10-6 1/in.)

10
P3
0 Concrete P3 PT
Placed
-10
P3 Forms Off
-20

-30 Level 3
Forms Placed
-40
4/2/08 5/2/08 6/1/08 7/1/08 7/31/08
Date
We are studying column restraint forces in the parking deck
with the aid of a computer model of the structural response.
 Strains and curvatures due to Post-tensioning

Column Curvature Top

+ve
Slab Axial Strain 14.0 100.0
150 100.0
12.0 90.0
100 90.0
80.0
80.0 10.0
50 70.0

K In-Plane (1/in)
70.0 8.0 60.0
Axial Strain ()

Temp (F)
0 60.0

Temp(F)
6.0 50.0
-50 50.0
4.0 40.0
-100 40.0
30.0
30.0 2.0
-150 20.0
20.0 0.0 10.0
-200 10.0
-2.0 0.0
-250 0.0

4/13/08

4/14/08

4/15/08

4/16/08

4/17/08

4/18/08

4/19/08

4/20/08

4/21/08
4/13/08

4/14/08

4/15/08

4/16/08

4/17/08

4/18/08

4/19/08

4/20/08

4/21/08

Slab Curvature Column Curvature Base

+ve

+ve
10.0 100.0 1.0 100.0
90.0 90.0
5.0
80.0 0.0
80.0
70.0 -1.0 70.0
K In-Plane (1/in)

0.0
K In-Plane (1/in)

60.0
Temp (F)

60.0
-2.0

Temp (F)
-5.0 50.0
50.0
40.0 -3.0
-10.0 40.0
30.0
-4.0 30.0
20.0
-15.0
20.0
10.0 -5.0
-20.0 0.0 10.0
-6.0 0.0
4/13/08

4/14/08

4/15/08

4/16/08

4/17/08

4/18/08

4/19/08

4/20/08

4/21/08

4/13/08

4/14/08

4/15/08

4/16/08

4/17/08

4/18/08

4/19/08

4/20/08

4/21/08
We would like to thank the following people for
their continued support of this project:

Sam Eskildsen and Mike Jones

Structural Design Group, Birmingham, AL.
Ed Rice and Ed Russell
CTS Cement
Ken Bondy
Post-Tensioning Institute