Technical Note

Structural Concrete Software System

TN242_crack_mitigation_example_15
050507

CRACK MITIGARION DESIGN

EXAMPLE FOR POST-TENSIONED FLOORS1
First draft

Bijan O Aalami2
By way of a simple design example, this Technical Note illustrates the basic assumptions and
procedures used in design for crack mitigation in post-tensioned floor systems. The information offered
applies to cracks that can develop, due to the restraint of supports to free shortening of post-tensioned
floors. The procedure is based on practice, supported by observation of satisfactory performance of
post-tensioned floors designed accordingly.
Long-term shortening of a post-tensioned floor consists of contributions from, elastic shortening, creep,
shrinkage and changes in temperature. The contribution of each factor and the method of calculation of
the long-term shortening are given in the literature. ADAPT Technical Note TN241 presents a full
account of shortening calculations specific to the floor system of common building structures.
There are many options available for crack mitigation. The focus of this Technical Note is crack
mitigation based on providing releases between a slab and its wall supports.

FIGURE 1 VIEW OF A DELAY STRIP IN A POST-TENSIONED FLOOR SLAB

1
2

ADAPT Corporation Copyright 2007

Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University, Principal ADAPT Corporation
E-Mail support@adaptsoft.com

1733 Woodside Road, Suite 220, Redwood City, California, 94061, USA, Tel: (650) 306-2400 Fax (650) 306 2401

Technical Note
ASSUMPTIONS
The central assumptions made for crack mitigation design are:
It is not practical to fully eliminate the restraint of supports to free shortening of a floor slab, in
particular at lower levels of a building structure. An acceptable limit (0.25 ; 6mm) to restraint
shortening is defined. The limit is the amount of calculated movement of a point on a slab that is
not allowed to take place due to restraint of the slab supports. In other words, if the calculated
anticipated movement of a point on a slab does not exceed 0.25 (6 mm), the in-service
performance of the location is deemed to be acceptable. This practical assumption is made with
the recognition that, unless a member is allowed to shorten, it will not receive precompression
from post-tensioning. It is the combination of this premise, and the manner it is applied in the
design procedure that result in satisfactory performance.
For design purposes, the walls are assumed not to shorten in direction of the plane of the slab.
Once a slab is tied to a wall, it is assumed that slabs shortening is fully inhibited.

EXAMPLE
Figure 2 shows the simplified floor plan of a rectangular slab resting on interior columns and walls, and
a continuous perimeter wall. It is the first elevated floor above the foundation. It is assumed that the
bottoms of the lower walls are attached to a non-moving foundation. Support restraints will be less, if
the bottoms of the walls also moves in the direction a slab tends to shorten. This is the condition, when
dealing with the upper levels of a multistory tower.
The requirements of this design example are:
Each of the long walls must have a minimum of 150 ft (45.75m) of shear wall. This requires full
connection between the wall and the slab.
Each of the short walls must have a minimum of 100 ft (30.5m ) of shear walls
If a delay pour (closure strip) is provided, it may not be kept open more than a total of 20 days,
to avoid interruption in construction schedule.

FIGURE 2 - PLAN OF POST-TENSIOND SLAB (interior supports not shown)

Technical Note

1 CONSULT GUIDELINES FOR SUBDIVISION OF SLAB FOR CRACK-MITIGATION DESIGN3. The

relevant section to the current example is explained below:
Unless special provisions are made, contiguous slab lengths are limited to 375 ft (115 m). For
slabs longer than 375 ft (115 m) provide structural separation;
For slabs longer than 250 ft (76 m), but not exceeding 375 ft (114 m) provide a central closure
delay pour (closure strip); and
For slab, or slab regions shorter than 250 ft (76 m), design the slab for long-term shortening.
Since the length of the current structure exceeds 250 ft (76 m), provide a central delay strip. This
breaks the length of the slab to be designed to 170 ft (51.85m)

2 - ESTIMATE THE TOTAL LONG-TERM SHORTENING OF THE CONTIGUOUS SLAB REGIONS

In the absence of detailed calculation and for a first estimate, assume a long-term shortening of
0.75 for every 100 ft of slab (this translates approximately to 10mmk shortening for every 15m of slab
length).
Design for the long wall:
Total shortening at each end of the slab = 170 * 0.75 /2 = 0.64 (16mm ) > 0.25 (6mm)
Hence, design for a scheme to limit the design shortening to 0.25 (6mm)
3 DETERMINE LENGTH OF WALL TO BE CAST WITH SLAB
Refer to Fig. 3. A given length of the wall, marked b can be cast with the slab, while satisfying the
stipulation of maximum 0.25 (6mm) shortening at each of its ends. Drawing on the assumption that
the long-term shortening a slab 100 ft long is 0.75, the length b between the wall and slab is:
Length of wall to be cast with slab = [(2 * 0.25)/0.75] * 100 = 67 ft (20.44m)

FIGURE 3 - PLAN OF POST-TENSIOND SLAB PARTIALLY DESIGNED FOR

CRACK MITIGATION
3

Restraint Cracks and Their Mitigation in Unbonded Post-Tensioned Building Structures, Post-Tensioning
Institute, 1989.

Technical Note

4 DETERMINE THE DISTANCE FROM THE FULL CONNECTION TO DELAY STRIP a

The length a shown in Fig. 3 is determined such as to allow its end (Point R) at the delay strip to have
undergone all its long-term shortening, except for 0.25 (6mm), when in 20 days time the delay strip is
to be poured. Once section b of the wall shown in Fig. 3 is cast, for crack mitigation design, it is
assumed that its ends remain fixed in position. Hence, the entire shortening of wall a takes place at
point R.
Refer to Fig. A-1 in the appendix to estimate the fraction of long-term shortening that takes place up to
day 20. The value read from the graph is 36 % for day 20. Hence, total calculated long-term shortening
of slab region a is:
Long-term shortening of a = 0.25/( 1 0.36) = 0.39 (10mm)
Again, based on premise of 0.75 shortening for every 100 ft (10mm for 15m), distance a is
calculated as follows:
a = 100 * (0.39/0.75) = 52 ft (15.864 m)
Hence, position wall be 52 ft (15.86m) away from the delay strip
5 DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF THE CONNECTON BETWEEN THE SLAB AND WALL
The requirements call for 150 ft (45.75m) of shear wall connection between the slab and the wall in the
long direction. The length calculated for the initial connection (b= 67 ft; 20.44m) must be increased to
75 ft, 22.88m) on each side of the delay strip to meet the minimum connection requirement.
Figure 4 shows the connection between section a of the wall in long-direction and the slab as
temporary release. A temporary release is a connection that allows relative movement between the
slab and its supporting wall until the movement is halted by establishing full fixity between the two. It is
preferable to establish the required length of shear wall connection along section a, as opposed to
section c. The figure shows the entire length of section a. The calculation indicates a shorter
length. The full connection over the entire length in this instance is preferable to limiting the connection
over a fraction of wall length.

The discrepancy is due to soft conversion of 0.75 for 100 ft to 10mm for every 15m

Technical Note
FIGURE 4 - PARTIAL PLAN OF POST-TENSIONED SLAB
6 DETAIL THE REMAINDER OF WALL CONNECTION.
Since section c of the wall is practically the same length as section a, it is concluded that by day 20,
its design shortening has taken place, and it can be locked to the slab. If practical, the preferred option
is to leave the connection as permanently released, since the other requirements of design have
already been met.
If this connection is detailed as permanently released, it should be checked that the wall below has
adequate strength to resist the nominal horizontal forces that building codes specify. There are details
that allow for transfer of horizontal forces normal to a wall to a post-tensioned slab, either due to code
specified requirements, or soil pressure, without restraining the relative movement of wall and slab
interface.
The release over the wall length c is between the soffit of the slab and the top of wall below. The
connection between the wall above and the slab will be detailed as fixed

7 - DESIGN OF SHORT SIDE.

The requirements for the short wall are: 100 ft (30.5m) of shear wall, along with completion of slab-wall
connections within 15 days of casting the slab.
From the previous design, it is determined that 67 ft (20.44) of connection between the wall and slab
can take place in conformance to the crack mitigation design procedure. This is shown in Fig. 4.
The distance left on each side for delayed connection on each side is d equal o 41.5 ft (12.66m) (Fig.
4). The long-term shortening of d is estimated to be:
Long-term shortening = 0.75 * 41.50 = 0.31 (8mm) > 0.25 (6mm)
The percentage of long-term shortening with respect to the design value (0.25; 6mm,)
[(0.31 0.25)/0.31] * 100 = 19 %
From graph A1, this percentage of shortening takes place within 7 days. Hence, the remainder of the
short wall can be locked into the slab as early as 7 days.

Technical Note

FIGURE 5 - PARTIAL PLAN OF POST-TENSIONED SLAB SHOWING RELEASE

DETAILS OF THE SHORT SIDE
8 REVIEW THE DEDIGN FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENT
Figure 5 shows the details of final design. On the short side, a distance 15 ft (4.58m) from each corner
is detailed with permanent release connection. The remainder 26.5 ft ( 8.08m) at each end of wall d
provide in excess of the 100 ft (30.50m) connection required for shear transfer.
Likewise, a distance 20 ft (6.10m) at each end of the long direction is detailed with permanent release
to minimize the restraint of the intersection walls at the corner.
Where practical, a wall joint (WJ) consisting of a vertical gap of about 0.75 (19mm) between the two
intersection walls at corners must be detailed to facilitate the movement of the shorter side toward the
center of slab.

COMMENTS
The information used in this design example is based on practice, as opposed to rigorous engineering
principles. The practice followed in the example is observed to be effective in eliminating cracks in posttensioned floors that can result from the restraint of supports. Its application in each instance is highly
subject to engineering judgment.

Technical Note

APPENDIX A
The following figure is reproduced from ADAPT Technical Note TN 241. It gives an estimate of the
fraction of long-term shortening taking place with time.

FIGURE A-1
VARIATION WITH TIME OF THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF CREEP AND SHRINKAGE
SHORTENING FOR POST-TESIONED FLOOR SYSTEMS (FELT104)