CIVIL 715

THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

SEMESTER TWO 2018

Campus: City

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Advanced Structural Concrete

(Time Allowed: THREE hours)

OPEN BOOK

NOTE: There are FOUR compulsory questions in this exam. Each question is worth
25 marks.

All dimensions given in this exam paper should be assumed to be in units of

millimetres unless explicitly stated otherwise.

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1. Precast Concrete

(a) Explain two reasons why the quality of construction may be better for precast
components than for insitu components.
(2 marks)

(b) List two advantages and two disadvantages of using a two-bay cruciform frame system
that consists of precast concrete frames with joints at the mid-span of the beams and
columns, as shown in the Figure for Question 1 (b).
(2 marks)

Figure for Question 1 (b) – Precast concrete 2-bay cruciform frame

(c) Using diagrams explain the difference between an equivalent monolithic and a jointed
connection in precast concrete wall panels.
(4 marks)

(d) Explain why prestressing strands may need to be included in the top of the section as
well as the bottom of the section for a precast hollowcore floor unit, as shown in the
Figure for Question 1 (d).
(3 marks)

Figure for Question 1 (d) – 300 hollowcore cross-section

(e) Using diagrams explain the sources of axial elongation in a reinforced concrete beam
and draw the cyclic elongation vs. drift response for a typical beam.
(4 marks)

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(f) Use diagrams to explain the in-plane and out-of-plane deformations that need to be
considered when designing precast cladding panels.
(4 marks)

(g) A 400 mm deep double tee precast floor unit with 100 mm of insitu topping is seated
on a 600×900 mm support beam using a flange supported detail, as shown in the Figure
for Question 1 (g).

Use the provisions in NZS 3101:2006 Amendment 3 to calculate the minimum seating
length required for the double tee unit. You may assume the following in your
calculations:
• The building is designed with µ = 3, Sp = 0.7, and column rotation of 0.013 rad
(equal to the beam plastic rotation).
• The double tee spans a single bay of seismic resisting frames.
• The beam parallel to the precast unit is 900 mm deep, with longitudinal
reinforcement located 50 mm from both the top and bottom edge of the beam.
• For the support beam: clear cover is 30 mm, longitudinal reinforcement is all D25
and stirrups are D12.
• Shrinkage of the double tee can be assumed to be 2 mm.
• Both the double tee flange and support beam ledge are armoured.
• The bearing length required to support vertical loads is 20 mm.
• A reasonable combination of tolerances results in 20 mm of potentially lost seating.
(6 marks)

Topping 100
150

400 double tee 400

900

Support
beam

600
all dimensions in mm
Figure for Question 1 (g) – Double tee seating

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2. Prestressed Concrete
(a) A simply supported 6 m long and 800 mm deep beam has a single post-tensioned
tendon draped in a parabolic profile, as shown in the Figure for Question 2 (a). The
tendon is a 15.2 mm strand with a cross-sectional area of 150 mm2 and a modulus of
elasticity of Ep = 195 GPa. The duct has a coefficient of friction of μ=0.18 and a
wobble factor of β=0.0015 rad/m.

(i) Calculate the friction losses when the tendon is stressed to 1250 MPa at the left
hand anchorage and draw a diagram to show the stress in the tendon along its
length.
(4 marks)

(ii) Re-draw the diagram showing the stress in the tendon along its length accounting
for wedge set of 2 mm at the left hand anchorage.
(3 marks)

(iii) Explain a subsequent step that could be undertaken during stressing to minimise
the friction losses along the length of the beam.
(2 marks)

6000
800

400
60

all dimensions in mm

Figure for Question 2 (a) – Post-tensioned beam

(b) A precast composite floor has been designed for a building, which consists of
1200 mm wide and 75 mm thick precast concrete flat slabs spanning 5 m with a 90 mm
insitu topping, as shown in the Figure for Question 2 (b). Adequate shear transfer is
provided at the interface between the precast and insitu concrete to ensure that
composite action can develop. In addition to self-weight, the floor supports an
imposed load of 2.0 kPa.

The precast floor unit is prestressed with seven pre-tensioned 12.7 mm low-relaxation
strands with a nominal area of 93 mm2, an ultimate strength of fpu = 1860 MPa, and a
modulus of elasticity of Ep = 195 GPa. The stress in the tendons after immediate losses
is fpi = 1200 MPa. The concrete strength of both the precast unit and insitu topping at
28 days is f 'c = 40 MPa and the concrete strength of the precast unit at the time the
tendons are stressed is f 'ci = 30 MPa. Additionally, the toping is placed when the
precast slab has exceeded the 28 day compressive strength. The prestressed floor unit
is designed to remain uncracked using the NZS 3101 allowable stress limits.

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1200

37.5
75 90
7 x 12.7mm strands
all dimensions in mm

Figure for Question 2(b) – Precast flat slab with insitu topping

(i) Calculate the cross section properties for both the precast and the composite
sections (Ag, Ig, yt, yb, e), the concrete tension and compression stress limits,
and the moments generated at the mid-span of the floor due to the self-weight,
insitu topping, and imposed loading.
(4 marks)

(ii) Calculate the critical stresses at the mid-span of the precast unit when the
insitu topping is being placed and for full service loads on the composite
section. Use these calculations to determine whether propping would be
required during construction. You may assume that the prestress losses are
5% when the topping is placed and that the long-term prestress losses are
15%.
(6 marks)

(iii) If the precast slab is propped (fully supported) during the placement of the
insitu topping concrete, re-calculate the critical stresses in both the precast
unit and insitu topping at the mid-span of the floor during service loading.
Check that these stresses are below acceptable limits and sketch the stress
distribution over the floor cross-section.
(6 marks)

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3. Precast and prestressed concrete

(a) Two comparable concrete walls are shown in the Figure for Question 3 (a), with one
using conventional bonded reinforcement and the other unbonded post-tensioned
tendons.

(i) Sketch the expected crack pattern and curvature distribution up the wall height
for each wall subjected to the design level lateral displacement.
(2 marks)

(ii) Use the sketches from part (i) to explain why traditional sectional analysis and
an effective plastic hinge length cannot be used to design an unbonded post-
tensioned wall.
(2 marks)

(iii) Draw the expected shape of the monotonic lateral force-displacement response
for each wall system.
(2 marks)

Only main
longitudinal
reinforcement
shown for clarity

Bonded reinforcing steel Unbonded post-tensioning

Figure for Question 3 (a) – RC and PT wall system

(b) A hybrid post-tensioned precast concrete wall is being designed for a building, as
shown in the Figure for Question 3 (b). Key design parameters include:
• The wall is 9 m high, 3 m long, 250 mm thick.
• Post-tensioned tendons consist of 10 × 15.2 mm diameter strands in a central duct
with an effective prestress after long-term losses of fp = 1000 MPa.
• The prestressing strands have a nominal area Ap = 140 mm2, ultimate strength of
fpu = 1860 MPa, and modulus of elasticity of Ep = 195 GPa.
• The wall is seated on a 1.0 m thick concrete foundation and so the length of the
post-tensioning tendon is 10.0 m.
• Four steel energy dissipaters are also located at the center of the wall base (two on
each side of the wall).

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• Each dissipater has a cross sectional area of 500 mm2, yield strength of fy =
500 MPa, and an effective length of 600 mm. The stress-strain response can be
assumed to be elasto-plastic.
• The concrete strength at 28 days is f 'c = 40 MPa.
• Apart from the wall self-weight, no additional dead or live gravity loads act on the
wall.

(i) Calculate the lateral force required at the top of the wall to cause decompression
at the wall-to-foundation joint.
(3 marks)

(ii) Assuming that the neutral axis depth is 400 mm, calculate the lateral force
required at the top of the wall to cause a rotation of 0.02 rad at the wall-to-
foundation joint.
(7 marks)

(iii) Calculate the total lateral displacement at the top of the wall corresponding to
the loading from part ii.
(4 marks)

PT tendon (10 x 15.2mm strand)

3000

9000 250

Wall cross-section

1200 600 1200

Energy dissipaters (four)
600

1000

all dimensions in mm

Figure for Question 3 (b) – Post-tensioned wall

(c) Use sketches to explain the difference in the seismic behaviour of concentrically post-
tensioned beams and slotted beams. Explain how each beam would interact with the
floor diaphragm and the resulting consequences.
(5 marks)

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4. Advanced Concrete Mechanics

(a) The Figure for Question 4 (a) shows the longitudinal section of a road bridge that
has been designed in Thames. The total length of the bridge is 15 m with a central
span of 11 m long and 2 m long cantilevers at each end. The bridge deck is supported
on two 800 mm diameter circular columns with a clear height of 6 m. Each column
has 8-HD32 longitudinal reinforcing bars and D12 hoops spaced at 500 mm are used.
The bridge deck comprises of a double tee beam with a depth of 500 mm and 300 mm
thick insitu topping. The design factored gravity loads (including self-weight) consists
of a UDL of 60 kN/m and two point loads of 120 kN each, located 2.5 m from the
column centrelines. The concrete strength for all members is f 'c = 50 MPa.

(i) Draw the approximate shape of the seismic bending moments induced in the
bridge due to earthquake lateral load (i.e. ignoring gravity loads) assuming the
following connections between the deck and the columns: a) pinned, b) fixed
(assume the base is fixed in both cases). Explain why a column-sway inelastic
mechanism is suitable for this structure.
(4 marks)

(ii) Assuming fixed connections at both top and bottom of the columns and that the
lateral yield displacement at the center of the deck is 30 mm and that the ductility
factor used in the design was µ=4, calculate the required curvature ductility of
the column plastic hinges. [Use realistic estimates for plastic hinge length and
yield curvature rather than the NZS 3101 procedures].
(8 marks)

Double
tee

8-HD32

D12 hoop

Column section

Figure for Question 4 (a) – Longitudinal section of Bridge

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(b) Explain what yield penetration is and why it needs to be accounted for when
calculating the assumed plastic hinge length.
(2 marks)

(c) The beam shown in the Figure for Question 4 (c) is 300 mm wide and 800 mm deep
with 3-HD25 longitudinal reinforcement top and bottom and D12 stirrups spaced at
125 mm with a clear cover of 30 mm. The concrete strength is f 'c = 50 MPa. The
design shear force is V*=500 kN and the design torsion is T*=100 kNm. Check if the
section can withstand the torsional action (ignoring self-weight) and suggest two ways
to change the design to increase the torsional capacity (no need to recalculate).
(6 marks)

3 HD25

D12 @
125 mm

3 HD25

Figure for Question 4 (c) – Beam subjected to torsion

(d) Calculate the effective confining stress (f 'l) of a circular column with a diameter of
800 mm, transverse reinforcement consisting of D12 hoops spaced at 500 mm center
and a cover of 50 mm, as shown in the Figure for Question 4 (d). Recalculate the
effective confining stress if the spacing of the transverse hoops was reduced to
100 mm. Discuss the difference in seismic behaviour that you would expect when the
spacing is reduced.
(5 marks)

8 HD32

D12 hoop

Figure for Question 4 (d) – Column cross section

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