Bonded Post-Tensioning
for Force Protection
Bonded, Post-Tensioned Floor Systems
As part of its full line of Force Protection solutions, STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES brings to its clients bonded post-tensioning (P-T) technology that can be used to meet force protection and progressive collapse requirements in new construction.
STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES can provide feasibility analysis, design assistance and cost development for a full range of P-T products and solutions to enhance force protection capabilities of existing structures as well as new construction applications.
Enhancing New Construction Designs Against Progressive Collapse
Post-tensioning systems may be designed to provide reinforcement continuity and redundancy to resist the spread of damage and minimize the risk of progressive collapse. Because the P-T tendons are bonded, they can fully re-develop the structural strength beyond the damaged location. The tendons can be profiled within the structural element to provide load reversal resistance that enhances the structure’s ability to withstand the loss of interior or exterior support, and create an “alternate path” for load resistance. Continuous and bonded VSLAB+® tendons placed in slabs can be used to provide the the necessary internal and peripheral tie forces to enhance a slabs ability to resist uplift and progressive collapse. The enhanced design provided by these bonded P-T systems are often required as part of creating the necessary “alternative path” performance for force protection applications.
Advantages of Bonded P-T Tendons are:
- Use of high strength strands improve a members ability to withstand a higher blast load
- Bonded PT can maintain continuity and prestress force if an anchorage is lost
- For beams and slabs, bonded tendons can be profiled to counter the internal forces resulting from a lost column and to resist moment reversals that can occur during a blast event
Bonded Post-Tensioning Products
VSLAB+® Bonded Slab Systems
VSLAB+® bonded tendons consist of prestressed strands contained in low profile ducts that are fully bonded to the surrounding concrete and used to provide continuous reinforcement in slabs. The corrugated ducts are filled with a high-performance cementitious grout that encapsulates the strands and achieve full bond with the surrounding concrete. For aggressive environments, fully encapsulated anchorage systems and ducts are available. Intermediate anchorages systems are used to provide continuity of prestress at construction joints.
Design advantages include the ability to limit loss of capacity to localized areas when post tension tendons are cut, increased span lengths and improved load-carrying capacities.
Bonded Multistrand Systems
A single multistrand tendon can hold up to fifty-five 0.5” or 0.6” strands encased in plastic or steel duct and is fully bonded using a high-performance grout. When bonded multistrand systems are used for large structural members such as beams and transfer girders, design advantages include increased span lengths and load-carrying capacity and reduced deflection.
STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES’ force protection systems feature VSL® branded products – known worldwide as the products of choice for both new and repair post-tensioning applications. Structural Technologies, LLC is the exclusive licensee of VSL® Post-Tensioning Systems in the United States.
VSL® and VSLAB+® are the registered trademarks of VSL International Ltd.
Force Protection Design & Engineering Support
Solutions For:
• Blast Protection
• Progressive Collapse Prevention
• Ballistics Protection
• Forced Entry Protection
• Impact Protection
• Fragmentation Protection
• Fire Protection
Force Protection Team Leader
Read more about our products and applications on our structural strengthening solution builder page
Design-Assist & Engineered Product Support
• Investigation Support
• Solution Development
• Budget Development
• Specification Assistance
• Constructability Consulting
• Application Engineering
• Quality Control Programs
• Project-Specific Design-Assist