Department
Construction Management
Additional Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-11-2024
Embargo Period
10-23-2026
Abstract
Large-span, post-tensioned (PT) beams play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of post-tensioning techniques. Bonded and unbonded systems are prevalent, with the latter being more widespread in the United States. While bonded systems are advantageous for creating long spans when multiple tendons are grouped in ducts, limited studies in the literature exist on their demolition. With a case study, this paper addresses the unique challenge of demolishing large-span-bonded, post-tensioned beams that occurs due to a building’s functional change. Emphasizing insights for engineers, it explores the use of cutting and dismantling methods, thereby considering the presence of prestressed cables. The demolition process is distinctive due to the presence of numerous prestressed cables along the beams, necessitating a specialized and cautious cutting approach. This is accomplished through the use of a drilling technique that selectively distresses the tendons, ensuring they are not all affected simultaneously. An intriguing observation discussed in this paper pertains to the occurrence of horizontal cracks accompanied by loud sounds following the drilling process, thereby offering insights from the design perspective of PT systems. This paper details an innovative method for safely demolishing large-span, bonded PT beams using ground-penetrating radar and computer models to navigate structural complexities and ensure nearby structures’ safety.
Journal Title
Buildings
Journal ISSN
2075-5309
Volume
14
Issue
5
First Page
1380
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.3390/buildings14051380
Comments
Open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.