InternationalJournalofCivilEngineeringandBuildingMaterials(ISSN2223487X)Vol.2No.

22012
2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

Ultimate Strength of Post-tension Hollow Core Slab (HCS) for IBS

Constructions
Armin Ghadiri 1, a, Abdul Kadir Marsono 2, b
1

Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology Malaysia (UTM),

Skudai 81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
2

Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology Malaysia (UTM),

Skudai 81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
a

arminaco@gmail.com , b akadir@utm.my

Keywords: Pre-stress concrete; Post-tension; Hollow core slab; IBS; Ultimate Strength

Abstract. Post-tension hollow core slabs are not common as load receiving floors. While hollowing
out the solid slab is to reduce weight as the centre portion of the hollow slab panels carries small
self stress. The paper presents an experimental study on the effect of post-tensioned on the ultimate
strength of hollow slabs. In this research two units of full scale slab of equal span, cross section and
depth are tested in laboratory to failure. Specimens were subjected to experimental with and without
post-tension at varying post-stressing. The behaviour of both specimens was studied for bending
moments and predominantly shears behaviour. These experiments yielded valuable information
concerning the effects of post-tension force to the overall behaviour of failure. Load tests were
carried out under seminally serviceability limit state of stresses. It is concluded that post-tension can
be used to increase the bearing capacity of hollow slabs by up to 15% with the failure mode changes
from flexural to shear as observed in laboratory experiments.
Introduction
Hollow slabs are one of the precast concrete industries. They are frequently used in different
projects, principally as prefabricated floor units in a variety of subjects including residential,
industrial or commercial buildings, car parks and other civil structures.
Industrialized Building System (IBS) is a construction procedure that uses methods, products,
constituents or building systems which involve prefabricated components and on-site installation. In
accord with these interpretations the main benefits of precast concrete include the speed of
installation and a clean working environment in comparison with normal reinforced concrete
construction on sites. On the other hand, there are also plenty of explanations concerning the lack of
flexibility.
Problem Statement. Problems frequently associated with the concrete IBS are time management
and unrealistic ultimate and service loads. Cracks occur under very easy loads which can be
eliminated by having a proper concrete set and steel detailing.
In spite of the extensive use of precast products, existing code provisions are not obvious. The
code provides only general specifications for the design and analysis of conventional slabs
structural components. Therefore it was decided that an experimental program should be applied
which complies with the basic design rules.
Two major focus parameters of the study are additional stresses resulting from load conditions,
such as service and ultimate loading. Differential shrinkage, creep, and relaxation will always act
on hollow slab. The big challenge is to determine actual behaviour through simulation, and to
verify, by experiment, the post tension of hollow IBS slabs under various strength conditions.
Objective. Determining the performance of the IBS slabs structured system is the overall
objective of this study. This study intends to carry out full scale laboratory tests on post-tension and
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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

conventional hollow slabs, and to evaluate the level of strength at elastic, plastic and ultimate state.
Included is a detailed analysis of the investigation of the mechanisms of failure, crack pattern and
deformed shape.
Scope of the Study. This research check on the ultimate strength and behaviour of post-tension
and conventional hollow core slabs. The performance of these specimens was estimated through
laboratory capacity tests, and computer stiffness and finite element analysis simulation. The crack
in the slabs faces as well as strains are monitored. This study also recorded the ultimate strength of
hollow core slabs with varying post-tension force.
Literature Review
An industrialized building system allows for faster total construction time since casting of precast
components are at the factory and foundation operations on site can take place simultaneously. This
provides earlier completion of the building, consequently decreasing interest discharge or capital
expenses [1]. Possibly the most inclusive exposition of IBS was declared by Junid [2] he clarified
that an IBS in the construction industry comprises the industrialized procedure by which
components of a building are conceived, planned, fabricated, transported and erected on site.
Majzub [3] asserted that the relative weight of components should be used as a basis for building
classification. On the whole, an industrialized building system component provides a higher quality
of components which has been achieved using precise collection of substances, advanced
technology and strict factory quality assurance control [4].
The FIP committee on prefabrication in 1988 endorse for precast pre-stressed hollow core floors
[10], in which the following objects were processed: transfer of stresses at the support zone, shear
capacity, transverse load distribution, diaphragm action, fire safety and connection.
For unbonded post tension slabs the transfer of force from the tendons to the concrete is via the
end anchors, with strains in the tendons distributed throughout their entire length, and also via the
profile of the tendons. Friction forces between the tendon and concrete are very small since the
tendon is typically greased and housed within a plastic tube. If cable is bonded to slabs the transfer
of the force is by means of the end anchors, bond between the tendons and concrete, and the
curvature of the tendons [11].
Although deflections are easy to estimate, actual measurements are smaller than calculated value
for up to 25 percent. This is due to unreliable data for Youngs modulus and diversity in material
possessions because of temperature and humidity vacillations during the casting. Pre-stressed
hollow slabs are ordinarily utilized as simply supported one way slabs. In calculations, their
behaviour is simplified and they are presumed to take action as simply supported beams without
stresses induced by negative bending moments and torsion moments. The possible failure systems
include Pure Flexural Failure and Shear Tension Failure as well as Shear Compression Failure [5, 6,
and 7]. In the traditional approach to calculate the flexural moment capacity of a cross section, is to
assume that in the compression zone the ultimate strain of the concrete is reached. If it is assumed
that the flexural crack reaches the upper flange of the slab, then the depth of the compression zone is
calculated by (Eq. 1):
.

. .

(1)

Where is the shape factor of the stress-strain diagram of the concrete. The ultimate moment is
then calculated from (Eq. 2):
.

(2)

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esearchCentter

Wheere d is thee effective depth,

total cross section arrea of post--tension steeel,
ruptture
strengthh and
iss the distance from thee centres off the concreete compresssive stressees to the topp of
the crosss section.
Sheaar tension failure
fa
happens if someewhere in th
he concretee the tensilee stress proccures a crittical
value. This
T
can bee forecastedd to take place
p
outsid
de the area where the vertical su
upport stress is
active; but within the region where the post-tensio
on force is not
n yet fullly developeed. The biaxxial
tension compressioon stress coombination may
m originaate in a decrrease of tennsile strengtth; the valuee of
stress in concrete parallel too x axis maay be slightly overestiimated. It iis known that the tennsile
strengthh decline unnder supporrted load coould, even after
a
a shortt time, arisee from loweer strength. As
well, shhear comprression faillure occurss if a flexu
ural crack develops innto a shearr crack whhich
procreaates by the member
m
[8]..
The behaviour of
o hollow slabs under prevalent
p
sh
hear dependds on different phenom
mena, includding
pre-streessing dispeersion, anchhorage of pre-stressin
ng strands, the value of the cracking bendding
momennt in each seection and, last
l but not least, the sh
hear strengtth in the unncracked and
d cracked field
fi
[9].
Laboraatory Experriment
In the reesearch, two tests weree carried ouut on hollow
w slab as shoown in figurre 1 with crross section,, as
shown in
i figures 2. The first slab
s is with two post-teension bars and
a the otheer is not pree-stressed. The
T
slabs were
w
prepareed and well mix and vooid are prov
vided diameeter by 1000 mm PVC at 2 mm thhick
by the author
a
at thhe Civil Enggineering labboratory off Universityi Technologgi Malaysia
a (UTM). Both
slabs were
w subject to two poinnt loads over the full wiidth of the unit,
u
accordding to figurre 3.

Fig. 1: 3-D
D model of hollow IBS
S slabs

Fig. 2: Crosss section of hollow IB

BS slabs

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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

Fig. 3: Hollow IBS slab under test load

Specimens Preparation for Casting and test
Five sets of 18 mm thickness plywood forms, well cut into the desired dimensions, were prepared.
The formworks were initially constructed 200 mm thick for the casting of precast unit. The
formworks were performed in such a way to ensure that the precast units had a total thickness of
200 mm throughout. Proceeding to casting work, the inner part of the formworks was brushed with
oil to facilitate the formwork stripping after the precast units were shaped.
In the next stage, reinforcement and pipe were fixed in place for the IBS hollow core slab units.
Casting was then carried out to target strength of 40 N/mm2 as shown in figure 4. Castings were
carried out in one concrete mix batch. The concrete mix was condensed on vibration table, and 15
cylinder specimens were selected for concrete properties testing. The models were normal covered
immediately from day one of casting.

Fig. 4: Fresh hollow IBS concrete after casting

The laboratory instruments are set in loads to perform a full scale experimental test of the
behaviour of both hollow IBS slabs. The slab loads are managed using a load cell pass through a
hydraulic jack. The set of equipment were used to include a strain gage, Linear Variable Differential
Transformers (LVDT) to measure displacement, a data logger to record incremental load and
displacement values, demec gauge to measure concrete surface strain and a load cell to measure post
tension force are arranged in figure 5. In the tests, the loading configuration was symmetrical with
regards to the cross centre line of the slabs dimension.

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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

Fig. 5: Test measurement

The specimens were prepared and tested at 3 cycle of prestressed at interval vertical load of 5%
of estimated failure loads. The behaviour due to post tensioned effect is investigated along with the
deformed shaped measured as arranged in figure 5. The specimens were made simple support and
subjected to a pair of line loads at equal distance from both ends.
The clear span between the support centres was 3300 mm to fit to a patented modular coordinate
dimension. A hydraulic jack was passing through a load cell of 300 kN. In the early stages of the
test, loading was applied progressing at every 5 kN to meet serviceability and ultimate limit state.
After multiple cracking occurred, the loading increment was controlled by deflection at a constant
rate until failure, which is defined as specimen failure in both shear and flexural modes. At every
increment of loads, the test rig systems were stopped for around 5 minutes in order to record data
and also to stabilize the system before continuing to the next load increments.
Deflections and strains were measured throughout the test as well as crack mapping and photo
recording. The loads vs. deflection relationship were posted to determine the start of cracking and
the point of failure. For both slabs, deflections were measured using variable differential transducers
(LVDT) at the point of loading as well as at mid span. Figure 5 shows us the arrangement of
loading, and LVDT a set of demec point were fixed at 150 mm distance at the mid span and under
the loading along the specimen depth to measure concrete surface strain.
The concrete samples tested after 3 days, 7 days, 28 days and the day of test. Value of concrete
compression strength measured on cylinder, separately cast with concrete of the same batch.
In the specimens steel bar with diameter of 12 mm were used. And the tensile strength was
obtained.
Experimental Results
The test results obtained from the experimental investigation of post-tension and conventional
hollow core slabs under load were recorded. For each specimen, several parameters including the
ultimate strength, span deflection and strain value were investigated.
Failure Modes. The process of experimentation IBS units supported on a bearing strip, are as
follows. The load increased incrementally at every 5 kN until the first cracking appeared. For both
slabs the first cracking was diagonal in one of the outermost webs and some longitudinal cracks in
the bottom. These cracks width increase, while the load was decreased gradually and the vertical
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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

deflection of the conventional slab increased. On the other hand in post-tension slabs, cracks
decreased while the load was reduced. Figures 8 and 9 shows both slab failure modes.

Fig. 8: Flexural failure (conventional HCS)

Fig. 9: Shear Failure (Post-tension HCS)

Concrete and Steel Bar Qualities. The characteristic of hollow core slabs were experimentally
observed throughout the test and measured cylinder of the same batch. The concrete compressive
cylinder strength was tested on four different periods of days i.e. at days 3, 7, 28 and the day of test.
The concrete properties are summarized in Table 1 and 2. Steel bars with a diameter of 12 mm were
used as HCS reinforcements. Average tensile strength of steel bars was 789.5 N/mm2 and modulus
of elasticity was 170064 N/mm2 as shown in Table 3. .
Day
3
7
28
DOT

Table 1 Value of concrete compression strength

Specimen
(N/mm2)
1,2,3
29.77 , 24.9 , 23.94
4,5,6
27.85 , 28.54 , 30.91
7,8,9
33.34 , 36.34 , 23.06
10,11,12
35.7 , 39.69 , 36.08

Day
DOT

Table 2 Value of concrete tensile strength

Specimen
(N/mm2)
13 , 14 , 15
3.55 , 3.34 , 3.57
69

(N/mm2)
26.2
29.1
30.91
37.15
(N/mm2)
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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

Table 3 Value of steel bar tensile strength

Cross section area
Length
Tensile strength
(mm2)
( mm)
(N/mm2)
112.90
600
622
105.5
608
957

Test No.
1
2

Modulus of
elasticity
135000
205128

Note: DOT= day of test

Analysis of Results
The laboratory test has been design to cover the effect of post-tension conditions, serviceability and
ultimate limit state load of hollow IBS slabs. A pair of point loads was applied at a distance of 113
mm from the supports to simulate the effect of uniform distribution loads on slabs.
The load to mid-span deflection relationship at ultimate and severability limit state for posttension and conventional slabs are displayed in figures 10 and 11. First cracking was observed at 25
kN; after the first cracking the load increased further where large deflections were recognised with
small increments in load. The ultimate failure loads for pre-stress and non pre stress were 115 kN
and 100 kN respectively. Graphs in figures 12 and 13 demonstrate that the post-tension slabs were
more ductile than others. Large slab deflection was observed before the ultimate conventional slab
load capacity was reached. The maximum mid span deflection at ultimate limit state for both with
and without post-tension was 27.59 mm and 17.13 mm respectively. Moreover, mid span deflection
at serviceability limit state was approximately equal to the modelling value with frame analysis
software as summarized in Table 4.
120
100

40

bar =2386
bar=17818

bar=779

bar=729

35

Load (KN)

Load (KN)

30
80
60
40
HCS

15
PT HCS

HCS

0
10

20

10

PT HCS
20

25

0
10
20
Mid Span Deflection (mm)

30

Mid Span Deflection (mm)

Fig. 10: Load vs. Mid span deflection at ultimate

limit state

Fig. 11: Load vs. Mid span deflection at

Serviceability limit state

Comparison of result from tests and analyses showed that established M4D models described quite
well the behaviour of hollow IBS units at serviceability limit state. The displacement relationship
and deformation of slabs were compared to evaluate the models and to explain the differences
between the tests.
Table 4 Mid-span deflection at serviceability limit state
Experimental (mm)
Modelling (mm)
PT-HCS
HCS
PT-HCS
HCS
4.54
4.17
5.32
4.75

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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

120

120

100

100

80

80

Load (KN)

Load (KN)

Figure 14 shows cracks increased in width at the top and bottom of the longitudinal face and while
the load increase strain gradually in conventional slab but concrete strain in very steep increase in
post-tension slab.

60
40

60
40

Prestress

20

Prestress(Top)
Prestress(Bottom)
NonPrestress(TOP)
NonPrestress(Bottom)

20

NonPrestress
0

0
0

5000

10000

15000

20000

200

Steel bar Strain ()

100

100

200

300

400

Concrete Strain (x10 )

Fig. 13: Load vs. Concrete strain in mid span at

ultimate limit state

Fig. 12: Load vs. Steel bar strain in mid span

at ultimate limit state
Conclusion

Two slabs were subjected to point loads applied centrically at mid span. The object of these tests
was to investigate which strains, deflection and ultimate strength bring about a more specific type
of failure.
Regarding the behaviour of post-tension and conventional hollow core slabs, two different
failure modes occurred, flexural and shear failure. Measurements of the concrete strain at mid span
during the load indicated that there is a relation between the post-tension force and the top of the
depth which is obviously due to the post-tensioning process.
As shown in the results, post-tensioning can be used to increase the bearing capacity up to 15%
and ductility by 3% on hollow slabs.
References
[1] Peng, C. S. The scenario of industrialised building systems in Malaysia. Proceedings of a
UNESCO/FEISEAP Regional workshop, 1986. UPM Serdang.
[2] Junid, S. M. S. Industrialised building system. Proceedings of a UNESCO/FEISEAP Regional
workshop.1986, UPM Serdang.
[3] Majzub. Modular housing systems used around the world: International Journal of Housing
Science. 1977.
[4] Din, H. Industrialised Building and its Application in Malaysia. Proceeding of Prefabrication
Building Construction Seminar: Kuala Lumpur.1984.
[5] Walraven, J. C., and Mercx, W. P. M. The bearing capacity of prestressed hollow core slabs.
Heron. 1983. 28, 3- 46.
[6] Pajari, M. Design of prestressed hollow core slabs: Technical Research Centre of Finland.
1989. 38, 657-88.
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23487X)Vo
ol.2No.22012

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rnationalScienceandEngineeringRe
esearchCentter

[7] Meercx, W. P. The shear capacity

c
of prestressed
p
d hollow corre slab.19822.Netherlan
nds.
[8] All-Kubaisy, M.
M A., andd Young, A.
A G. Failure of concrrete under sustained tension.
t
1975.
27,,170-189.
[9] Yaang, L. Design
D
of prestressed
p
hollow corre slabs wiith referencce to web shear failuure.
Struuctural Enggineering. 19994. 120, 2675-2696.
2
[10] Telford, T. Prrecast prestrressed holloow core floo
ors. Londonn. 1988. 31, 7277-1375
5.
[11] Noo. 43 Concrrete Societyy. Post-tenssioned conccrete floors:: Design haandbook Co
oncrete Society
Tecchnical Repport 2005, IS
SBN 1 904--482-163

dix I
Append
Deform
m shape of post-tension
p
hollow IBS
S slab, bend
ding momennt and shearr diagram arre in figuress
14.

Fig. 15(aa): Deformaation of PT--HCS

Fig. 15(b): Bending moment

m
of PT-HCS

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CivilEngineerringandBuildingMateriaals(ISSN222
23487X)Vo
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esearchCentter

Fig. 15(c): Shear fo

orce of PT-H
HCS
Deform
mation shapee of conventtional holloow IBS slab, bending moment
m
and shear diagrram are in
figures 16.

Fig. 166(a): Deform

mation of HCS

Fig. 16(bb): Bending moment off HCS

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CivilEngineerringandBuildingMateriaals(ISSN222
23487X)Vo
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2012Inter
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esearchCentter

Fig. 166(c): Shear force of HC

CS

Append
dix II
Finite Element
E
M
Model
The finnite elemennt analyses described here were made at University
U
oof Technolo
ogy Malayysia.
Hollow
w IBS units were modelled with vaarious levells of detailing at servicceability lim
mit state, ussing
the linear finite eleement progrram in figures 17.

(aa)

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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

(b)

(c)

(d)

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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

(e)

(f)

(g)
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2012InternationalScienceandEngineeringResearchCenter

(h)

(i)

77