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Status Future consideration
Created by Guest
Created on Mar 12, 2024

Introduce staged PT stressing functionality to RAM Concept

It will be helpful for RAM Concept to allow the engineer to specify at what stage the PT slab or beam will be stressed, in a similar mechanism to what RAPT allows. It would also be helpful for RAM Concept to warn the user when Clause 8.1.6.2 is not satisfied.

Currently, RAPT allows the engineer to specify what % of the prestress will be applied to the member at specific compressive strength values. This allows engineers to determine the minimum compressive strength the concrete must reach before being stressed. Engineers then have confidence that the member is compliant with Clause 8.1.6.2 AS3600, which specifies the maximum acceptable compressive stress in the concrete under the design loads at transfer. It also supports a strategy that can be implemented in reality by engineers. While PT slabs with 12.7mm strands are typically final stressed when they reach an F'c = 22MPa, the final stressing can be delayed on site to when F'c = 35MPa to allow for higher P/A to be used on the member, while ensuring compliance with Clause 8.1.6.2 AS3600.

Without this function on RAM Concept, engineers aren't able to get a complete picture of the benefits vs risks associated with utilizing a high P/A in members that benefit from it, such as transfer beams and slabs. Instead, engineers will have to use two softwares in parallel with each other (RAPT and RAM Concept), to get a complete picture, which is not ideal. If engineers rely only on RAM Concept when designing a member with significantly high P/A, RAM will output a heavy amount of reinforcement to counter the non-compliance with Clause 8.1.6.2, which is not economical.

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  • Guest
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    Mar 18, 2024

    A mistake was made with the description in the title. The idea proposed is not actually about 'staged' PT stressing. That is a different concept. This idea is only regarding RAM having the ability to specify the concrete strength at which PT will stressed, similar to how RAPT allows this.