precast prestress concrete wall panels 1

[tpmanzi]

I have a non load bearing precast prestressed insulated wall panel. I have no drawings but it appears to have 3/8" tendons in each face 16" o/c. Panel are 8ft wide and 23 ft high with supports at base and at 21 ft above slab.

My client wants to install some ~48" wide windows in the center of the panels - thus cutting 2 or 3 tendons.

has anyone had any experience along these lines? Suggestions?

 

[JAE]

With the cut windows, you will be concentrating all the lateral wind forces that used to be taken by the now removed portion of wall on the two vertical strips of wall on either side of the window.

You will also be taking more vertical load on the two strips due to the window as well.

With the remaining portion of these strips taking extra load, you need to do a design check of one of these strips, with the remaining in-place reinforcing, to see if it still has enough capacity to resist all the loads.

If not, then you either don't cut the window or you add vertical members on either side of the window (we usually use steel tubes or wide flanges bolted to the inside face of the wall, to take all the lateral loads. Then check the strips to see if they can take just the extra vertical loads.

 

[bestguru]

If any one has answer to the following.

If I do steam curing of precast concrete member within a tight enclosure, and maintain required temperature concrete temperature, would I get 100% RH in every case.

If anyone has experience

 

[dik]

I assume these are like Double T's... If this is the case, any chance the client can reduce his window width to fit between the stems? He can use taller windows and still get the same area of glazing.

Dik