Voorgespannen metselwerk muren

Post-tensioned masonry walls are constructed using threaded high-strength steel rods or flexible tendons that are anchored to the foundation and extended vertically up within the cores of masonry units or between two masonry wythes.

Once the wall construction is complete and the mortar has cured, the tendons are tensioned by being stretched very tightly using special hydraulic jacks. They are then anchored using steel chucks that grip the wires of the tendon.

Whereas, the threaded rods are tensioned by tightening the nuts against the steel plates installed on the top of the wall.

This tensioning induces significant vertical compressive prestress in the wall, which is much higher than the stresses due to the self-weight of the wall and external loads acting on the wall.

This compressive prestress developed in the wall enhances its strength in resisting tensile forces resulting from wind and seismic loads.

As a result, post-tensioning masonry walls enable the construction of thinner masonry walls compared to conventional reinforced masonry walls, contributing to an increase in the interior room space.