University of Nebraska

Amin Einea

Maher Khalil Tadros

Mohsen Saleh

Todd D Culp

David C Salmon

A precast, prestressed concrete joist having web openings through which mechanical and electrical equipment may pass. In an exemplary embodiment, the joist comprises generally horizontal opposite top and bottom concrete members with a concrete web interposed between them. This web may have openings through which mechanical and electrical equipment may pass. Prestress steel strands may extend lengthwise through both the top and bottom members to provide prestress in the concrete joist. The concrete joist may further comprise strand restraining devices for deflecting the prestress steel strands. The precast, prestressed concrete joist having a web opening may be constructed using a reusable casting apparatus. This casting apparatus comprises a prestressing bed onto which a frame may be mounted. The frame provides a means of applying tension to the prestress steel strands and of supporting prestress strand restraining devices. A mold comprising an outer form and web opening forms may be attached to the prestressing bed. This mold may be used to cast the joist. The web opening forms preferably comprise a plurality of blocks which may be specially shaped to be removably attached together and secured to the prestressing bed to increase or decrease the span and depth of the desired web openings. The precast, prestressed concrete joist may be fabricated by first assembling the frame on a prestressing bed. The mold may next be assembled inside the frame. Strand restraining devices may be bolted to the frame by threaded rods. Prestress strands may then be threaded through these strand restraining devices and anchored to the frame. A prestressing force may then be applied to the prestress strands. Concrete is then poured into the mold and allowed to cure. The frame and mold are removed from around the finished joist.

Method for manufacturing an improved prestressed concrete joist

Prestressed concrete joist

To make precast concrete sandwich panels, a first concrete slab is formed having embedded in it one end of connectors which extend from it's surface in two directions with the path between the two containing only thermally insulative material, a layer insulative material is positioned adjacent to a central portion of said connectors to form a solid layer and a second layer of concrete is cast so as to receive the upper ends of said connectors. The connectors provide resistance to shear in at least two directions and include insulative high tensile strength members extending in more than one direction between the concrete slabs.

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Omaha, NE, United States of America

Amin Einea