vsl slab on grade

V S L S L A B O N G R A D E

PROJECT ANALYSIS

DESIGN

POST-TENSIONING

CONSTRUCTION

FINISHING

2 V S L S L A B O N G R A D E

The CompanyVSL’s special construction systems have beenused throughout the world since 1956. Thecompany operates on five continents as amultinational group of companies through 35 subsidiaries. This worldwide networkensures that clients benefit from the technical

THE VSL EXPERTISE AND SPECIALISTCONSTRUCTION SERVICES

experience and knowledge developed andshared between all of the subsidiaries. Clientsoperating anywhere in the world can rely on theleverage of VSL’s commercial networking. VSL’s strength is its people, with more than900 engineers worldwide focusing their effortson providing state-of-the-art and cost-effective construction technologies.

Tailor-made solutionsVSL’s approach is to provide a solution tailoredto the particular needs of each project. The VSLSlab on Grade system provides a high-qualitysolution for concrete slabs that are placeddirectly on the ground and offers great valuefor money.

VSL – guided by a strong QSE cultureVSL’s leading position is based on a rigorousand committed quality culture. The QSE(quality, safety, environment) policy representsa major focus for every service provided. Localteams ensure co-ordination of actions,encourage sharing of experience and promotebest practice, with the aim of continuouslyimproving performance. In VSL’s culture,employees are vitally important to thecompetitiveness and prosperity of thecompany. VSL is committed to maintaining thehighest levels of client satisfaction andpersonnel safety.

Wal-Mart, Mexico - 2007

VSL is committed to being a valuable, reliable and trustedconstruction partner, delivering high-quality performance

and efficiency for its customers.

Tenax project, Italy - 2006

Nestlé Distribution Plant, Chile - 2002

V S L S L A B O N G R A D E 3

Post-tensioned slabs on grade are used inindustrial structures where the main objectiveis to eliminate most of the joints that are themajor weakness in concrete structures. TheVSL Post-Tensioning System allows a reductionin the number of joints while keeping thestructure within allowable tensile stresses,which leads to lower maintenance costs overthe design life of the slab.

Factors affecting industrial facilities• Differential temperature variations • Heavy traffics, such as trucks, forklifts…• High abrasion from vehicle movements• Heavy loads from storaged stocks

Risks of failure with conventionalsolutionsThe images above show failures inconventionally reinforced concrete slabs ongrade or slabs with steel fibre reinforcement.

Requirements for an industrialslab on gradeAn industrial floor slab on grade should bedurable, free of excessive cracking, suitablyflat and able to withstand traffic loads.Achieving these aims requires consultationbetween the slab designer, owner,geotechnical specialist and builder. VSL deems it important to consider factorsincluding:• Environmental conditions• Site conditions• Traffic requirements• Loads on the slab• Slab thickness and reinforcementrequirements

• Joint location and spacing• Method of slab construction.Each of these considerations affects one ormore of the others.

PREVENTING COSTLY REPAIRS

Abrasion

Expensive consequences of failures• Greater requirement for maintenance of the joints

• Slabs requiring repairs• More frequent repairs to rolling equipmentsuch as trucks and forklifts

• Loss of productivityConsequences of these failures can be expensiveto the owner. Large areas may become unusable,which restricts operations and in some extremecases leads to closure of the facility.

The right solutionThe VSL post-tensioned slab on grade greatlydiminishes the risk of failures and is thereforewidely used in the construction of suchstructures.

The system uses post-tensioning technology inthe design and construction of slab-on-gradeflooring and pavements. Compared withconventional reinforcement, post-tensioningprovides a long service life and high loadingcapacity, requires almost no maintenance andretains a high resale value. The VSL Slab onGrade system has been used successfullyworldwide in various types of logistics andmanufacturing facilities, workshops and otherstructures.

Delamination and spalling

Curling

Deformations

Cracking

Providing the ultimate choice in surface coatingsVSL Slab on Grade produces the best possiblebase for surface finish and gives the customerthe ultimate freedom of choice in coatings. Theeventual finish of the slab can be selected forappropriate texture, hardness and colouring,making it not only serviceable but also attractive.

Control of cracksPost-tensioned slabs reducethe risk of cracking moreeffectively than otherreinforced slabs because of thecompressive forces that areapplied by the post-tensioningcables.

Supporting any loadThe VSL Slab on Grade can be designed toaccommodate any loading requirement.

Fast-track constructionPost-tensioned slabs can be constructed muchfaster than conventional reinforced slabs. Timeis also saved by using fewer joints and narrowerfootings with less digging and less concrete.Large pours of more than 2,500m2 are acommon feature of post-tensioned slabs ongrade.


THE LIGHT SOLUTION FOR ANY CONDITIO

Up to 30’000m2 without jointsLarge concrete areas can have their jointspacing increased to minimise the costs of thejoints as well as the long-term maintenance andoperational costs. Use of the Slab on Gradesolution also reduces the wear and tear causedby moving equipment, extending the life of thejoints.

Providing customers with the optimum efficient structure is at the heart of the VSL The VSL Slab on Grade system is economic to construct and maintain.


N

More flexible slabsA thinner slab is more flexible. In the event ofa large overload that may induce cracking, theprestressing ensures that the slab returns to

its previous state when the load is removed. Incomparison, a weak point is more likely to

remain in the substructure with a conventionalreinforced slab, leading inevitably to

deterioration.

Flatter slabsThe risk of slab curling is greatly reduced with

fewer joints and greater joint spacing. This produces a smoother ride and

less maintenance for forklifts.

Deflection ControlExpansive soils, which expand when wet and

shrink when dry, can cause foundationmovements and cracking. Post-tensioningincreases the slab’s flexural and tensilecapacities, making it more resistant to

problematic soils.

Slab on Grade solution.

Reduced maintenanceThe use of fewer - or even no joints –

significantly reduces the need for futuremaintenance. Studies have shown that the

major costs over the life of a structureinvolve joint maintenance. With a post-

tensioned slab, the costs of joint and crackrepairs are reduced as too is the damage to

plant caused by breakdown of joints.


OPTIMISED COSTS WITH POST-TENSIONINGPost-tensioning achieves the highestefficiency, based on: • the external effects that apply to the structure(including temperature, temperaturedifferential and loadings);

• the internal effects such as concrete shrinkage;• the size of the structure;• the quality of the supporting ground, whichmay require additional preparation to reach agiven standard.

The design of the VSL Slab on Grade optimisesthe overall cost to the client of the entirestructure, including cost of ground preparationand the cost for the slab itself. The costoptimisation is enhanced by the application andeffects of the post-tensioning that compensatesfor any excess of tensile stresses in the structure.

The system uses an optimum combination ofpost-tensioning, slab thickness and concretetensile strength to produce a cost-effective slabon grade solution. Moreover, the design providesa wider joint-free and crack-free area withimproved durability.

VSL Slab on Grade: Resisting tensile stressesConcrete has limited capacity to resist tensilestresses. For conventional reinforced concreteslabs or slabs with steel fibre reinforcement, thethickness and primary reinforcement areincreased so that the stresses do not exceed theconcrete tensile strength and to satisfy thedesign code requirements. Post-tensioningallows balancing of the tensile stresses in theconcrete, leading to thinner slab and a greatreduction of conventional reinforcement.

Terminal Logistica MBopicua, Uruguay – 2003

Coca Cola Megaplanta, Mexico - 2004

T1L

P

P = Post-tensioning forceL = Live loadT1 = Temperature gradientand concrete shrinkageT2 = Differential of temperatureF = Subgrade friction

PF

T2

Internal and external force that may efect a slab on grade.


ADAPTABLE AND VERSATILEVSL Slab on Grade can be applied to manycommercial and industrial situations, includingbut not limited to:• Cool rooms and freezer storage facilities• Taxiways • Aircraft hangars• Heavy vehicle workshops • Manufacturing facilities• Lorry parks and roads• Warehouses and distribution centres• Rail and seaport container terminals• Water tanks

JOINT FREEAircraft Hangars

HEAVY LOADSTruck parks and roadways

AGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTSSeaport container terminals

WATER TIGHTNESSWater tanks

HEAVY LOADSWarehouse and distribution centres

HEAVY LOADSManufacturing facilities

WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGECool rooms and freezerstorage facilities


VSL – YOUR PARTNER FOR A TURN KEYVSL’s scope of work VSL offers complete design, supply, installationand stressing services to produce the finishedproduct:1. Ground analysis2. Preliminary design and budgetary quotations3. Final design4. Subgrade preparation5. Supply and placing of the sand base andplastic layer

6. Supply and installation of the normalreinforcement associated with the post-tensioned slab

7. Supply and placement of the post-tensioningcomponents and carrying out the post-tensioning works

8. Supply, placing, finishing and curing of concrete9. Final coating if required

Key aspects considered by VSL include:• use of few or no joints depending on thedimensions of the slab;

• sub-base design to optimise slab and sub-base costs for individual site conditions;

• concrete properties to maximise durability andstrength while minimising the combined costof the concrete and post-tensioning;

• pour size to provide a slab that has buildabilitycharacteristics that match local capabilities;

1, 2, 3

4 5

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• design detailing to match project-specificrequirements such as a range of jointingtreatments depending on usage and tendonpositioning to suit fixed racking layouts.


SOLUTION COATINGS AND FINISHING

The ultimate freedom of choice The VSL Slab on Grade with fewer joints and crack controldoes not only produce a smoother ride for forklifts, but isalso the best possible base for eventual coatings.Finishing is the operation of creating a concrete surface ofa desired texture, smoothness and durability. The finishingcan be strictly functional or decorative.Warehouses and industrial floors usually have greaterdurability requirements and need to be flat and level, whileother interior floors that are covered with floor coveringssuch as epoxy finishing have to be smooth and durable. A slab on grade that shows defects such as curling, cracks,delimitations and spallings will have severe consequenceson the coating.

Different finishings and coatings are possible dependingon the appearance and material characteristics (polishedmirror finishing, half polished finishing, quartz finishing...).The slab’s mechanical properties also allow the best basefor particular coatings as the ones that belong to the threeoverall coating families: synthetics (polyurethane or epoxy),bitumen and cement.

6, 7

8

Hangar Mosnov, Czech Republic - 2007


SUSTAINABILITY

The VSL Slab on Gradeuses up to 30% lessconcrete, resulting in 30% less CO2

emission, compared toconventional reinforcedstructures.

The quality of the VSL Slab onGrade system has been recognizedthrough a number of Awards:

2000IVOR certificate stating that the VSL Slabon Grade System is a recognizedtechnique with regards to its durability.

2002Award of the Concrete Institute andAssociation of US engineers for the world’sflattest pavement.

2003Award by Lockwood Greene Engineers J.A. Jones Co. for the largest and flattestpost-tensioned pavement system in theworld.

2007Golden Trowel Award issued by Face® forthe flattest and most level of the year.

VSL has shown that sustainable practices andeconomic success can go hand-in-hand. TheVSL Slab on Grade system offers a number ofadvantages over traditional reinforcedconcrete slabs:• Reduced concrete volumes• Reduced energy demand• Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2).

In addition to providing all the benefits thatcustomers are looking for and at a lower cost,the VSL Slab on Grade system offers furtheradvantages with regards to sustainabledevelopment:• lower maintenance and repair costs throughthe life of the slab due to the inherentcrack-inhibition properties of usingprestressing.

• lower whole-life costs due to the extendedlongevity of the VSL Slab on Grade systemcompared with plain reinforced concreteslabs.

• reduced volume of end-of-life demolitionand waste disposal with correspondingreductions in costs.

Changing the way we do businessFor VSL, sustainable development meansstriking a balance in its development modelbetween the economic profitability of itsbusinesses and their social andenvironmental impacts. This commitmenthas been formalised into the VSLSustainability Development programme.


SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES

• Post-tensioning strand systems

• Bars & post-tensioning bar systems

• Stay cable systems

• Damping systems (stays & buildings)

• Ductal® UHP concrete

• Bearings & Joints

www.vsl.com

Ground anchors

GROUND ENGINEERING

VSoL® walls

D-walls & Piles

Groundimprovement

Buildings

Slab on grade

Containment structures

Bridges

Special structures

CONSTRUCTION

Formwork & Equipment

Heavy lifting

REPAIR, STRENGTHENING & PRESERVATION

Repair &Strengthening

Protection & Preservation

Structural diagnostics& Monitoring

36.25

3178.25

Copyright 2009, VSL International Ltd. Printed in France – patented.

The information set forth in this brochure including technical andengineering data is presented for general information only. While everyeffort has been made to insure its accuracy, this information should not beused or relied upon for any specific application without independentprofessional examination and verification of its accuracy, suitability andapplicability. Anyone using this material assumes any and all liabilityresulting from such use. VSL disclaims any and all express or impliedwarranties of merchantability fitness for any general or particular purpose orfreedom from infringement of any patent, trademark, or copyright in regardto the information or products contained or referred to herein. Nothingherein contained shall be construed as granting a license, express orimplied under any patents.

VSL LOCATIONS HEADQUARTERS

VSL International Ltd.Scheibenstrasse 70 – BernCH-3014 – SwitzerlandPhone: +41 58 456 30 00Fax: +41 58 456 30 95

www.vsl.com

PHILIPPINESVSL Philippines Inc.PASIG CITYPhone/Fax: +632 723 13 95

SINGAPOREVSL Singapore Pte. Ltd.SINGAPOREPhone: +65 6559 12 22Fax: +65 6257 77 51

TAIWANVSL Taiwan Ltd.TAIPEIPhone: +886 2 2759 6819Fax: +886 2 2759 6821

THAILANDVSL (Thailand) Co. Ltd.BANGKOKPhone: +66 2 679 76 15 - 19Fax: +66 2 679 76 45

VIETNAMVSL Vietnam Ltd.HANOIPhone: +84 4 3976 5088Fax: +84 4 3976 5089

Ho Chi Minh CityPhone: +84 8 810 6817Fax: +84 8 810 6818

Australia

VSL Australia Pty. Ltd.NEW SOUTH WALESPhone: +61 2 9484 5944Fax: +61 2 9875 3894

QUEENSLANDPhone: +61 7 3265 64 00Fax: +61 7 3265 75 34

VICTORIAPhone: +61 3 979 503 66Fax: +61 3 979 505 47

SOUTH AUSTRALIAPhone: +61 8 8354 4884Fax: +61 8 8354 4883

TASMANIAPhone: +61 3 6225 3567Fax: +61 3 6225 2226

PERTHPhone/Fax: +61 8 9523 4686

Americas

ARGENTINAVSL Sistemas Especiales deConstrucción Argentina SABUENOS AIRESPhone: +54 11 4326 06 09Fax: +54 11 4326 26 50

BOLIVIAPostensados de BoliviaSan Miguel, LA PAZPhone: +591 2 27 70 338Fax: +591 2 27 96 183

CHILEVSL Sistemas Especiales deConstrucción S.A.SANTIAGOPhone: +56 2 571 67 00Fax: +56 2 571 67 01

COLOMBIASistemas Especiales de Construcción Ltda.BOGOTAPhone: +57 1 620 96 34Fax: +57 1 620 58 16

MEXICOVSL Corporation Mexico S.A de C.VMEXICOPhone: +52 55 55 11 20 36Fax: +52 55 55 11 40 03

PERUSistemas Especiales de Construcción Peru S.A.LIMAPhone: +51 1 349 38 38Fax: +51 1 348 28 78

UNITED STATESVStructural LLCBALTIMORE, MDPhone: +1 410 850 7000Fax: +1 410 850 4111

VENEZUELAGestión de Obras y Construcciones C.A.CARACASPhone/Fax: +58 212 941 86 75

Africa

EGYPTMatrix Engineering CompanyCAIROPhone: +20 2 344 19 00Fax: +20 2 346 04 57

SOUTH AFRICATsala-RMS Construction Solutions (Pty) LtdJOHANNESBURGPhone: +27 11 878 6820Fax: +27 11 878 6821

Europe

AUSTRIAGrund-Pfahl- und Sonderbau GmbHHIMBERGPhone: +43 2235 87 777Fax: +43 2235 86 561

CROATIATehnicki projekt d.o.o.10000 ZagrebPhone: +385 1 4664 586Fax: +385 1 4664 549

CZECH REPUBLICVSL Systems (CZ) Ltd.PRAGUEPhone: +420 2 51 09 16 80Fax: +420 2 51 09 16 99

FRANCEVSL France S.A.LABÈGEPhone: +33 05 61 00 96 59Fax: +33 05 61 00 96 62

GERMANYVSL Systems GmbHBERLINPhone: +49 30 530 28 06-0Fax: +49 30 530 28 06-99

GREAT BRITAINVSL Systems (UK) Ltd.BEDFORDSHIREPhone: +41 58 456 30 30Fax: +41 58 456 30 35

NETHERLANDSHeijmans Beton en Waterbouw B.V.ROSMALENPhone: +31 73 543 66 02Fax: +31 73 543 66 11

NORWAYSPENNARMERING NORGE ASSTAVANGERPhone : +47 91 10 33 18Fax : +47 51 41 94 80

PORTUGALVSL Sistemas Portugal Pre-Esforço, Equipamento e Montagens S.A.S. DOMINGOS DE RANAPhone: +351 21 445 83 10Fax: +351 21 444 63 77

VSL GEOSistemas de Aplicação em Geotecnia SAS. DOMINGOS DE RANAPhone: + 351 21 445 83 10Fax: + 351 21 445 83 28

Asia

BRUNEI VSL Systems (B) Sdn. Bhd.BRUNEI DARUSSALAMPhone: +673 2 380 153 / 381 827Fax: +673 2 381 954

CHINA PRCVSL (China) Engineering Corp., Ltd.HEFEIPhone: +86 551 382 29 18Fax: +86 551 382 28 78

HONG KONGVSL Hong Kong Ltd.CHAI WANPhone : +852 2590 22 88Fax : +852 2590 02 90

Intrafor Hong Kong Ltd.CHAI WANPhone : +852 2836 31 12Fax : +852 2591 61 39

FT Laboratories Ltd.PING CHEPhone: +852 2758 48 61Fax: +852 2758 89 62

INDIAVSL India PVT Ltd.CHENNAIPhone: +91 44 4225 11 11Fax: +91 44 4225 10 10

INDONESIAPT VSL IndonesiaJAKARTAPhone: +62 21 570 07 86Fax: +62 21 573 75 57

JAPANVSL Japan CorporationTOKYOPhone: +81 3 3346 8913Fax: +81 3 3345 9153

KOREAVSL Korea Co. Ltd.SEOULPhone: +82 2 553 8200Fax: +82 2 553 8255

MALAYSIAVSL Engineers (M) Sdn. Bhd.KUALA LUMPURPhone: +603 7981 47 42Fax: +603 7981 84 22

SPAINCTT StrongholdBARCELONAPhone: +34 93 289 23 30Fax: +34 93 289 23 31

VSL-SPAM, S.A.BARCELONAPhone: +34 93 846 70 07Fax: +34 93 846 51 97

SWEDEN/NORWAYInternordisk Spännarmering ABVÄSTERHANINGEPhone: +47 98 21 02 66Fax: +47 67 17 30 01

SWITZERLANDVSL (Switzerland) Ltd.SUBINGENPhone: +41 58 456 30 30Fax: +41 58 456 30 35

VSL (Suisse) SASAINT LEGIERPhone: +41 58 456 30 00Fax: +41 58 456 30 95

TURKEYMega Yapi Construction & Trade Co. LtdANKARAPhone: +90 312 490 90 66Fax: +90 312 490 90 55

Middle East

UNITED ARAB EMIRATESVSL Middle East LLCDUBAI, UAEPhone: +971 4 885 7225Fax: +971 4 885 7226

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