Real Challenges for Civil Engineers No.

01
Engineering challenge Introduce a Balcony slab to existing building
Client requirement Parapet wall around the balcony for safety

Brick wall

Brick wall

Slab to introduce

Existing Beam
Existing Slab

Conventional Methods
Option 1
Break the existing slab to the extent of anchorage length of proposed slab reinforcement
Problems Encountered
1. Breaking of concrete slab and beam may weaken the structure
2. No support for brick wall on top leads to develop cracks on the wall
3. Difficulties in re-concreting
4. Other structures may affect due to vibration while concrete breaking
5. Minimum 4 days will be taken to complete the task
6. Additional supports to be provided for the existing slab for few days
7. Risk for the job
8. High cost incurred at the end of the job

Option 2
Provide fabricated cantilevered angle iron frame to support the slab
Problems Encountered
1. Problem in fixing of cantilevered frame to the beam
2. Unpleasant architectural appearance
3. Minimum 4 days will be taken to complete the task
4. Risk for the job
5. High cost incurred at the end of the job

New Method introduced by the HILTI with the development of

Technology
Drill holes to the existing concrete beam and fix reinforcement with HILTI RE 500
bonding agent
Advantages
1. No concrete breaking is required
2. No additional support needed to support existing concrete
3. No vibration and hence no chance to develop cracks
4. Maximum 2 days to complete the total task
5. Easy for concreting
6. Low cost ( less than Rs.150/- to fix Y10 bar at nominal embedment depth )
7. Application is so simple and no chance for mistakes
8. No risk for the job
9. Pullout test will be done by HILTI Engineers before concreting to ensure the strength
10. All technical support will be given by HILTI Engineers
11. Architecturally looks like originally cast slab

Method statement
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Consult your structural Engineer for the design of cantilever slab reinforcement
Call HILTI Engineer to get instruction for reinforcement fixing
Drill holes to specified diameter and depth
Clean holes with blow out pump provided
Insert HILTI RE 500 chemical with the use of dispenser provided ( No hand
mixing)
6. Insert the reinforcement bars and keep 8 hrs to cure
7. Arrange reinforcement as usual
8. Roughen the concrete surface and apply any bonding agent if necessary and do
the concreting as usual

Sample calculation
Assumptions :
Consider 1m strip of concrete
Concrete grade 25N/mm2
Slab thickness 200mm at support
Structural Engineer recommend to have Y10 @ 150 mm c/c
Moment develop at the support of new cantilever slab M = 20 kNm/m
M=T*Z
where T = ultimate tension develop in the reinforcement at support ( for 1m )
Z = lever arm = 0.775d = 0.775(200 25) = 135.6mm
T = M/Z = 20 / 0.136 = 147 kN
Tension of single reinforcement = 147/ (1000/150) = 22 kN

Check for concrete / bond failure

According to the HILTI specifications for embedment depth 180mm
Tension capacity of Y 10 bar with RE 500 = 19.7 x 180/90 x 1.03 x 0.9 = 36.5 > 22 kN
Satisfactory

Check for steel failure

Tension capacity of Y10 = 0.87fy.As = 0.87 X 460 X 78.5 = 31.4 kN
Hence application is satisfactory with Safety Factor of 31.4/22 = 1.4
Hole diameter = 14mm
Hole depth = 180 mm
chemical consumption = 18 ml

Technical Assistance
Neelanga Sooriyarachchi
B.Sc. Eng (Hons);MBA; AMIE(SL)
Engineering Service Manager
Mob 0717712968 Email . neelangas@yahoo.com
T.D.Wijitha Kumara
B.Sc.Eng(Hons);CEng;MIE(SL);MSSE(SL);MBA
Technical Manager
Mob. 0717772815
Email. wijithatdwk@yahoo.com

Office
207, Nawala Road, Nugegoda
Te. 0114713352, 0114542320
Fax. 0114723208
Email. hunterhc@eol.lk

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