ANALYSIS & DESIGN OF

PRESTRESSED TRANSFER PLATE

Dr LOW HF PhD.Eng (Monash)

PEPC, MIEM, C.Eng MIStructE, MIEAust, CPEng, 13 April 2022
MIES, APEC Eng, ASEAN Eng, IntPE 1
INTRODUCTION
TRANSFER STRUCTURE is required when the layout of shear walls or
columns for the tower block and the podium floor are different

This is to enable the transition of the load from the smaller grid structures
in a tower block to the larger column spacing at the podium and
subsequently to the building foundations.
Transfer beams have traditionally been used as
transfer structures to support the tower blocks.
When more complicated architectural design for
towers, eg irregular layout of shear walls, have
become popular, a more efficient form of transfer
structure is required => Transfer Plate

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 2

INTRODUCTION

PRESTRESSED TRANSFER PLATE = A Thick Prestressed (Post-Tensioned)

Concrete Slab used to transfer shear wall loads to the supporting columns

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 3

 HISTORY: PACIFIC PLACE, HONG KONG (1988)
• First documented Prestressed Transfer Plate at Pacific Place Tower in
Hong Kong (1988)
• Alternative Design to use 4.5m thick PT Transfer Plate to support 61 storeys of
hotel/ residential units (74mm per floor)
• Rebars were reduced from 500kg/m3 to (180kg/m3 of rebar + 22kg/m3 of tendon)
• Built in 3 layers with first 1.5m was designed to support the subsequent pour

Source: Section 5.2 (fib Bulletin 31, 2005)

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 4

SANDWICH CLASS HOUSING- MARINA HABITAT
• Prestressed Transfer Plates to support 3 towers of 42 storeys of
residential units in Ap Lei Chau built in1996
• Alternative Design to reduce RC Transfer Plates from 4.2m to 3.2m using
Post-Tensioned Design (76mm per floor)
• It was casted in 2 layers with the first layer of 1.3m was designed to
support the subsequent casts

Source: Section 5.2 (fib Bulletin 31, 2005)

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 5

 Plate Thickness
No. of Floors Max Span PT Plate Span/
Required for each
Item Project Location Supported Length Thickness Depth
supported level
Above, n (m) (mm) Ratio
(mm)
1 Pacific Place Building Hong Kong 61 9.3 4500 2.1 74
Sandwich-Class Housing Development,
2 Hong Kong 43 10.5 3200 3.3 74
Ap Lei Chau
3 Robinson Place4 Hong Kong 47 10.8 3200 3.4 68
Residential Block@Tai Ho Road, Tsuen
4 Hong Kong 37 11.6 3500 3.3 95
Wan4
One Eleven Building, Chicago (Unbonded
5 USA 30 1500 50
Tendons)
6 Nanjing Lou Zi Xiang Service Apartment China 25 8.0 2000 4.0 80
7 Shanghai Qian Hong Yuan Building6 China 20 8.4 1000 8.4 50
8 Guangzhou Jia He Yuan Building6 China 17 9.0 1200 7.5 71
9 Baoding Kang Le Mall6 China 22 8.4 1700 4.9 77
10 Ningbo Zhe Hai Building6 China 47 2000 43
Changzhou Lai Meng City Commercial
11 China 30 1800 60
Complex
12 Classic Mall, Chennai India 12 11.0 1000 11.0 83
13 Delhi One, Noida, Delhi8 India 42 9.0 3000 3.0 71
14 Aether by Romel Group, Mumbai8 India 35 10.5 1250 8.4 36
15 Kapil Tower, Hyderabad8 India 13 11.0 1000 11.0 77
16 Phoenix Market City, Chenna8 India 12 12.0 1250 9.6 104
17 Vasant Oasis, Mumbai8 India 28 1800 0.0 64
18 Concerto Kiara, Mon't Kiara, KL Malaysia 30 8.0 1400 5.7 47
19 Mercury Apartment, Sentul Village9 Malaysia 26 10.6 1800 5.9 69
20 Alila Bangsar Apartment, KL9 Malaysia 41 11.5 2600 4.4 63
PPAIM Apartment@ Precinct 17
22 Malaysia 26 8.7 1200 7.3 46
Cyberaya9
Sky Habitat Condo@ Meldrum Hills,
23 Malaysia 23 9.3 1200 7.8 52
Johor Bahru9
24 Solstice Apartment@ Pangeo, Cyberjaya9 Malaysia 31 8.4 1500 5.6 48
25 Twin Arkz Condo@ Bukit Jalil, KL9 Malaysia 29 9.4 1800 5.2 62
26 I-Marcom Condo@Kia Peng, KL9 Malaysia 42 11.8 2700 4.4 64
27 The Bay Residence, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah9 Malaysia 18 8.4 1000 8.4 56
28 d'Pristine Medini, Johor9 Malaysia 32 8.5 Prestressed
1500 Transfer 5.7 47 by
Plate Design (IESA)
[1]Source: Section 5.2 (fib Bulletin 31, 2005). [5] Source: Research and Application of Thick Plate Transition Floor in Tall Building
[3] Source: One Eleven Prestressed Transfer Deck@ www.amsyscoinc.com (Amsysco, 2015). Dr Low Hin Foo
(He P. L., 2007) – in Mandarin. 6
[4] Source: Table 1-1: Transfer Plate for High-rise Building (Su J. H., 2007) – in Mandarin. [7] Courtesy of OSD Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd & Utracon India
CURRENT TREND OF PT TRANSFER PLATE
• General rule of thumb, prestressed transfer plate thickness can be taken as
50mm for each level transferred above; normally governed by punching
shear design (max allowable shear stress)
ie. to support a 30 storeys apartment above, initial transfer plate
thickness can be taken as 30 storeys * 50mm/ storey = 1500mm thick
• For typical prestressed transfer plate (7.5 to 8.5m grid) the following
poundage may be applicable.
Rebar = 70 ~ 85kg/m3 ;Tendon = 20 ~ 30kg/m3
• Concrete C35/45 is commonly used for prestressed transfer plate
construction due to punching shear consideration

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 7

ADVANTAGES OF PT TRANSFER PLATE

• Cost Saving as compared to conventional RC Transfer Beams

• Reduced Concrete Weight => Lower equivalent

concrete thickness compared to conventional RC
beams, reduced load on foundation and amount of
formwork.
• Faster Construction => no complicated transfer
beam reinforcements & simpler bottom formwork
• Aesthetic => provide a flat and pleasing soffit
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 8
RC TRANSFER BEAMS VS PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE

CONVENTIONAL RC TRANSFER BEAMS => LARGE BEAMS OF 1500W BY 1800D

PRESTRESSED TRANSFER PLATES => FLAT SLAB OF 1000 THICK

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 9

SPECIAL FEATURES OF A PT TRANSFER PLATE

• Complicated Load Path

2-way Behaviour to transfer shear wall loads in all directions; Irregular shear
wall orientation; => FEM software to predict load path and design

• Interaction with Shear Walls

Transfer plates are relatively less stiff compared to RC transfer beams.
Interaction effect with shear walls (arching effect) are more significant

• First Cast to Support Second Cast

Prestressed transfer plates are casted in layers with the first cast designed to
support the subsequent casts => it experiences changes in section properties
and stresses throughout various construction stages

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 10

BEHAVIOUR OF A PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE

Two-Way Slab Behaviour

Line of
Zero Shear

2-way Behaviour to transfer shear wall loads in

all directions; Irregular shear wall orientation;
=> FEM software to predict load path and design

* Sagging at midspan normally governs the design;

except at long cantilevers Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 11
BEHAVIOUR OF A PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE
Two-Way Slab Behaviour
Modes of Failure

Source: Practical Yield Line Design by G. Kennedy & C. H. Goodchild

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 12

METHOD OF TRANSFER PLATE MODELLING

• Two type models of analysis modelling for Transfer Plate:

(a) Complete Model considering shear wall interaction effect
(b) Separate Model without shear wall interaction effect
• Complete Model normally considers stage construction analysis; ie no shear
walls are erected during stressing of the transfer plate
• Separate Model transfers the shear wall reactions from one analysis model
to another analysis model of prestressed transfer plate as line loads
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 13
 BEHAVIOUR OF A PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE
• Shear Wall – Transfer Plate Interaction Effect
Transfer plates are relatively less stiff compared to RC transfer beams.
Interaction effect with shear walls (arching effect) are more imminent

Shear Wall Interaction Effect on Transfer Plate design:

• Helping effect on Transfer Plate Bending
• Helping effect on Punching Shear/ Localised load below the 2 wall ends
• Redistribution of Column Reaction Loads below Transfer Plate
Interactive Zone, L
Shear Wall Active

Span Length, L
(Support to Support)

Deep Beam “hanging”

the transfer plate
Reference: Variation of Wall Vertical Stress Along its Length for Various Wall Heights (Kuang & Zhang, 2003) Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 14
BEHAVIOUR OF A PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE
• Shear Wall – Transfer Plate Interaction Effect on Punching Shear
When the shear walls are supported directly onto the column supports, direct
transfer of load from shear walls to columns, reducing the punching shear
force in the transfer plates

When the shear walls are supported away from column supports, localised
forces are developed at the 2 ends of the shear walls due to arching effect.

Source: Punching Shear Stress in PT Transfer Plate of Multi-Story Buildings by Byeonguk Ahn, Thomas HK Kang, SM Kang & JK Yoon 15
COMPARISON OF STRESS CONTOUR IN FEM WITH VS
WITHOUR SHEAR WALL INTERACTION EFFECT

Stress contour without shear wall interaction (line load) in X-direction (left) & Y-direction (right)

Stress contour considering shear wall interaction in X-direction (left) & Y-direction (right)

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 16

BEHAVIOUR OF A PRESTRESS TRANSFER PLATE
• Locked-In Stresses due to Staged Construction & Sequential Stressing
Prestressed transfer plates are casted in layers with the first cast designed to
support the subsequent casts => it experiences changes in section properties and
stresses throughout various construction stages
This type of locked-in or residual stresses cannot be disregarded because it will
add on to the stresses of the complete composite structure.

Since Stress= M/Z

d Staged casting incurs
d/3 9 times tensile stresses
due to self weight
Z= BD2/6 Z= BD2/6
= B (d/3)2 / 6 = B (d)2 / 6
= Bd2 / 54 = Bd2 / 6
For a 1.5m deep transfer plate (full Section), For a 0.5m deep transfer plate (d/3 Sec)
M = (1.5m*24kN/m3) * 8.4m ^2 /12; M = (1.5m*24kN/m3) * 8.4m ^2 /12;
Z = 1.0*1.5^2 / 6 Z = 1.0*1.5^2 / 54
=> Stresses due to self weight = 0.56MPa => Stresses due to self weight = 5.04MPa

This locked-in stresses should be taken care by extra tendons in the first cast;
cannot rely on the minimum rebar in the transfer plate which will not help in
terms of stress at SLS
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 17
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRESTRESSED
TRANSFER STRUCTURES
• Transfer structures are designed to comply
the requirement for serviceability and ultimate
resistance against collapse
• Relatively deep; arching effect can be
developed.
• Particular attention to the transfer stage where
all the tendons cannot be stressed at one time
without sufficient dead load as counter weight.

• Stage stressing is adopted where only selected tendons will be

stressed at one particular stage. Once sufficient dead loads are
present, second stage of the selected tendons will be stressed.
• The number of stages will depend on the amount of deflection
control required and the sensitivity of the transfer structure to the
loading and amount of prestressing applied.
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 18
TECHNICAL REPORT, TR43
• Prestressed Transfer Plate behaves as prestressed two-way slabs and thus
specialist literature shall be referred.
• Reference is made to Technical Report 43: Post-Tensioned Concrete
Floors Design Handbook: 2nd Edition 2004 by UK Concrete Society
• TR43 allows normalisation of peak stresses of a prestressed flat slab across a
tributary width; and compare with the allowable tensile and compressive
stress

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 19

ALLOWABLE STRESS TO TR43 (2nd Edition)
• In TR43 2nd Edition (2004), two methods of normalising the stresses are
allowed; (1) Across Full Panel ; (2) Column Strip – Middle Strip Method

= 2.89N/mm2

** Spacing of Rebars or Tendons < 500mm; otherwise stress for “without bonded reinf.“ shall be used.
fctm = 0.30* fck 2/3 for concrete C50/60 or below; eg fcu = 45 => fck = 35 =>fctm = 3.2MPa
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 20
ALLOWABLE STRESS TO TR43 (2nd Edition)
• In TR43 (2nd Edition), two methods of normalising the stresses are allowed;
(1) Across Full Panel ; (2) Column Strip – Middle Strip Method

= 3.84N/mm2

** Spacing of Rebars or Tendons < 500mm; otherwise stress for “without bonded reinf.“ shall be used.
fctm = 0.30* fck 2/3 for concrete C50/60; eg fcu = 45 => fck = 35 =>fctm = 3.2MPa
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 21
 TRANSFER PLATE ANALYSIS
• Complicated Load Path
2-way Behaviour to transfer shear wall loads in all directions; Irregular
shear wall orientation; => FEM software to predict load path and design

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 22

 TRANSFER PLATE DESIGN FOR SLS
• The critical condition for a prestressed structure is
• During Transfer when the load is minimum and prestress
force is largest
• At Service when the load is maximum and prestress force
is minimum (after losses)

• With these conditions, the following formulas can be written with

limiting stresses for top and bottom fiber for each transfer and
service stage.

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 23

TRANSFER PLATE DESIGN FOR SLS

Discussion: How to check crack width?

Are we supposed to check width based on the normalized stresses
across the full panel?

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 24

 TRANSFER PLATE DESIGN FOR REBARS

Q1: Why do we need minimum top reinf. at support?

Q2: Do we need to provide minimum bottom reinf.?
Q3: How to arrange the minimum reinf.?

0.2L

0.2L

1.5d+Col+1.5d

A2: Arching effect in the shear wall causes load

concentration at the 2 wall edges. This point load
effect may cause localized cracking at the soffit
which requires effective mean for crack control

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 25

TRANSFER PLATE PUNCHING SHEAR DESIGN
What’s Punching Shear?
Punching shear is a type of failure of reinforced concrete slabs
subjected to high localized forces. In flat slab structures, this
occurs at column support points. The failure is due to shear.

It consists of 2 components
• Shear due to Gravity Loads
• Shear due to Moment
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 26
 EXTRACTING PUNCHING SHEAR FORCES FROM FEM
ANALYSIS MODEL FOR DESIGN

Analysis
node

Analysis nodes by Auto-Mesh Command

2 command methods of extracting Punching Shear

Force from FEM model
1) Column reaction minus the loads within the region of
the punching shear critical perimeter; UDL & Line Loads.
Analysis
2) Extract the shear forces from the FEM mesh; cut node

sections through the mesh and sum up the shear forces

Common Mistakes:
When extracting the shear stress from the FEM shell
elements, engineers have to ensure the cut-lines go through
the perimeter nodes to avoid “missing” shear force. Analysis nodes by Manual-Mesh
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 27
TRANSFER PLATE PUNCHING SHEAR DESIGN
Shear Capacity of Prestressed Elements consists of (TR43 2nd Edition 2004)
• Concrete shear component, VRd,c (including helping effect of concrete precompression)
• Shear steel component, VRd,s
• Vertical component of tendons, Vp

When calculating the contribution of prestressing force at ULS, both the direct stress, σcp, and
the beneficial effects due to vertical component of prestress force, should be multiplied by an
appropriate safety factor, γp. *** γp in UK National Annex is taken as 0.9.

Consider slab width equal to column

width plus 3d each side

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 28

TRANSFER PLATE PUNCHING SHEAR DESIGN
Vertical Component of Tendon Force (Vp Effect)
-reduce the applied shear force at column due to catenary action
-only those tendons passing within 0.5h of the column face can be considered and
the angle of the tendon considered should be that at 0.5h from the column face.
-value should remain constant for outer perimeters
Vp

Vp ~ Peff * 8a/S (approximate approach)

X X Where
a = tendon drape (highest profile – lowest profile)
S = tendon span

0.5H 0.5H

Common mistakes:
Consider the Vp effect from tendons outside of the “rigid’ zone; > 0.5H away
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 29
TRANSFER PLATE PUNCHING SHEAR DESIGN

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 30

TRANSFER PLATE MAX PUNCHING SHEAR

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 31

UNDERSTANDING INTERFACING SHEAR
Longitudinal Shear force occurs in between different layers of the structure
=> Develop horizontal shearing stress

Consider two timbers are put together without any glue or nails in between
d/2
d d/2
d/2 d/2

If they are glued together, the glue will prevent 2 timbers from sliding past each
other
d

This resistance to sliding at the horizontal surface of the interface generates

shear stress which can cause failure if they are weak

If this happens, the strength and stiffness of the structure will be substantially
reduced from d3 to 2*(d/2)3 = d3/4, or 4 times weaker.

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 32

 TRANSFER PLATE INTERFACING SHEAR DESIGN

Computing Interfacing Shear Stress

using Linear Elastic Approach

For equilibrium, σc . dA + ∆H = σd . dA

Concrete Area νh = V. Q / Ib (N/mm2)

of 2nd cast, A

Where
V = vertical shear force
y Q = A. y ; refer diagram above
I = moment of inertia
b = width of interface

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 33

 TRANSFER PLATE INTERFACING SHEAR DESIGN

Computing Interfacing Shear Stress

using Non-Linear Approach (ULS)

EQ 6.24: BS EN 1992-1-1 (2004)

Where
β = Ratio of longitudinal force in new concrete
area and the total longitudinal force either
in compression or tension zone, both
calculated for the section considered
VEd = Transverse Shear Force (Normal Shear)
z = Lever arm of composite section
bi = width of interface
Concrete 2nd cast
within Compression
Zone εcu 0.85fck 0.4x

y 0.8x Fcd β within compressive zone

x
Concrete 2nd cast
= y / (0.8x)
within Tension Zone z
β within tensile zone
εpt = Fst / (Fst+Fpt)
Apt Fpt
Ast εst Fst

(a) Section (b) Strain (c) Idealised Stress Block to EC2

Flexural Behaviour of Prestressed Beam at Ultimate with Idealised Stress Block to EC2

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 34

TRANSFER PLATE INTERFACING SHEAR DESIGN
Computing Interfacing Shear Stress using Non-Linear Approach at ULS

Sagging Sagging Hogging

δM / x = V Hogging
Region Zone
Hogging
Region Zone Region

Computation Steps for this Approach:

1) Calculate the concrete stress block at ULS using
the max sagging moment for sagging zone.
2) Obtain the lever arm, z from the stress block
3) Compute the horizontal shear stress at the
interface based on the Ultimate Shear Force
4) Repeat the same procedure for hogging region

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 35

TRANSFER PLATE INTERFACING SHEAR DESIGN

BS EN 1992-1-1 (2004)

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 36

 SECONDARY FORCES DUE TO STAGED
CASTING AND SEQUENTIAL STRESSING

Tendon Stressing σx/ σy

at 2nd Cast

Tension

Horizontal Shearing
Stress across Interface
First Cast
Compression

Equilibrium Reinforcement to handle the secondary forces at End Block region;

ie, free edge of transfer plate to cater (1) for stressing sequence, (2) staged casting

Secondary effect generates

(1) bending effect on the surface of the transfer plate edge
(2) Shearing stress across the interface between 1st cast and 2nd cast

Equilibrium steel to be provided in the form of links; preferably in the form

of closed links to enhance robustness
Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 37
COMPLETED PROJECT AT MON’T KIARA, KL

Prestressed Transfer Plate Design (IESA) by Dr Low Hin Foo 38

 THANK YOU

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