A foundation for a structure pre-stressed via a plurality of tensioning members includes a foundation slab and a suspension device cast into the foundation slab. The suspension device includes an anchor element, which may be an upper anchor plate, located at least as high as an upper side of the foundation slab, the anchor element for attachment to one of the tensioning members. The suspension device also includes a lower anchor plate located at least as low as within a lower third of the foundation slab. The structure may be a container, a tower or a wind turbine tower. The structure may include a stack of prefabricated concrete parts. The disclosure is also directed to the combined structure and foundation, and to a method of manufacturing a structure having a foundation.

A foundation for a structure pre-stressed via a plurality of tensioning members includes a foundation slab and a suspension device cast into the foundation slab. The suspension device includes an anchor element, which may be an upper anchor plate, located at least as high as an upper side of the foundation slab, the anchor element for attachment to one of the tensioning members. The suspension device also includes a lower anchor plate located at least as low as within a lower third of the foundation slab. The structure may be a container, a tower or a wind turbine tower. The structure may include a stack of prefabricated concrete parts. The disclosure is also directed to the combined structure and foundation, and to a method of manufacturing a structure having a foundation.

The object is attained by a method of erecting a wind turbine tower having a plurality of tower segments which are tensioned by means of tensioning members. A plurality of tensioning members is provided and a fixing unit is fixed at an end of the tensioning members. Fixing of the fixing unit is effected by placing a multi-part wedge unit at a free end of the tensioning members which comprise a plurality of tensioning wires. A sleeve is fitted over the wedge unit and a pulling tab is fixed on or at the sleeve. The pulling tab has an opening. A cable is fixed at or in the hole in the pulling tab. The cable with the fixing unit and thus the tensioning members is pulled upwardly. The fixing unit is fixed at a segment of the tower, that is to be fixed. The sleeve is removed before the tensioning member is braced.

The object is attained by a method of erecting a wind turbine tower having a plurality of tower segments which are tensioned by means of tensioning members. A plurality of tensioning members is provided and a fixing unit is fixed at an end of the tensioning members. Fixing of the fixing unit is effected by placing a multi-part wedge unit at a free end of the tensioning members which comprise a plurality of tensioning wires. A sleeve is fitted over the wedge unit and a pulling tab is fixed on or at the sleeve. The pulling tab has an opening. A cable is fixed at or in the hole in the pulling tab. The cable with the fixing unit and thus the tensioning members is pulled upwardly. The fixing unit is fixed at a segment of the tower, that is to be fixed. The sleeve is removed before the tensioning member is braced.

A fatigue resistant gravity based spread footing under heavy multi-axial cyclical loading of a wind tower. The foundation having a central vertical pedestal, a substantially horizontal continuous bottom support slab, a plurality of radial reinforcing ribs extending radially outward from the pedestal. The pedestal, ribs and slab forming a continuous monolithic structure. The foundation may have a three-dimensional network of post-tensioning elements that keep the structural elements under heavy multi-axial post compression with a specific eccentricity intended to reduce stress amplitudes and deflections and allows the foundation to have a desirable combination of high stiffness and superior fatigue resistance. The foundation design reduces the weight and volume of materials used, reduces cost, and improves heat dissipation conditions during construction by having a small ratio of concrete mass to surface area thus eliminating the risk of thermal cracking due to heat of hydration.

The present invention relates to a support structure for wind-driven power generators comprising a tubular tower (1) with multiple superposed, post-tensioned annular sections (20) from the crown to the foundation, each being formed by at least two pieces of prefabricated concrete wall (10) defining between them vertical joints (12), each wall piece (10) having two transverse joint faces (13) and two vertical joint faces (14); wherein in the vertical joints (12), the vertical joint faces are arranged facing one another and lack structural connectors between them for the transmission of structural stresses, allowing for an independent structural behavior of the mentioned wall pieces (10), the height of the wall pieces (10) being less than twice their width.

A system and method for installing a post-tensioning tendon (130) in an equipment tower (100). A sheave frame (196) attaches to anchor rods (140), and a pulley (198) is mounted to the sheave frame through which a hoisting cable (197) is passed for connection to an end (138) of the tendon to lift the tendon to the anchor rods. A carriage assembly (150) having a shank (152) and a bearing plate platform (154) extending transversely from the shank for receiving a bearing plate (170) is attached to the tendon. The carriage assembly includes a deflecting surface (158) to deflect the carriage assembly away from the installed bearing plate upon lowering after tendon attachment. A pair of hydraulic jacks (210) tension the tendon to a desired load.

A system and method for installing a post-tensioning tendon (130) in an equipment tower (100). A sheave frame (196) attaches to anchor rods (140), and a pulley (198) is mounted to the sheave frame through which a hoisting cable (197) is passed for connection to an end (138) of the tendon to lift the tendon to the anchor rods. A carriage assembly (150) having a shank (152) and a bearing plate platform (154) extending transversely from the shank for receiving a bearing plate (170) is attached to the tendon. The carriage assembly includes a deflecting surface (158) to deflect the carriage assembly away from the installed bearing plate upon lowering after tendon attachment. A pair of hydraulic jacks (210) tension the tendon to a desired load.

Tensioning elements are introduced into a tower to a respective intended final position, in which each tensioning element to be pulled in is introduced into an interior space of the tower, connected to a pulling rope of a winch, and pulled into the tower in a direction from a bottom of the tower to a top of the tower by the winch. The method includes placing on an upper end of the tower, for example on an adapter piece and/or an anchoring ring, a mounting device with a boom rotatably mounted on a base frame; aligning the boom with respect to a mounting position of a given one of the tensioning elements; and pulling in and anchoring the given tensioning element to the upper end of the tower, wherein the pulling rope of the winch is guided above the mounting device. Related mounting, coiling, and adapter devices are also disclosed.

Tensioning elements are introduced into a tower to a respective intended final position, in which each tensioning element to be pulled in is introduced into an interior space of the tower, connected to a pulling rope of a winch, and pulled into the tower in a direction from a bottom of the tower to a top of the tower by the winch. The method includes placing on an upper end of the tower, for example on an adapter piece and/or an anchoring ring, a mounting device with a boom rotatably mounted on a base frame; aligning the boom with respect to a mounting position of a given one of the tensioning elements; and pulling in and anchoring the given tensioning element to the upper end of the tower, wherein the pulling rope of the winch is guided above the mounting device. Related mounting, coiling, and adapter devices are also disclosed.