Collapsible element pocket former

1. A method of forming a post-tensioned concrete member comprising:

positioning a post-tensioning tendon within a concrete form, the post-tensioning tendon including a tension member, fixed anchor, and a stressing end anchor;

positioning a pocket former between the stressing end anchor and the concrete form, the pocket former including:

a pocket former body, the pocket former body having an outer surface, the pocket former body having a tension member channel therethrough; and

a plurality of collapsible elements, the collapsible elements positioned and spaced about a circumference of the outer surface of the pocket former body, the collapsible elements extending radially outwardly from the pocket former body;

inserting the tension member through the tension member channel of the pocket former body;

placing concrete into the concrete form;

applying force to the pocket former body;

collapsing the collapsible elements toward the pocket former body; and

forming a cavity within the concrete by removing the pocket former body from the concrete.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising after forming a cavity:

applying tensile stress to the tension member; and

filling the cavity with filling material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each collapsible element is attached to the pocket former body.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the collapsible elements as part of the pocket former body.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each collapsible element has an outer surface and wherein the outer surface of each collapsible element has a curved profile.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each collapsible element has a cross-sectional angle α and a longitudinal angle β, wherein the cross-sectional angle α is smaller than the longitudinal angle β.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of collapsing the collapsible elements toward the pocket former body comprises rotating the pocket former.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pocket former body is tapered from a pocket former outer edge to a pocket former inner edge.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the pocket former body includes textured surfaces, ridges, grooves, recesses, or protrusions.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pocket former body further comprises a flex feature, the method further comprising:

bending the collapsible element using the flex feature without separating the collapsible elements from the pocket former body.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein each collapsible element is generally triangular in cross section.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pocket former further comprises a pocket former bridge, wherein the pocket former bridge is oriented longitudinally along the pocket former body, the method further comprising:

applying force to the pocket former bridge; and

separating the pocket former body into two or more segments.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

flexing the segments into a pocket former interior.

14. The pocket former of claim 12 , wherein the pocket former bridge includes a slit between each collapsible element and the pocket former body.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising orienting the pocket former bridge longitudinally along the pocket former body.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the segments are longitudinal segments.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pocket former further comprises pocket former bridges, wherein the method further comprises:

applying force to the pocket former bridges; and

separating the pocket former body into two or more segments.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising breaking the pocket former bridges.