10- Step Design of

Post-Tensioned Floors

Dr Bijan O Aalami
Professor Emeritus,
San Francisco State University
Principal, ADAPT Corporation; bijan@PT-structures.com
301 Mission Street
San Francisco, California
High Seismic Force Region
www.adaptsoft.com
PT-
PT-Structures copyright 2015

Four Seasons Hotel; Florida

High Wind Force Region Residential/Office Post-
Tensioned Building in Dubai
 Multi-level parking structures
Column supported multistory
One-way beam and slab design
building
Two-way flat slab construction

Hybrid Construction Post-Tensioned ground supported slab

Post-tensioned podium slab supporting light (SOG) is the largest application of post-
framed structure above tensioning in USA
Santana Row; San Jose, California
Fortaleza, Brazil
KSA
POST-TENSIONED MAT POST-TENSIONED MAT
FOUNDATION USING UNBONDED FOUNDATION USING GROUTED
TENDONS TENDONS

Post-Tensioning Systems
Unbonded System
12.7 mm
(0.5"*)

CORROSION PLASTIC
WIRE INHIBITING SHEATHING
COATING
NOTE: * NOMINAL DIAMETER

(a) STRAND (b) TENDON

Example of a Floor System using the Unbonded

GREASE FILLED PLASTIC CAP Post-tensioning System
SHEATH TUBE

STRAND

(c) ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY

 Post-Tensioning Systems
Grouted System
An example of a grouted
system hardware with flat duct
Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Dimensions (sizing)
Optimum spans; optimum thickness
Structural system
One-way/two-way; slab band
Boundary conditions; connections
Service performance; strength condition
Design strips
Design sections; design values
Example of a Floor System Reinforced
with Grouted Post-Tensioning System
Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Dimensions (sizing)
Optimum spans; optimum thickness
An optimum design is one in which the
reinforcement determined for service
condition is used in its entirety for
strength condition.
PT amount in service condition is
governed mostly by:
Hypothetical tensile stresses
Tendon spacing
Spans: between 7 m 9 m ft
Span/thickness ratios
40 for interior
35 for exterior with no overhang
 Preliminary Considerations Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
One-way and two-way systems One-way and two-way systems
Skeletal Systems share load Skeletal Systems share load
Slab systems may not share load, Slab systems may not share load
depending on reinforcement layout depending on reinforcement layout
F A LOAD D
COLUMN
P
B (i) L BEAM
F
A C B D

)P
L

-a
(1
aP
(a) ONE-WAY BEAM SYSTEM

2
4)
(ii)

L/
B C

(P
F
A D

P
C B A,C B,D
(iii)
PL/4
(b) BEAMS ON FOUR COLUMNS

(b) TWO-WAY BEAM SYSTEM Capacity required for 100% of load in each
direction, if reinforcement is placed along AD,
Skeletal System and AC

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors

Structural system
One-way/two-way; slab band

b
h < 2t b > 3h

SLAB BAND

Slab band is treated as part of

a two-way system. One-way shear
design provisions meant for beams
do not apply to slab bands
 Preliminary Considerations Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors Design of Post-Tensioned Floors

Boundary conditions; connections Assumption of releases at connections, or

reduced stiffness for selected members is
Service performance
made prior to analysis to achieve a more
Strength performance
economical design.
Detailing for service performance, such as the one
shown below is to mitigate cracking from In the following, the assignment of reduced stiffness for
the uppermost columns, or hinge assumption at
shortening of slab
connection is not uncommon

Preliminary Considerations Preliminary Considerations

Design of Post-Tensioned Floors Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Selection of load path for two-way Subdivide the floor along support
systems Design Strips lines in design strips

1 2 3 4 5

Subdivide the structure into design E

strips in two orthogonal directions

F
(Nahid slab)
Y
X G
 Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Subdivide slab along support lines in design
strips in the orthogonal direction
1 2 3 4
A
Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Design sections
Design sections extend over the entire
design strip and are considered at critical
5 locations, such as face of support and
mid-span

F
Y
X
An important aspect of load path selection in a
two-way system is that every point of the slab
should be assigned to a specific design strip. No
portion of the slab should be left unassigned.

10- Steps
Design of Post Tensioned Floors
Design values
Actions, such as moments at each design
section are reduced to a single 1. Geometry and Structural System
representative value to be used for design
2. Material Properties
3. Loads
4. Design Parameters
5. Actions due to Dead and Live Loads
6. Post-Tensioning
7. Code Check for Serviceability
8. Code Check for Strength
9. Check for Transfer of Prestressing
10. Detailing

559 k-ft is the area (total) of bending

moment at face of support
 Step 1 Step 1
Geometry and Structural System Geometry and Structural System

Select design strip and Idealize
Extract; straighten the support line;
square the boundary
Select design strip and Idealize
Extract; straighten the support line;
square the boundary
Model the slab frame with a row of
supports above and below. This
represents an upper level of multi-story
concrete frame.
Assume rotational fixity at the far
ends;
Assume roller support at the far
ends

View of idealized slab-frame

Step 2 Step 3
Material Properties Dead and Live Loads

Concrete
Weight 24 kN/m3
28 day cylinder 40 MPa
Elastic modulus 29,725 MPa Selfweight
Long-term deflection factor 2 Based on member volume

Non-Prestressed reinforcement Superimposed dead load

fy 460 MPa Min (partitions) 2.00 kN/m2
Elastic modulus 200,000 MPa
Live load
Prestressing Residential 3.00 kN/m2
Strand diameter 13 mm
Strand area 99 mm2
Ultimate strength 1,860 MPa
Effective stress 1,200 MPa
Elastic modulus 200,000 MPa
 Step 4 Step 4
Design Parameters Design Parameters

Applicable code Cover for fire resistivity

ACI 318-14
IBC 2012 ?
Local codes, such as California Building Identify restrained and unrestrained
Code (CBC 2011) ? panels.

Cover for protection against corrosion Restrained or

Unrestrained
Aggregate Type Cover Thickness, mm
for Fire Endurance
1 hr 1.5 hr 2 hr 3 hr 4 hr

Cover to rebar Unrestrained Carbonate

Siliceous
-
-
-
-
38
38
51
51
-
-
Not exposed to weather 20 mm Lightweight - - 38 51 -

Exposed to weather 50 mm Restrained Carbonate

Siliceous
-
-
-
-
19
19
25
25
32
32
Lightweight - - 19 25 32

Cover to tendon
Not exposed to weather 20 mm For 2-hour fire resistivity
Exposed to weather 25 mm Restrained 20 mm
Unrestrained 38 mm

Step 4 Step 4
Design Parameters Design Parameters

Cover for fire resistivity Select post-tensioning system

Identify restrained and unrestrained For corrosive environment use
panels. encapsulated system.

For non-corrosive environment,

regular hardware may be used
 Step 4 Step 4
Design Parameters Design Parameters

Allowable stresses for two-way Allowable deflections (ACI 318 .5)

systems
For visual impact use total deflection
Service condition Span/240
Total (frequent) load case Use camber, if necessary
'
Tension ---------------------------0.5 f c

Compression -------------------- 0.6 f c

' Total deflection subsequent to installation of
members that are likely to be damaged
Sustained (quasi permanent) load case Span/360

Tension -------------------------- 0.5 f c' Immediate deflection due to live load

'
Span/480
Compression ------------------ 0.45 fc
Long-term deflection magnifier 2. This brings
Initial condition the total long-term deflection to 3,
Tension ------------------------ 0.25 f c'

Compression --------------- 0.6 f c'

Step 5 Step 5
Actions due to Dead and Live Loads Actions due to Dead and Live Loads

Analyze the design strip as a single Analyze the design strip as a single level
level frame structure with one row of frame structure with one row of supports
supports above and below, using above and below.
In-house simple frame program
(Simple Frame Method; SFM); or
in-house Equivalent Frame Program (EFM);
Specialty commercial software

All the three options yield safe designs. Moments due to DL (k-ft)
But, each will give a different amount of
reinforcement.
The EFM is suggested by ACI-318. To some
extent, it accounts for biaxial action of the
prototype structure in the frame model.
3D FEM software can improve optimization

Moments due to LL (k-ft)

 Step 6 Step 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning

Selection of PT force and profile

Selection of design parameters Two entry value selections must be made to
initiate the computations. Select
precompression and % of DL to balance
Selection of PT force and profile
Effective force vs tendon selection option
Force selection option
Calculation of balanced loads;
adjustments for percentage of load
balanced

Calculation of actions due to balanced

loads

Step 6 Step 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning
Assume simple parabola for
Selection of design parameters hand calculation
Select average precompression 1 MPa
Target to balance 60% of DL
Selection of PT force and profile
Assume simple parabola mapped within
the bounds of top and bottom covers
Force diagram of simple parabola
 STEP 6 STEP 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning
Calculation of balanced loads; Calculation of balanced loads;
adjustment of % of DL balanced adjustment for % of DL balanced
F121_ACI_PT_2_way_082012

Assume P/A =150psi[1MPa] F121_ACI_2-way_PT_force_082012

Select critical span Select max drape using tendons

from critical span
2

Select max drape

Calculate %of DL balanced Calculate %of DL balanced

(%DL) (%DL)

Yes No
%DL < 50%?
No Yes
%DL > 80%?
No
P /A<300ps i [2MP a]? %DL > 80%?

Yes No
Yes

Increase P/A Is it practical to reduce

P/A>125psi [0.8MPa]?
P/A or tendons?
No Yes No Yes
Reduce drape Reduce P/A

Reduce P/A or tendons to

Rais e tendon to reach
%DL balanced ~ 60% ;
%DL ~ 60%
P/A >= 125 psi [0.8 MPa]
Go to next span

Move to next span Exit after last span

Member with widely

different spans

STEP 6 STEP 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning
Calculation of balanced loads Calculation of balanced loads
Lateral forced from continuous tendons Lateral forced from continuous tendons
Lateral force from terminated tendons Lateral force from terminated tendons
Moments from change in centroid of Moments from change in centroid of member
member
Example of force from terminated tendon
Example of force from continuous tendon

P = 500 k
a = 93 mm; b = 186 mm ; L = 9.0 m ;
c = {[93/186]0.5/[1 + (93/186)0.5]} * 9.00
L = 10 m ; a = 93 mm; P = 119 kN/tendon
= 3.73 m
c = 0.20*10 = 2.00 m
wb = 2 P*a/c2 = (2*193*93/1000)/3.732
Wb = (2*119*93/1000) / 22 = 5.53 kN/tendon
= 1.59 kN/m per tendon
Concentrated force at dead end= 2*119*93/2000
= 11.06 k/tendon
 STEP 6 STEP 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning
Calculation of balanced loads Calculation of actions due to balanced loads
Lateral forced from continuous tendons Check balanced loads for static equilibrium
Lateral force from terminated tendons Determine moments/shears from balanced loads
Moments from change in centroid of member applied to the frame model that was used for dead
and live loads
Note down reactions from balanced loads
Example of force from shift in member
centroidal axis Example of Balanced Load Assembly

Moment at face of drop = M

M = P * shift in centroid = P * (Yt-Left Yt-Right)
P = 119 k; Yt-Left = 120 mm; Yt-Right = 146 mm
M = 119 (120 146)/1000 = - 3.09 kNm

STEP 6 STEP 7
Post-Tensioning Code Check for Serviceability
Calculation of actions due to balanced loads ACI 318-14 requirements for serviceability
Obtain moments at face-of-supports and mid-spans Load combinations
Note the reactions. The reactions are hyperstatic Stress check
forces.. Minimum reinforcement
Deflection check.
Comments:
Moments will be used for serviceability check. Reactions will be used for
Strength check. Load combination
Total load condition
1.00DL + 1.00LL + 1.00PT

Sustained load condition

1.00DL + 0.30LL + 1.00PT

Stress check
Using engineering judgment, select the locations that
are likely to be critical. Typically, these are at the face
of support and for hand calculation at mid-span
At each section selected for check, use the design actions
applicable to the entire design section and apply those to
the entire cross-section of the design section to arrive at
the hypothetical stresses used in code check.
= (MD + ML + MPT)/S + P/A
S = I/Yc ; I = second moment of area;
Yc = distance to farthest tension fiber
 STEP 6 STEP 6
Post-Tensioning Post-Tensioning
ACI 318-14 Minimum Reinforcement ACI 318-14 Minimum Reinforcement
Rebar over support is function of geometry of the
F114_041112
design strip and the strip in the orthogonal
ACI Minimum Rebar direction
for two-way systems
Rebar in span is a function of the magnitude of
1 ` the hypothetical tensile stress
PT system?
2
9
Unbonded
Bonded

3 At supports Calculate the cracking

`
As = 0.0075Acf moment Mcr at 10
supports and spans

In span calculate 11
4 hypothetical tension Does Mcr exceeed
stress ft 1.2xmoment capacity?

No Yes
5
ft ?
tension stress 12

No added rebar Add rebar to increase

6 Moment capacity to
required
1.2 Mcr
ft > 2 root 'c ft =< 2 root 'c
7
[ft > 0.17 root f'c ] [ ft =< 0.17 root f'c ]

Add rebar to resist No added rebar

8 force in tensile zone required

As = 0.00075*Acf
EXIT As = Area of steel required
Acf = Larger of cross-sectional area of the strip
in direction of analysis and orthogonal to it.

STEP 6 STEP 7
Post-Tensioning Deflection Check
ACI 318-14 Minimum Reinforcement Read deflections from the frame analysis of the
Rebar over support is function of geometry of the design strip for dead, live and PT; (DL , LL , and PT ).
design strip and the strip in the orthogonal . Make the following load combinations and
direction check against the allowable values for each case
Rebar in span is a function of the magnitude of
the hypothetical tensile stress Total Deflection
(1 + 2)(DL + PT + 0.3 LL ) + 0.7 LL < span/240
In span, provide rebar if the hypothetical tensile This is on the premise of sustained load being 0.3
stress exceeds 0.16fc time the design live load. It is for visual effects;
Provide camber to reduce value, where needed and
The amount of reinforcement As is given by: practical
As = N / (0.5fy) Immediate deflection from live load
where N is the tensile force in tension zone immediate = 1.00L < span/480
This check is applicable, where non-structural
members are likely to be damaged. Otherwise,
span/240 applies

Presence of members likely to be damaged from

sustained deflection
(1+ 2)(0.3 LL ) + 0.7 LL < span/360

h = member thickness; b = design section width

 STEP 8 STEP 8
Strength Check Strength Check
Steps in strength check
Load combinations Determination of Hyperstatic actions
Determination of hyperstatic actions Direct Method based on reactions from balanced
Calculation of design moments (Mu) loads
Calculate capacity/rebar for design moment Mu
Check for punching shear
Check/detail for unbalanced moment at support

Load combinations
U1 = 1.2DL + 1.6LL + 1.0HYP
U2 = 1.4DL + 1.0HYP
where, HYP is moment due to hyperstatic actions
from prestressing

Determination of Hyperstatic actions

Direct Method based on reactions from balanced
loads
Indirect Method Using primary and post-tensioning
moments

STEP 8
Strength Check
A comment on capacity versus demand
Post-tensioned members possess both a positive
and negative moment capacity along the member
length
Rebar needs to be added, where capacity falls short
of demand
First, find the capacity and compare it with demand
STEP 8
Strength Check
The figure below shows the forces on a PT member.
In calculating the force from PT tendons, use either
the ACI 318 or the following simplified procedure,
based on parametric study of common building
structures can be used for slabs

fc 28 MPa; P/A 1.7 MPa

c/dt 0.375 ; dt is distance from compression
fiber to farthest tension rebar
Tendon Length 38 m for single end stressing;
if length 76 m double end stressing
fps is conservatively 1480 MPa if span is less than 10 m
fps is conservatively 1340 MPa if span is greater
than 10 m
 STEP 8 STEP 8
Strength Check Strength Check

Check for adequate ductility
Ductility is deemed adequate, if c/dt <= 0.345 dt
This condition guarantees that steel will yield,
before concrete in compression crushes.
Verify adequacy (detail) of the design for
transfer of unbalanced moment at supports
Unbalanced moment (Mc)is defined as the
difference between the design moments on the
opposite sides of a column support. This is the
moment that is resisted by the support.
The reinforcement associated with the transfer of
unbalanced moment must be placed over a
narrow band at the support (next slide)
In most cases, this provision leads to a detailing
requirement, as opposed to added rebar, since
the reinforcement for slab design is in excess of
that needed for transfer of unbalanced moment.
MOMENTS

Mc

SLAB/BEAM COLUMN
LINE
CENTER- LINE

STEP 8 Punching Shear Design

Strength Check

Transfer of unbalanced moment PUNCHED OUT

COLUMN REGION SHEAR STRESS
DUE TO kM u
Mu
D108/SLIDES/060591

SHEAR STRESS
DUE TO Vu
Vu

CRITICAL SURFACE

TWO-WAY SLAB

ILLUSTRATION OF CRITICAL SURFACE

FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUNCHING SHEAR STRESSES
Place the reinforcement within the narrow
band identified as rebar strip Definition based on ACI 318
 STEP 9 STEP 9
Check for Transfer of Prestressing Check for Transfer of Prestressing

At stressing: At stressing check extreme fiber

Tendon has its maximum force; stresses
Concrete is at its weakest strength; and Add rebar when representative
(hypothetical) tension stresses exceed
Live load to counteract prestressing is absent
a threshold
Hence the member is likely to experience stresses
Do not exceed representative
more severe than when in service hypothetical compressive stresses. Wait
until concrete gains adequate strength

Local failure at stressing

STEP 9 STEP 10
Check for Transfer of Prestressing Detailing

Load combination Position of rebar

MID-SPAN
U = 1.00*Selfweight + 1.15*PT SUPPORT SUPPORT
SEE PLAN
Allowable stresses EQ. EQ.
EQ.
EQ. EQ.
EQ.

Tension 0.25fci STAGGER

STAGGER

TOP REBAR AT
Compression 0.60fci SUPPORT TYP.

If tension exceeds, provide rebar in DROP CAP WALL

tensile zone to resist N COLUMN BOTTOM

As = N / (0.5 fy) PLAN

9 If compression exceeds, wait until concrete Lc/6 Lc/6
POST-TENSIONED
gains adequate strength SLAB

*
Lc/3
DROP Lc
Ld

COLUMN SUPPORT LINE

ELEVATION
Thank you for listening.

www.adaptsoft.com
bijan@PT-structures.com