The 10 Steps in Design of

Post-Tensioned Floors

Dr Bijan O Aalami
Professor Emeritus,
San Francisco State University
Principal, ADAPT Corporation; bijan@PT-structures.com

www.adaptsoft.com

301 Mission Street

San Francisco, California
High Seismic Force Region

Column supported multistory

building
Four Seasons Hotel; Florida
High Wind Force Region

Two-way flat slab construction

Post-Tensioning Systems

12.7 mm
(0.5"*)

Unbonded System

WIRE

CORROSION
INHIBITING
COATING

PLASTIC
SHEATHING

NOTE: * NOMINAL DIAMETER

(a) STRAND

Multi-level parking structures

One-way beam and slab design

(b) TENDON

GREASE FILLED PLASTIC CAP

SHEATH

TUBE

STRAND

(c) ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY

Example of a Floor System using the Unbonded

Post-tensioning System

Post-Tensioning Systems
Grouted System

An example of a grouted
system hardware with flat duct

Example of a Floor System Reinforced

with Grouted Post-Tensioning System

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

Load Path; Design strips

Design sections; design values

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors

Dimensions (sizing)

Optimum spans; optimum thickness

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Selection of load path for two-way
systems Design Strips

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 (USA), or
crack width (EC2)
Tendon spacing (USA)

Common spans: 25 30 ft (8 9 m)
Span/thickness ratios

40 - 45 for interior
35 for exterior with no overhang

Subdivide the structure into design

strips in two orthogonal directions
(Nahid slab)

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Subdivide the floor along support
lines in design strips

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors
Subdivide slab along support lines in design
strips in the orthogonal direction
2

1
2

A
A

B
B

C
C

D
D

E
F

Y
X

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.

Preliminary Considerations
Design of Post-Tensioned Floors

Design sections

Design sections extend over the entire

design strip and are considered at critical

locations, such as face of support and
mid-span

Design values

Actions, such as moments at each design

section are reduced to a single
representative value to be used for design

559 is the area (total) value of bending

moment at face of support

10 Steps
Design of Post Tensioned Floors

Step 1
Geometry and Structural System

Select design strip and Idealize

1. Geometry and Structural System
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

Step 1
Geometry and Structural System

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

Extract; straighten the support line;

square the boundary

Step 2
Material Properties

Concrete

Weight
24 kN/m3
28 day cylinder
40 MPa
Elastic modulus
35,220 MPa
Long-term deflection factor 2

Non-Prestressed reinforcement
fy
Elastic modulus

460 MPa
200,000 MPa

Prestressing

Strand diameter
Strand area
Ultimate strength
Effective stress
Elastic modulus

View of idealized slab-frame

13 mm
99 mm2
1,860 MPa
1,200 MPa
193,000 MPa

Step 3
Loads

Step 4
Design Parameters

Selfweight

Applicable code

Based on member volume

ACI 318-11; EC2 EN 1992-1-1:2004

IBC 2012
Local codes, such as California Building

Superimposed dead load

Min (partitions)

1 kN/m2

Code (CBC 2011); or otherwise

Live load

Residential
Office
Shopping mall
Parking structure

Cover for protection against corrosion

2.0 kN/m2
2.5 kN/m2
3.5 kN/m2
2.0 kN/m2

Cover to rebar

Not exposed to weather

Exposed to weather

Lateral loads
Wind
Earthquake

Cover to tendon

Not exposed to weather 20 mm

Exposed to weather
25 mm

Example assumes
Superimposed DL
Live load

SDL= 2 kN/m2
LL = 3 kN/m2

Step 4
Design Parameters

Step 4
Design Parameters

Cover for fire resistivity

Cover for fire resistivity

Identify restrained and unrestrained

panels.

Restrained or
Unrestrained

Cover Thickness, mm. for

Fire Endurance of

Aggregate Type
1 hr

1.5 hr

2 hr

3 hr

4 hr

Unrestrained

Carbonate
Siliceous
Lightweight

40
40
40

50
50
50

Restrained

Carbonate
Siliceous
Lightweight

20
20
20

25
25
25

30
30
30

For 2-hour fire resistivity

Restrained
Unrestrained

20 mm
50 mm

20 mm.
40 mm

Identify restrained and unrestrained

panels.

Step 4
Design Parameters

Allowable Stresses or Crack Width

Selection for Two-Way System
Based on ACI

Total load case

Tension
0.5fc
0.60fc
Compression
Sustained load case
Tension 0.5fc
Compression 0.60 fc

Based on EC2

Frequent load case

Tension Ft = 0.30 fck (2/3)
Compression 0.60fck
Quasi permanent load case
Tension Ft = 0.30 fck (2/3)
Compression 0.45fck
Crack width normal exposure (?)
Unbonded
Bonded

Step 5
Actions due to Dead and Live Loads

Analyze the design strip as a single

level frame structure with one row of

supports above and below, using

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.

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.
Accuracy and ability of commercial software
for optimization varies

Step 4
Design Parameters

Allowable deflections (EC2/ approx. ACI)

For

visual impact use total deflection

Span/250
Use camber, if necessary

Total deflection subsequent to installation of

members that are likely to be damaged
Span/350

Immediate deflection due to live load

Span/500
Long-term deflection magnifier 2. This brings
the total long-term deflection to 3,

Step 5
Actions due to Dead and Live Loads

Analyze the design strip as a single level

frame structure with one row of supports
above and below.

Step 6
Post-Tensioning

Selection of design parameters

Selection of PT force and profile

Step 6
Post-Tensioning
Selection of PT force and profile

Two entry value assumptions must be made to

initiate the computations. Select
precompression and % of DL to balance

Effective force/tendon selection option

- force selection

Calculation of balanced loads;

adjustments for percentage of load

balanced

Calculation of actions due to balanced

loads

Step 6
Post-Tensioning

Selection of design parameters

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
Post-Tensioning
Assume simple parabola for
hand calculation

STEP 6
Post-Tensioning

STEP 6
Post-Tensioning
Calculation of balanced loads;

Calculation of balanced loads;

adjustment of % of DL balanced

adjustment of % 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

Select max drape

Calculate %of DL balanced

(%DL)

Calculate %of DL balanced

(%DL)
Yes

No

%DL < 50%?

No

P /A<300ps i [2MP a]?

No

%DL > 80%?

Yes
%DL > 80%?

No

Yes

Yes

Increase P/A
P/A>125psi [0.8MPa]?
Yes

No
Reduce drape

Is it practical to reduce
P/A or tendons?

Reduce P/A

No

Rais e tendon to reach

%DL ~ 60%

Go to next span

STEP 6
Post-Tensioning
Lateral forced from continuous tendons
Lateral force from terminated tendons
Moments from change in centroid of
member

Exit after last span

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

Reduce P/A or tendons to

%DL balanced ~ 60% ;
P/A >= 125 psi [0.8 MPa]

Move to next span

Member with widely

different spans

Calculation of balanced loads

Yes

Force from terminated tendon

Example of force from continuous tendon

P = 500 k
a = 93 mm ; b = 186 mm ; L = 9 m ;
c = {[93/186]0.5/[1 + (93/186)0.5]} * 9.00 = 3.73 m
Wb/tendon = 2 P*a/c2 = 119.0 kN * (2*93/1000)/3.732
= 119.0 kN / tendon * 0.013 / m =1.59 kN/m / tendon

L = 10 m ; a = 93 mm ; P = 119 kN; c =0.20*10 = 2.00 m

Wb = (3 * 119.0 * 2 * 93 / 1000) / 2.02 16.60 kN/m
Concentrated force at dead end = 2*16.60 = 33.20 k

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

STEP 6
Post-Tensioning
Calculation of actions due to balanced loads
Check balanced loads for static equilibrium

Determine moments/shears from balanced loads

applied the frame used for dead and
live loads
Note down reactions from balanced loads

Example of force from change in member

centroid

Moment at face of drop = M

M = P * shift in centroid =P * (Yt-Left Yt-Right)
P = 23*119 kN; Yt-Left = 120 mm ; Yt-Right =
146 mm
M= 23*119(120 146)/1000 = -71.16 kNm

STEP 6
Post-Tensioning
Calculation of actions due to balanced loads
Obtain moments at face-of-supports and mid-spans

Note the reactions. The reactions are hyperstatic

actions.

Comments:
Moments and precompression will be used for serviceability check.
Reactions will be used for Strength check.

STEP 7
Code Check for Serviceability
Code requirements for serviceability

Load combinations
Stress/crack width check
Minimum reinforcement
Deflection check.

Load combination
Frequent (Total) load condition
1.00DL + 0.50LL + 1.00PT

Quasi Permanent (Sustained) load condition

1.00DL + 0.30LL + 1.00PT

Stress check

Using engineering judgment, select the locations th

likely to be critical. Typically, these are at the face of
and for hand calculation at mid-span
At each section selected for check, use the design a
applicable to the entire design section and apply tho
the entire cross-section of the design section to arri
the hypothetical stresses used in code check.
= (MD + 0.5ML + MPT) / S + P/A
S = I/Yc ; I = second moment of area of ;
Yc = distance to farthest tension fiber

STEP 7
Code Check for Serviceability

STEP 7
Code Check for Serviceability

ACI Minimum Reinforcement

ACI 318-11 Minimum Reinforcement

F114_041112

ACI Minimum Rebar

for two-way systems
`

Rebar over support is function of geometry of the

design strip and the strip in the orthogonal
direction
Rebar in span is a function of the magnitude of
the hypothetical tensile stress

PT system?
2

9
Unbonded

At supports
As = 0.0075Acf

Bonded

Calculate the cracking

moment Mcr at
supports and spans

In span calculate
hypothetical tension
stress ft

Does Mcr exceeed

1.2xmoment capacity?

10

11

No
5

ft ?
tension stress

12
No added rebar
required

6
7

Yes

ft > 2 root 'c

[ft > 0.17 root f'c ]

ft =< 2 root 'c

[ ft =< 0.17 root f'c ]

Add rebar to resist

force in tensile zone

No added rebar
required

Add rebar to increase

Moment capacity to
1.2 Mcr

As = 0.00075 * Acf
EXIT

STEP 7
Code Check for Serviceability

As = Area of steel required

Acf = Larger of cross-sectional area of the
strip in
direction of analysis and orthogonal to

STEP 7
Code Check for Serviceability

ACI 318-11 Minimum Reinforcement

Rebar in span is a function of the magnitude of the
hypothetical tensile stress

In span, provide rebar if the hypothetical

tensile
stress exceeds 0.166fc
The amount of reinforcement As is
given by:
As = N / (0.5*fy)
where N is the tensile force in tension
one

h = member thickness; b = design section

width

EC2 Minimum Reinforcement

Minimum based on cross-sectional area
Minimum based on hypothetical tensile stress

Based on cross-sectional area of section

Asmin (0.26* fctm *bt*d / fyk) 0.0013* bt

*d

Based on value of hypothetical tensile stresses

for crack control
Check probable crack width
Add rebar based using the code

STEP 7
Deflection Check
Read deflections from the frame analysis of the
design strip for dead, live and PT; (DL , LL , and PT ).
. Make the following load combinations and
check against the allowable values for each case
Total Deflection
(1 + 2)(DL + PT + 0.3 LL ) + 0.7 LL < span/250
This is on the premise of sustained load being 0.3
time the design live load. It is for visual effects;
Provide camber to reduce value, where needed and
practical
Immediate deflection from live load
immediate = 1.00L < span/500
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/350

STEP 8
Strength Check
Determination of Hyperstatic actions
Direct Method based on reactions from balanced
loads

STEP 8
Strength Check
Steps in strength check

Load combinations
Determination of hyperstatic actions
Calculation of design moments (Mu)
Calculate capacity/rebar for design moment Mu
Check for punching shear
Check/detail for unbalanced moment at support

Load combinations (EC2)

U1 = 1.35DL + 1.50LL + 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

STEP 8
Strength Check

The figure below shows the forces on a PT member.

In calculating the force from PT tendons, use either
the code formulas or the following simplified
procedure, based on parametric study of common
building structures can be sued.

Check for adequate ductility

ACI
Ductility is deemed adequate, if c/dt <= 0.345
EC2
Ductility is deemed adequate, if c/h<= 0.43
h = member thickness
This condition guarantees that steel will yield,
before concrete in compression crushes.

USING EC2
Assume tendon stress under service condition 1,200 MP
Assume tendon stress at ultimate limit state 1300 MPa
USING ACI
Tendon Length 38 m for single end stressing; ; length
35 m length 75 m double end stressing
fps is conservatively 1,480 MPa if span is less than 11 m
fps is conservatively 1,340 MPa if span is greater than

Punching Shear Design

PUNCHED OUT
COLUMN REGION

SHEAR STRESS
DUE TO kM u

Mu

D108/SLIDES/060591

SHEAR STRESS
DUE TO Vu

Vu

STEP 9
Check for Transfer of Prestressing
At stressing:
Tendon has its maximum force;
Concrete is at its weakest strength; and
Live load to counteract prestressing is absent
Hence the member is likely to experience stresses
more severe than when in service
Add rebar when representative

CRITICAL SURFACE

(hypothetical) tension stresses exceed

a threshold
Do not exceed representative

hypothetical compressive stresses

TWO-WAY SLAB

ILLUSTRATION OF CRITICAL SURFACE

FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUNCHING SHEAR STRESSES

Refer to ACI 318-11 section 11.11

STEP 10
Detailing

STEP 9
Check for Transfer of Prestressing
Load combination

SUPPORT

U = 1.00*Selfweight + 1.15*PT

EQ. EQ.

Tension stress

Compression stress

9 If tension exceeds, provide rebar in tensile

zone to resist Nc

MID-SPAN
SEE PLAN
EQ.

EQ.

SUPPORT
EQ. EQ.

STAGGER

STAGGER

Check for allowable stresses

Position of rebar

TOP REBAR AT
SUPPORT TYP.
WALL

DROP CAP
COLUMN

BOTTOM

PLAN

9 If compression exceeds, wait until concrete

gains adequate strength

Lc/6

POST-TENSIONED
SLAB

Lc/6

*
DROP
COLUMN

Lc/3
Lc
SUPPORT LINE

ELEVATION

Thank you for listening.

www.adaptsoft.com;
bijan@adaptsoft.com

Ld