26 (a) Bae pate fst columns planed on FT lb 58) Post-Tensioned Buildings (6) Stee! rames planted on postensioned slab (1368) FIGURE 2.21 Concentrated Load Supported on Post Tensioned Slab pled force without undue deflection and without he heed for local cracking, This 8 why posttensioning Is viewed as “active” reinforcement versus conve tional enforcement bars which are viewed as "pes ‘Sve reinforcement. When a change in occupancy from one level tothe next ells for different arrangements of eolumns on Afferent levels, the active free of posttensioning fan be used to effectively handle the load transfer in the slab from the columns that terminate from te framingabove. Inthe framing of te office bulldngin Fig, 221-2, the steel columns shown are posiion=d to sult the layout ofthe afice space above, while te (2) oie ting constructed wit steel Faming on pow tenstoned la (P1375) space below is ld out for vehicle parking. Fat slab onstruction with column drops was used to handle the requtement: the columns below are fewer in umber, farther apart, and arranged to sult an opt- ‘mum parking layout fing application ofthis concept is sen in rans= fer plate construction inthe fyers of eommercat bbullings, where multiple levels of superstructure are supported ona slab that rests on a few supports to provide open space (Fig. 2213) J. Reduced Deflections: Floor systems reinforced ‘hth post tensloning generally deflect lees than com: (by Level belo the te ame superstructure turing Support arangerent for paring (#137), FIGURE, 2.21-2 PT Slab Between Parking Level and Office Levels Above Afford Rearrangement of Columns to Sut Each Occupancy Grvin Pra Sa ate al Post-Tensioning {a} Top view transfer plate 1405) (6) Underside view of teaser pate (1408) FIGURE 221-3 Analysis Model ofa 25 m Thick (8 2°) Transfer Plate, Supporting Mult-Lvel Tower Over an Open Foyer (isc: couey ol rein) parable conventionally reinforeed designs reduced {Seflection has been one ofthe driving forces in the Increased use of post tensioning inthe US. There ae ‘wo reasons for the reduced deflections First, much ‘of loading on a concrete floor is sell-weight Pose tensioning can be designed to provide an upward force that balances a igh Faction ofa floor’ slf weight—thus reducing the net dowmwatd free that ‘causes deflection, Second, borause cracking canbe Feduced, or even eliminated, pstensioned Noors have greater fenualstitiness than comparable rein forced concrete floors inservice K. Reduced Cracking: Because ACI 318 imposes 2 Tow limit onthe allowable in-service tensile stresses, two-way post tensioned floor slabs designed using ‘ACL 318 wil be essentially crack free under service conditions. When using the European Code EC2, the designer selects the extent of allowable cracking and a “design crack width’ based onthe anticipated In-service conditions of the floor system, The de- signers choice becomes the amount of eracking and design crack width, as opposed to the elimination of tacking that results when using ACI 318, L Improved Resistance to Water Penetration: ‘The conerete used commercially for construction af buildings, ehether conventionally reinforced ot prestressed, is not watertight. Additives to concrete mix and/or other measures are necessary If ingress of water isto be avoided. Post tensioning provides 2 greater resistance to water penetration, however because post tensioned slabs have ewer cracksthan conventionally enforced loos. M. Perception and Acceptability of Vibration: Vi bration i a serviceability consideration. Within @ ‘certain frequency range (mostly between 4andBH2), Tao aoe bration coupled with hgh acceleration (01-0396 of gravitational acceleration), can be perceived by occupants and experienced as undesirable (ADAPT "7H 200, 2010} Foot all on large areas supported on thin slabs can trigger unacceptable vibration; cack Ing wil exacerbate the problem because It lowers the natural frequency of the sib. Posttensioned slabs are generally thinner than thelr oaventionally Feinforced counterparts and have longer spans thus they are more prone to unacceptable vibrations. Hewever, two benefits of postensioning help tO reduce the susceptibility of post-tensioned floors to ‘tjectionable vibration. One sa reduction in weight (sass) because the slabs ae thinner and he others, ‘larger relative stiffness because there iless crack ing. Both ofthese features help to increase the natu fal frequency of vibration and inprove the design. Or the other hand, the longer spans used in post tensioned structures tend to lower the natural fre- ‘quencies and aggravate the perception of vibration. Fer these reasons, the vibration of posttenioned. slabs under fot fal should generally be investigated were spans are relatively large. 23 APPLICATION OF POST-TENSIONING IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Pesttensloning was frst used for slabs inthe US in ‘he mig-1950s. Most post-tensioned slabs construct- fe at that time were associated with the lftslab ‘mathod of construction; post-ensioning was intro: ‘ced to save the weight, defection, and cracking problems that arose with conventionally reinforced Ii-sabs: Since then, posttensioned slabs have be came a major element in the construction of oor Systems ofall types of commercial and resident buildings. In thetr most popula form, namely wo> vay Mat slabs, they have been proven eo perform ‘ll and be economical for both high= and low-rise