To understand Post-Tensioning it is best to consider first the main difference between reinforced

concrete and pre-stressed concrete.

Reinforced and pre-stressed concrete both utilize the structural capabilities of steel and concrete.
Concrete is very strong in compression, but relatively weak in tension. The ordinary reinforced concrete
beam supports a load by developing compressive stresses at the top, but since the concrete cannot
resist the tension at the bottom, it cracks there. Reinforcing steel bars are placed within this tension
zone to resist the tension and control the cracking.

Pre-stressed concrete however involves the application of forced or forces tending to bend and
compress a concrete structure or structural element in ordered counteractive bending which results
from loading. The forced applied is the tensioning or stretching of the steel component which usually in
the form of high tensile strands, wires or bars.

There are two types of pre-stressed concrete namely pretension and post tensioned pre-stressed
concrete. These two differ in the method of stressing the elements. A description of the construction
sequences will help bring out this difference.

In pretension pre-stressed concrete the beams or elements are constructed on a stressing bed and
stranded cable is placed between two but- tresses anchored to a stressing bed which holds the force in
the stretched cables. After stretching the steel with hydraulic jacks, concrete is placed in forms around
the cables and allowed to harden. When the concrete reaches sufficient strength, the pre-stress forced
is transferred to the concrete by bond when the steel strand at the ends of the beam is cut loose from
but-tresses.

In Post-tensioned pre-stressed concrete so called tendons (wire strand or cable) are placed in the forms
at the proper location. These tendons are covered with a multi layer heavy paper wrapping. Concrete is
then placed in the forms around the ten- dons and allowed to harden to the required strength (usually 5
to 7 days). After the concrete has hard ends the pre-stressing steel which is separated from the concrete
by paper, plastic or metal sheathing is stressed or stretched by a hydraulic jack which pushes directly
against anchorage embedded in the hardened concrete The force in the stretched steel is the
permanently transferred to the concrete through the anchorage devices at the end of the concrete
casting.
Post-tensioning the steel and anchoring it against the concrete produces desirable strains and stresses
which serve to reduce or eliminate cracks in concrete. Thus, the entire section of concrete becomes
effective in post tensioned concrete whereas only the portion of section above the neutral axis is sup-
posed to act in the case of reinforced concrete.

The use of curved tendons will help carry some of the shear in a member. In addition pre-compression in
concrete tends to reduce diagonal tension. Thus it is possible to use a smaller section in post-tensioned
concrete to carry the same amount of external shear in a beam.

Pre-tensioned pre-stressed concrete is usually fabricated away from the job site in a pre-stressing plant,
whereas in post-tensioned pre-stressed concrete the application of stressing forces to the structure is
done at the job-site.

The following are some of the many advantages of pre-stressed concrete or more specifically post-
tensioned pre-stressed concrete.

Serviceability: (Post-tensioned concrete design is more suitable for structures of long span and those
carrying heavy loads principally because of the higher strengths of materials employed. Members are
more slender and hence more adaptable to artistic treatment. They yield more clearance where it is
needed. They do not crack under working loads, and whatever cracks may be developed under
overloads will be closed as soon as the load is removed, owing to the cambering effect of pre-stress. This
becomes an important consideration for such structures as long cantilevers. Under live loads the def
section is also smaller because of the effectiveness of the entire uncracked concrete section.

Safety: It is difficult to say that one type of structure is safer than another. The safety depends more on
its design and construction than on its type. However, certain inherent safety features in pre-stressed
concrete may be mentioned. There is partial testing of both the steel and the concrete during post-
tensioning operation. For many structures during post- tensioning, both the steel and concrete are
subjected to the highest stresses that will exist in them during their life of service. Hence if materials can
stand post-tensioning, they are likely to posses sufficient strengths for service loads.

When properly designed by present conventional methods, post-tensioned concrete structures have
overload capacities similar to and perhaps slightly higher than those of reinforced concrete. For the
usual designs, they deflect appreciably before ultimate failure thus giving ample warning before
impending collapse. The ability to resist shock and impact loads and repeated working loads, has been
shown to be as good in post- tensioned as in reinforced concrete. The resistance to corrosion is better
than that of reinforced concrete for the same amount of cover owing to the non existence of cracks.

necessary.

Economics: From an economic point of view it is at once evident that smaller quantities of materials,
both steel and concrete, are required to carry the same loads since the materials are of higher strength.
There is also a definite savings stirrups, since shear in post-tensioned concrete is reduced in the
inclination of the tendons, and the diagonal tension is further minimized bathe presence of pre-stress.
The reduced weight of members will help in economizing the cost of structures', the smaller dead load
and section of member will result in saving materials and labor from other pollution of the structure
such as the foundation columns shear skills, etc.

Further advantages of post-tensioned construction are as follows:

1. Where columns are vertical members and are not too far apart, post-tensioned flat-plate slab is
possible thus eliminating need for ceilings.

2. No joints can be seen as it is monolithic structure.

3. Concrete topping is not required and therefore resulting in another considerable cost-savings.

4. There is no camber nor deflection in a post- tensioned member at service load.

5. Construction is much faster than any other system of construction because form work can be
removed after stressing usually after 7 days.

6. Cranes and other heavy equipment are not necessary.

7. Waterproofing is not required for a two way post- tensioned slab.

8. Construction can be stopped at any floor which is automatically waterproofed when tendons are
placed in both directions. Thus there is no additional expense for the next phase of construction.

9. It is cast-in-place solid monolithic construction completely safe and resistant to earthquakes.

10. Where limited height is required, more floors can be constructed because of shallower beams and
slabs.

11. Many other advantages accrue to the owner architect or engineer such as design flexibility, reduced
building height, and better aesthetic features.