ADVANTAGES & APPLICATIONS OF POST-

TENSIONING

Post-tensioning, which is a form of prestressing, has several advantages over standard reinforcing steel (rebars):

 It reduces or eliminates shrinkage cracking-therefore no joints, or fewer joints, are needed

 Cracks that do form are held tightly together
 It allows slabs and other structural members to be thinner
 It allows us to build slabs on expansive or soft soils
 It lets us design longer spans in elevated members, like floors or beams

Common Applications for PT

Post-tensioning, or PT, has become increasingly popular over the past 30 years or so as the technology has been
perfected. At one time there were problems with corrosion of the cables, especially in deicing-salt-laden parking
structures, but better materials and construction methods (plus good training and certification programs) have
eliminated most problems.

External post-tensioning is a good method for strengthening or retrofitting concrete structures. www.vsl.net

The applications for post-tensioning are almost endless, but what holds it back is the lack of experience among
designers and builders. In an article in Structure magazine (PDF), Gerard Feldman noted that "Most engineers have
only a cursory overview of post tensioning in college...this unfamiliarity creates a bias towards conventional reinforced
concrete structures."

Some of the more common applications are:

 Slabs on ground: Today, PT is used extensively for slabs on grade where soils are likely to move (expansive soils)-
especially in the American southwest. Jim Rogers, editor and publisher of Post Tension Magazine, says that until
housing construction ground to a halt last year, about half of all post-tensioning work was slabs-on-ground for
homes. Residential Concrete magazine had a good review of this in its September 2006 issue.
 Another good application for PT slabs is producing crack-free tennis courts.
 A recently developed application of PT is external post-tensioning for strengthening of existing structures, especially
as an upgrade to resist seismic forces. The best review of this is available from the International Concrete Repair
Institute, "Guideline for the Selection of Strengthening Systems for Concrete Structures."

Water tanks can be post-tensioned. DYK in El Cajon, CA

 Bridge designers have used PT both for cast-in-place concrete and for precast segmental construction. PT allows
longer spans and keeps cracks tight.
 Concrete water tanks are often post-tensioned to reduce crack width and leakage. The companies that make
prestressed concrete tanks are Crom, DYK, Natgun, and Preload.
 Masonry walls can be post-tensioned-this is usually done with a solid steel bar fastened to the foundation and
stressed with a nut at the wall's top. A good article on PT for masonry is available on Masonry Construction
magazine.
 One interesting application is for a concrete countertop that needed to span 6 feet and carry a heavy load.
 FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUILDING
Assessing the Suitability of a Possible Tennis Court Site

Munson Inc. in Glendale, WI

Whether you choose post-tensioned concrete or another type of slab for your sport court, it's important to make sure
your backyard space can accommodate the layout you have in mind. Here are the key factors to consider:

 Size. The overall size of a regulation tennis court for doubles play is 60 x 120 feet (per the International Tennis
Federation). However, you must allow additional space around the court perimeter to give the contractor room to
work and to permit the installation of drainage, landscaping, and fencing. Munson recommends leaving at least 12
feet between the court sidelines and the closest fixed obstructions, and 21 feet between the baselines and fixed
obstructions. Where space is limited, you can downsize to a slightly smaller court. ITF recommends a minimum court
size of 56 x 114 feet. An NBA/NCAA regulation full-size basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. For
backyards without enough acreage for a pro court, half courts can suffice for one-on-one games. (See this diagram of
court dimensions from Half Court Sports.)

 Orientation. The time of day you plan to use the court and your geographic location will determine the best
orientation for your court. If the court is to be used consistently throughout the day, ASBA recommends a north-south
orientation as the best compromise between the extremes of early morning and late afternoon sun angles.

 Sloping and drainage. Proper slope of the subgrade is critical to allow water drainage away from the court. The
ground should be reasonably level, preferably on the same plane or higher than adjacent land. (ASBA advocates a
finished subgrade 4 to 6 inches above the surrounding ground.) If your site has a high water table, you may also need
to install an underground drainage system. Options include French drains, properly graded gravel-filled trenches,
geocomposites, and perforated drain lines surrounded with stone.

 Soil conditions. Even a well-constructed tennis court can fail if the subsurface it's built on is unstable. ASBA
recommends hiring a qualified geotechnical engineer to perform a soil analysis, to identify such problems as
expansive soils, high organic material content, and high groundwater conditions.

Post-Tensioned vs. Reinforced Concrete Tennis Courts

The two most common types of concrete slabs for outdoor play courts are reinforced concrete and post-tensioned
concrete. However, post-tensioned concrete provides the best overall performance, according to the American Sports
Builders Association, a national organization for builders and designers of tennis courts and other sports surfaces.

Post-tensioned concrete is reinforced with a grid of high-strength sheathed steel tendons, or cables. While the
concrete is curing, the cables are tensioned in both directions and held permanently under stress by anchoring them
in a perimeter beam. This squeezing actionkeeps the concrete in compression, improving its tensile (or bending)
strength. The more the concrete is squeezed together, the less likely it is that shrinkage cracks will develop or open.
(See a more complete description of post-tensioning from the Post-Tensioning Institute.)

Other benefits of post-tensioning: Contractors can build larger slabs using thinner concrete sections, and they don't
have to install control joints, which can interfere with play. "In order to build a reinforced concrete court that has the
same structural capabilities as a post-tensioned court, we would have to install so much steel and concrete that the
reinforced court would actually cost more," says Kolkmann. "Also, a reinforced court needs control joints, usually at a
spacing of 10 to 15 feet, including in the playing area. Eventually these joints may widen, as well as any cracks that
appear."
 Tennis Court Surfacing Options: Hard or soft?

Munson Inc.

Whether your preference is tennis, basketball, or another court sport, one of the most important factors influencing
your game is the type of surface you play on. The characteristics of the court surface not only affect how fast the ball
bounces, but also contribute to your comfort and ease of movement.

The International Tennis Federation has tested the typical ball speed for various court surfaces, and classifies them
as slow, medium, or fast. Generally, a hard concrete surface-with no surfacing system applied-provides a fast speed
of play. But if that's not your preference or you want a more resilient surface to reduce the impact on your joints, a
proliferation of acrylic color coatings and cushioning systems are on the market that allow you to adapt the court
surface to your style of play.

Acrylic color coatings are a combination of acrylic latex resins, pigments, and silica sand (for texture). They protect
the court from the elements, enhance its appearance, and improve foot traction and consistency in ball bounce. They
also make it possible to tailor the speed of play to your preferences by adjusting the amount, type, and size of sand
used in the coating. For a standard concrete tennis court, the cost to install an acrylic color coating runs about
$6,000, according to Kolkmann. To improve bonding of the coating, the concrete surface should have a broom finish
(a lightly textured profile obtained by pushing a broom over freshly placed concrete).

Cushioned surfacing systems consist of one or more layers of cushioning material (usually rubber or plastic fillers)
that result in a resilient surface with good traction and ball response. These systems are popular for both tennis and
basketball courts because they allow for longer playing times by absorbing impact and reducing muscle fatigue.
Modular tile systems are the newest cushioning option on the market and offer the benefits of easy snap-together
installation, long service life, and minimal maintenance. These systems feature interlocking, 12-inch-square tiles
made of high-impact polypropylene. The tiles rest slightly above the base surface to allow for better drainage and
eliminate puddling. The downside of this cushioned comfort is the cost, which can run as high as high as $3 per
square foot installed (or over $21,000 for a 60x120-foot tennis court).

ITF provides a list of many of the court surfacing products available (categorized by the rate of ball speed they
provide) along with links to the websites of suppliers.

Munson Inc. in Glendale, WI

Choosing a Color Scheme for Your Tennis Court

Both color coatings and cushioned surfacing systems come in a gamut of colors, allowing you to branch out from the
traditional green court surface and use nearly any color or combination of colors you choose on your backyard tennis
court. While there is no "regulation" color scheme for tennis courts, some colors work better under certain conditions.
In addition to aesthetics, ASBA recommends considering the following factors:

 Dark court surfaces provide better ball visibility because they contrast with yellow or white tennis balls and reduce
sun glare.
 Two-tone color schemes more clearly define court boundaries. The color with the lowest reflectance (generally the
darker color) should be used within the court boundaries.
 If you usually play during the day, lighter colors will absorb less sunlight and minimize a buildup in surface
temperature.
 For night play, surfaces with low reflectance will require more lighting to illuminate them.
Balcony Types

The geometry of a balcony can vary from each building, but usually fall within two categories. The first
category is the true cantilevered balcony (Figure 1). These types of balconies project approximately
5 feet from buildings and can vary in width from 8 to 12 feet. The second category includes interior
balconies. An interior balcony is usually supported by the same floor system and has columns in
relative close proximity (Figure 2). There is no cantilevered action occurring at these types of
balconies. Regardless of the type of balcony, fall protection is either in the form of a standard railing
or heavy built-up parapet walls. Architects typically determine the drainage requirements and the
required step in the slabs for balconies.
Obviously, positive drainage is needed away from the residential units and off the edge of the exterior
balcony. A step in the slab followed by a sloped top slab leaves 1 to 2 inches less of concrete at the ends
of the balconies. A minimum required slab thickness is often stipulated by the structural engineer. With
the requirement of a step down in the slab, the end result leaves a minimal slope between 1/8 inch to
1/16 inch per foot of slope. While the two types of balconies serve the same purpose for the unit owner,
the designs are somewhat different.
Design and Rotation

True cantilevered balconies are often designed to account for positive bending stresses over the top of
the slab. To counterbalance these top stresses, additional top steel and post tensioning cables often
continue over the column and into the balcony slab. While maintaining serviceability requirements can
be achieved with enough post tensioning and reinforcing bars, deflections in the cantilevered balcony
are often difficult to determine. The final slope of the balcony for drainage will depend on the back span
of the slab and the relative rotation (Figure 3). With a thinner slab at the ends, this has the reverse effect
of less dead load over the balcony, thereby creating a horizontal plane or even a reverse slope on the
balcony. If deflections in the exterior bay due to dead load are approaching the maximum tolerable limit,
this in turn would provide more rotation at the ends of the balcony (Figure 4). Interior balconies, on the
other hand, have the same stresses as a typical floor. The main difference is a reduced slab thickness
within the balcony. The slope of the interior balcony significantly impacts the deflection of the exterior
bay. Rotation along the exterior edge of the balcony due to the deflection in the exterior bay will
certainly cause some loss in slope of drainage. If the immediate dead load deflection was equal to the
step in the slab, the rotation induced by this deflection would cause a balcony slab that was practically
level. Any additional induced deflection due to the long term effect of live load will certainly reverse the
drainage in the balcony slab.
Post Tensioning Concerns

Post tensioning can also have a large impact on the design and deflections of balconies. As slabs become
thinner and spans become longer in residential units, the need to counterbalance the forces and stresses
in the slab is provided with post tensioning (PT). While the PT cables can play a significant role in
deflection issues within the flat plate construction, the high internal force can sometimes have the
opposite effect in balconies. A careful evaluation in the pre-compressive forces needs to be performed
during design. For a true cantilevered balcony, post tensioning cables are often continued over the
column and into the balcony to help with downward deflections and top stresses. However, pre-
compressive forces can be much higher at the balcony edge. With the step in the slab and top of slab
sloping to a minimum stipulated thickness at the ends, the effective area can be reduced by as much as
15%. This potentially can cause two problems. The first problem may arise during stressing. With a
reduction in area, the compressive forces acting at the edge of the balcony during stressing could cause
the concrete to crush and debond (Figure 5). This can be a headache for the general contractor and the
concrete subcontractor. Remedial fixing and spliced stressing may be required. The second issue with a
high amount of stressing at the ends could result in an over amount of reversed deflection. While post
tensioning is used to control deflections, a high amount of stressing could negate any possible
downward slope required for drainage. For an interior balcony, not only is the amount of stressing force
an important characteristic in controlling reversed defections, but low points within the balcony slab
need to be analyzed. If too much force and too much drape are placed within the interior balcony, the
force pushing up in the slab due to drape can also reverse the slope and drainage requirements. A
potential of tendon pop outs is also probable with less concrete in the interior balconies (Figure 6).
Loading

Anticipated loading can also play a huge role in how a balcony slab will deflect. While long term
deflection is an important benchmark and guideline for following and maintaining standards, the life
cycle a balcony slab experiences should also be evaluated. From the start of concrete pouring and
stressing, deflections need to be evaluated for the construction loads and attachment of doors and
railings. If the initial deflection of a balcony slab is out of tolerance, the attachments of railings become
difficult and sometimes improbable. Live loading within the balcony should also be evaluated and
reviewed. Figure 7 shows a typical post tensioned floor slab with the anticipated long term deflection,
including full live load on the balconies. With full live load added to the deflection load combinations,
minimal positive deflections at the balconies are prevalent. In Figure 8, the long term deflection is also
calculated but the live load is removed from the balconies. With the removal of live load, the balcony
deflects upward due to the amount of post tensioning in the slab. While building codes stipulate a
minimum live load the balcony must support, an interesting study by Johnson and Merkel reviewed 100
balconies to determine the actual live load placed on balconies. It was found that, on average, a
residential balcony can experience 50% less live load during a one year study period. While long term
deflections are often difficult and hard to predict, balconies should be reviewed not only for the full long
term dead and live load deflection, but also take into consideration that most balconies experience far
less live load demand. If there is an anticipated live load that is missing from the balcony slab, this has
the direct effect of less load weighing the slab down and therefore only has the full long term dead load
and self-weight associated with a downward deflection.
Corrective Measures

Depending on the nature and severity of the drainage, certain corrective measurements can be taken. In
a recently built apartment building in Alexandria, Virginia, several of the tenants complained about
water ponding on the top of the balcony (Figure 9). Although water was not seeping back into the units,
the standing water was causing concern for the unit owners. A survey of the existing balconies was done
to determine the severity of sloping. A ground penetrating radar scan was done to determine the clear
cover of the top bars. After reviewing the existing structural drawings, it was determined that minor
grounding of the top concrete surface could allow for proper drainage and not compromise the required
clear cover for the top bars as specified in the structural drawings. In other cases, a small amount of
patching compound was applied to the top surface and skimmed down to the edge of the balcony
creating the necessary sloping needed to drain the water off the balcony. The patching compound
applied could only be ¼-inch thick at its maximum point due to the proximity of the door and not create
a tripping hazard when tenants walk in and out of their balconies. On more severe cases, when the
amount of patching compound or grinding would not be sufficient to create the necessary drainage, a
thick continuous waterproofing membrane on the top surface of the concrete balcony and an adhesive
waterproofing sheet was applied at the joint between the exterior of the balcony and the edge of the unit
(Figure 10). While this only created a temporary fix to help protect the residential unit from ponding
water seeping into the livable area, more invasive measures would be needed later. These
measurements included demolishing the balcony and rebuilding with appropriate drainage
requirements.
Conclusion
While the ACI Building code specifies total long term deflections due to live load and incremental
loading of structures after the attachment of non-structural components, there has yet to be a total
deflection criteria adopted. Therefore engineers that look to the code for deflection requirements often
overlook the entire load history a balcony may experience and not take into consideration the possibility
of a reversed deflection. While designing a balcony may seem like just another extension of the flat plate
slab system, prudent engineering should be maintained to ensure and verify that deflections do not
interfere with the required drainage requirements.