Use of Post Tensioning in Multistoried Buildings: An Observative Review

Abstract

According to recent statistics, India is recognized as one of the most densely populated nations in the world. Due to this density, a severe shortage of land is being faced across urban areas. As a response to this issue, high-rise structures with broad coverage are being preferred by urban planners. To maximize space efficiency, aesthetically attractive buildings are being designed by engineers in increasing numbers. Although these designs are widely favoured by clients, post-tensioning methods are rarely implemented during construction. The benefits of this technique, such as reduced material consumption and enhanced structural integrity, are being largely overlooked in modern high-rise developments. The main challenge is to maintain the stability of architectural buildings when structural instability arises due to their visually attractive designs. In this study, various papers related to the topic have been thoroughly reviewed and critically analysed, revealing that extensive research has already been conducted in this field but not in multi-storeyed buildings. To enhance the stability of these buildings, a comprehensive literature review was carried out. As a result of these findings, clear and focused conclusions were drawn which forms the research objectives of our further technical study.

Introduction

The text discusses the growing adoption of post-tensioning in concrete construction, especially in India, to meet demands for durable, efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure. Post-tensioning enhances structural performance by using high-strength steel tendons tensioned after concrete hardening, enabling longer spans, thinner slabs, and faster construction while reducing material use and improving crack resistance.

Several research studies reviewed highlight the advantages and applications of prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures:

• Structural Efficiency & Seismic Performance: Prestressed concrete frames and post-tensioned flat slabs offer superior strength, stiffness, and seismic resilience compared to traditional reinforced concrete, with reduced cracking and better deflection control.

• Construction Speed & Cost-effectiveness: Precast and post-tensioned techniques accelerate construction (e.g., faster slab cycles), reduce material consumption, and improve quality and safety. These methods suit congested urban environments and large infrastructure projects (bridges, high-rise buildings).

• Evaluation & Maintenance: Methods like the saw-cut technique are used to assess residual stresses and prestressing forces effectively, aiding in maintenance and lifespan prediction. Corrosion effects on prestressing steel are also studied for durability.

• Applications & Case Studies: Landmark Indian projects (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Bandra–Worli Sea Link) exemplify the benefits of post-tensioning. Studies from other countries show the global relevance of prestressed concrete in housing, bridges, and seismic zones.

• Challenges & Recommendations: Proper supervision, quality control, and further research on testing methods are necessary to prevent failures and optimize prestressed concrete use. The integration of advanced software and adherence to modern codes improve design accuracy and safety.

Conclusion

Based on the reviewed literature, enhanced ease and stability in building analysis or other structure analysis/experimental work have been conducted until date, allowing both simple and complex architectural structures to be examined effectively through the application of PSC. Through the conducted literature survey, it has observed that the impact of PSC (Pre/Post stressed) usage in multistorey buildings under seismic loading conditions has not been adequately addressed. From the collective findings of past studies, a conclusion regarding the usage and performance of PSC has reached, and the key outcomes derived from this research outlined below: 1) There should be a research based on the usage of LRPC in multistoried building structure. 2) There should be a research based on the comparative analysis on PSC strand based and RCC rebar based concrete beam that which one is better. 3) There should be a research based on the guidelines followed by IS 456:2000 with IS 1343-2012, should be performed with necessary checks. 4) There should be a research based on the seismic analysis by taking a seismic zone as per IS 1893:2016 considering the PSC. 5) There should be a research that shows the limiting values by applying the checks. 6) There should be a research based on taking different output parameters, as it will be necessary to judge the behavior of structure. 7) There should be a research based on taking the different cases for analytical analysis. The main focus of this study is to check whether the PSC beams are feasible or not when applied to the multistorey building under seismic effects and need to find out the optimised dimensions achieved in the replacement of RCC at an efficient floor level that has going to be a major study for upcoming proposed work.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Abhishek Chaturvedi, Dr. Raghvendra Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.