Analysis of RCC and PSC Beam: A Comparative Research with Post-Tensioning Performance in Multistory Building under Seismic Zone III

Abstract

The world is facing urban land shortages prompting engineers to design visually appealing high rise buildings, yet the under use of post tensioning techniques despite their advantages in material efficiency and structural integrity poses challenges in ensuring stability amid increasingly complex architectural demands. In this research work, to conduct an approach to use PSC in multistory buildings and its basic behaviour, a comprehensive review was carried out through various papers related to the PSC and its techniques have thoroughly and critically studied. Gap shows that none of the researchers conducted an analytical study on PSC beam by post tensioning using LRPC strand cables. Accurate simulations are conducted using an analysis software with various cases by considering a commercial building and replacing the PSC beams at different floor levels. These cases are then optimised as per its limiting values (OPSC-BP to OPSC-BR) and compared with general RCC rebars based general structure (RCC-B). To check the performance of commercial building, the output parameters such as deflection of beams, shear forces, bending moments in beam and base shear of the entire structure under seismic load has conducted with its suitable checks to observe the limiting values of the beam resistance are evaluated an compared. Observations in this research shows that for selected G+10 commercial apartment, there has a significant reduction in sizes when using the optimized PSC beam used and cross sectional area has reduced to minimum of 12.89% to maximum of 69.70% for different floor levels as conclusive part of this research work. At last, recommendations show that PSC allows in reduction of members that has directly proportioned with the cost and hence the economy has achieved.

Introduction

Overview:
Prestressed Concrete (PSC) involves introducing internal stresses into concrete by tensioning high-strength steel tendons before external loads act on the structure. This technique increases load capacity, reduces deflection, and controls cracking, enhancing strength, durability, and service life. PSC is widely used in bridges, high-rise buildings, and long-span structures.

Types of PSC:

1. Pre-tensioned Concrete: Steel tendons are tensioned before concrete is poured; commonly used in precast elements.

2. Post-tensioned Concrete: Concrete is cast and hardened first; then tendons are tensioned; commonly used in cast-in-place structures like multistory buildings.

Research Objectives:
The study focuses on analyzing PSC beams at various floor levels in a multistory commercial building using dynamic response spectrum analysis (via Staad Pro). Key goals include:

• Calculating forces, deflections, shear forces, and bending moments in PSC beams, comparing them with conventional RCC beams.

• Evaluating load sustainability and reductions in shear and moment due to PSC use.

• Determining maximum base shear in the structure for seismic performance.

• Identifying optimal beam sizes with reduced cross-sectional areas for efficient design.

Structure and Modeling Details:

• The subject is a G+10 commercial building in Seismic Zone III with ordinary shear walls and special moment-resisting frames.

• Material grades: M30 concrete, Fe550 steel; post-tensioning uses 12.7 mm LRPC cables.

• Various cases analyzed, replacing RCC beams with PSC beams at different floors (from plinth to roof level).

Results & Findings:

• PSC beams show reduced deflection, shear forces, and bending moments compared to RCC beams across floor levels.

• Significant percentage reductions in shear forces and bending moments are observed with optimized PSC beams.

• Base shear in seismic directions (X and Z) is also reduced in structures using PSC beams.

• Beam cross-sectional area can be reduced effectively while maintaining structural performance, optimizing material use.

Conclusion

The conclusion can be pointed out are as follows:- 1) The various cases of PSC beams provided in the multistory building at different floor levels has achieved. (details mentioned in Modelling Approach section) 2) The calculation of forces for applying the post tensioning effect has achieved. (details mentioned in Modelling Approach section) 3) The values of deflection generated in beam member has obtained and comparative analysis shows that selected PSC beams with reduced cross sectional area can generate same deflection are also under the limit. (details mentioned in result and discussion section). 4) The values of shear forces generated in beam member has obtained and comparative analysis shows that selected PSC beams with reduced cross sectional area can generate less shear forces significantly reduced to minimum 8.39% to maximum of 53.88% are also under the limit. (details mentioned in result and discussion section). 5) The values of bending moment generated in beam member has obtained and comparative analysis shows that selected PSC beams with reduced cross sectional area can generate less bending moment significantly reduced to minimum 12.30% to maximum of 65.60% are also under the limit. (details mentioned in result and discussion section). 6) The values of base shear generated for entire structure has obtained and comparative analysis shows that selected PSC beams with reduced cross sectional area can generate less base shear for both horizontal X and Z direction. (details mentioned in result and discussion section). 7) Optimised PSC beam generated by considering all result parameters significantly reduced to minimum 12.89% to maximum of 69.70%. (details mentioned in result and discussion section). This project concluded that when comparing all the output result parameters, the structure where RCC beams provided and interchanges at different floor levels, this concept has proved to be efficient for interchanging of beams. The advantages of PSC Post-tensioning method allows the reduction in cross sectional area that ultimately will be suitable for multistory building field and hence should be recommended that when this type of construction procedure adopted, PSC Post tensioning beams will reduce the cost of the entire structure.

References

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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.