Post-Tensioned Concrete Design Spreadsheet Program

Matthew Stuart, P.E., S.E., P. Eng.


Course Outline

This course provides the documentation to enable the use of a post-tension design spreadsheet program for one-way concrete beam and slab and two-way concrete slab systems. Documentation for the program includes: Program Scope, Design Assumptions, Design Methodology, Program Limitations, Description of Input/Output, Hardware Requirements, Variable List, Design Examples and Manual Calculation Checks. In addition, a copy of the spreadsheet program is also made available.

This course includes a multiple choice quiz at the end.

Learning Objective

The propose of this course is to enable the user to develop a fundamental understanding of the design of post-tensioned concrete structures in order to make the use of the spreadsheet program both possible and practical.

Course Introduction

This course deals primarily with the design and computational aspects of post-tensioned concrete structures. For general design philosophy and analysis of post-tensioned concrete, the reader should refer to PDHonline Course s127: General Overview of Post-Tensioned Concrete Design.

Course Content

This spreadsheet program provides for the design and analysis of post-tensioned concrete one-way beam and slab systems and two-way flat plate slab systems. The program is divided into three separate screens, which correspond to the three major areas of concern in the design of a post-tensioned member. These categories are: Service Stress Analysis, Ultimate Moment Strength and Ultimate Beam Shear Analysis. This last category is further subdivided into a supplemental screen for the design and analysis of combined Ultimate Beam Shear and Torsion. Although the Service Stress and Ultimate Moment Strength portions of the program are capable of analyzing both one-way beams and slabs and two-way flat plates, the Ultimate Shear and Shear/Torsion portions of the program are intended for the analysis of one-way beams only. All ultimate strength analysis portions of the program are intended for unbonded post-tensioned systems only.

This program is not based on the latest version of the ACI 318 Code but can be modified as required to update per the latest edition of the Code. The results of this program have been compared to other proprietary software that is available on the market place, such as ADAPT, with accurate correlations resulting.

In this lesson, you need to

  1. Download POST-TENSION.xls (a spreadsheet program, 56 KB) and get familar with the spreadsheet program.

  2. Study the User's Manual of POST-TENSION.xls (a pdf file, 57 pages, see below for download options), which provides detailed guidance on how to analyse and design post-tensioned concrete.
The above spreadsheet program and User's Manual can be downloaded and be printed free of charge. Choose any of the formats below to start downloading:

Download POST-TENSION.xls (a spreadsheet program, 55 KB)

Download the zipped User's Manual of POST-TENSION.xls (a zip file, 19.8 MB - choose this format for faster download)

Download User's Manual of POST-TENSION.xls in PDF format (a pdf file, 20.3 MB, 57 pages - Because of the large size, it may take some time to load this file into Acrobat Reader. It is recommended to download the zipped manual and unzip it using WinZip.)

Course Summary

This course provides the user with a fundamental understanding of post-tensioned concrete design to enable the use of a spreadsheet program. The program provides for the ultimate strength and service stress design and analysis of one-way beam and slab and two-way flat plate systems.

Access to the separate program used to analysis post-tensioning losses including friction and wedge set used in conjunction with the spreadsheet program can be made possible by contacting the author of this course.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

ADAPT Software System
Post-Tensioned Concrete for Today's Market- Seattle DailyJournal of Commerce
Post-Tensioning Institute
Post Tensioned Slabs - Concrete Network.com

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz


DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.