PTI DC10.7 PDF

INTRODUCTION

The search for economical foundations for residential and light commercial construction following World War II led to the use of ground supported reinforced concrete slabs, commonly referred to as "floating slabs." During the mid 1960's, the use of post-tensioned prestressed concrete slabs was adapted to slab-on-ground construction with the intent of improving the economy, crack control and deflection performance of the slabs. The superior structural performance of post-tensioned slabs was demonstrated by several hundred installations in Louisiana and Texas, and by the 1967 test of a 40 ft.x20 ft. residential slab shown in Fig.1. The use of post-tensioned slab-on-ground construction has grown rapidly since those initial applications. In 1980, it is estimated that 100 million square feet of post-tensioned slab-on-ground construction was completed, including the construction of industrial floors.

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