Post-tensioning places high-strength strand in sheathing or ducts before the pour and jacks it to high tension once the concrete is strong enough, squeezing the member into compression so it spans farther with less depth and cracking. US building slabs and parking decks mostly use unbonded monostrand tendons, while bridges and heavy structures use bonded, grouted multistrand systems. Cutting or coring a PT slab without locating the tendons first can release a strand with lethal force.
It's a PT deck, so nobody drills, cores or shoots a pin into it until the GPR guy marks the tendons.
Also heard as
- post-tensioning
- post-tensioned concrete
- PT slab
Related terms
Tendon
The steel strand assembly in post-tensioned concrete that is pulled tight to precompress the member.
Maturity method
Estimating in-place concrete strength from its temperature history, recorded by sensors cast into the pour.
Core
A cylinder of hardened concrete drilled out of a structure to test its strength or inspect its condition.
Rebar
Deformed steel bar cast into concrete to carry the tension that plain concrete cannot.