STRUCTURAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ONE-WAY PRETENSIONED AND POST-TENSIONED SLABS
Keywords:
deflection; economic analysis; one-way slabs; post-tensioning; prestressed concrete; pretensioningAbstract
Prestressed concrete slabs make it possible to span medium and long distances while controlling cracking and improving service performance in concrete floor systems. This study develops a structural and economic analysis of one-way pretensioned and post-tensioned slabs using 1 m equivalent strips, spans of 6, 8, 10 and 12 m, constant material properties, and numerical verification in ADAPT Builder 23. To ensure structural comparability, the same thickness was adopted for both alternatives at each span; therefore, self-weight, gross flexural stiffness and gravitational demands Mu and Vu were not attributed to the prestressing system. Differences are interpreted through prestressing representation, tendon profile, load balancing and construction conditions. All models satisfied the L/360 deflection limit. Pretensioned deflections ranged from 3.3 to 11.3 mm, while post-tensioned deflections ranged from 5.5 to 19.8 mm. The economic assessment was developed through parametric quantities, formal reference proformas for the 10 m scenario, unit-price databases, supplier references and IPCO-based price updating. The study concludes that system selection should not depend only on unit cost per square meter, but on strength, serviceability, commercial availability, transport, lifting, specialized labor, tensioning equipment and local project conditions.
Downloads
References
Abd Elhameed, A. E., et al. (2024). Strengthening of hollow core precast prestressed reinforced concrete slabs using different techniques. Cogent Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2024.2307170
Abdelaziz, O. K., & Abdalla, H. A. (2021). Cost evaluation of post-tensioned slabs in multi-storey buildings considering seismic effect. Proceedings of ICCAUA, 4(1), 742-750. https://doi.org/10.38027/ICCAUA2021280N5
ACI Committee 318. (2019). Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-19) and Commentary. American Concrete Institute.
Ahmad, O., Sadeghi, K., & Nouban, F. (2023). Comparison of the post-tensioned, solid, hollow block, and flat slabs in terms of economy considering different span lengths. International Journal of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 28(2), 24-33. https://doi.org/10.59441/ijame/168936
Arias-Salazar, D., & Naranjo-Bustos, C. (2022). Comparación económica de dos tipos de losas con sistemas tradicionales vs. losas postensadas en Quito - Ecuador. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT, 7(4-2), 458-469. https://doi.org/10.33386/593dp.2022.4-2.1084
Attia, M. M., et al. (2023). Nonlinear behavior of bonded and unbonded two-way post-tensioned slabs pre-strengthened with CFRP laminates. Buildings, 13(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010035
Azam, R., Riaz, M. R., Shakeel, M., Farooq, M. U., & Arshad, M. A. (2024). Economical design strategies for reinforced concrete one-way slabs: A parametric approach considering material strength and rebar size. Discover Civil Engineering, 1, 102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-024-00106-7
Chaaban, S., Temsah, Y., & Darwiche, M. (2025). Structural response of post-tensioned slabs reinforced with Forta-Ferro under impact load: Experimental and numerical approach. The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 19, e18741495379555. https://doi.org/10.2174/0118741495379555250410082448
Chaaban, S., Temsah, Y., Jahami, A., & Darwiche, M. (2024). Structural response of post-tensioned slabs reinforced with Forta-Ferro and conventional shear reinforcement under impact load. Fibers, 12(10), 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12100079
CYPE Ingenieros. (2026). Generador de Precios de la Construcción: Ecuador. https://ecuador.generadordeprecios.info/
Elgohary, H. A. (2023). Supplementary span-to-depth ratio expressions for one-way and two-way concrete members. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43995-023-00015-3
Fan, S., Zhang, Y., Nguyen, T. N. H., & Tan, K. H. (2022). Toward consistent prediction of web-shear capacity for hollow-core slabs using strut-and-tie models. Journal of Structural Engineering, 148(7), 04022081. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003346
Farid, A. F., Kamal, A., & Rashed, Y. F. (2024). An automated optimized design of practical post-tensioned slabs. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 71, 161. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-024-00496-6
Hegab, A. A., Kassem, M. E.-S., & Mabrouk, R. T. S. (2025). Flexural behaviour of prestressed post-tension voided biaxial slab under uniformly distributed load. Civil Engineering Journal, 11(5), 1870-1890. https://doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-05-09
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2026). Índice de Precios de la Construcción (IPCO). https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/indice-de-precios-de-la-construccion/
Ismail, O. S., et al. (2024). Punching shear behavior of flat slabs with post-tensioning in one direction. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-024-01660-w
Jeziorski, M., Derkowski, W., & Michelini, E. (2024). Vertical load distribution in precast hollow core floors: State of the art and future perspectives. Structural Concrete, 25(5), 3412-3429. https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.202301150
Jin, J., Hu, Y., et al. (2025). Experimental and numerical studies on the mechanical behavior of novel bidirectional prestressed prefabricated composite slabs. Buildings, 15(2), 232. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15020232
Lee, D., Park, M. K., Yang, Y., & Kim, K. S. (2025). Shear capacity of composite precast prestressed hollow-core slabs. ACI Structural Journal, 122(6), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.14359/51748928
Mavisa. (2026). Prefabricados y pretensados de hormigón. https://mavisa.ec/
Park, M. K., Lee, D., Yang, Y., Zhang, D., & Kim, K. S. (2022). Composite performance of prestressed hollow-core slabs with cast-in-place topping concrete. ACI Structural Journal, 119(3), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.14359/51734347
PCI. (2022). Manual for the Design of Hollow Core Slabs (MNL-116). Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.
Proformas Formales Losa Ecuador. (2026). Proformas formales referenciales para comparación económica de losas pretensadas prefabricadas y postensadas in situ. Documento de trabajo.
PTI. (2019). Post-Tensioning Manual. Post-Tensioning Institute.
Reksowardojo, A. P., Senatore, G., Bischoff, M., & Blandini, L. (2024). Design and control benchmark of rib-stiffened concrete slabs equipped with an adaptive tensioning system. Journal of Structural Engineering, 150(1), 04023200. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-12320
Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública. (2026). Portal de Compras Públicas y documentación de referencia para análisis de precios unitarios en contratación pública. https://portal.compraspublicas.gob.ec/sercop/
Sjah, J., et al. (2025). Comparative analysis of post-tensioned flat slab with conventional design using Building Information Modelling (BIM) integration in tower structure. Journal of Applied Engineering Science.
Techart. (2026). Losas alveolares pretensadas. https://www.techart.ec/losas-vigueta-bovedilla
Yepes-Bellver, L., et al. (2025). Surrogate-assisted cost optimization for post-tensioned slabs. Infrastructures, 10(2), 43.
Zelickman, Y., & Amir, O. (2022). Optimization of post-tensioned concrete slabs for minimum cost. Engineering Structures, 259, 114132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114132
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Franklin Fabian Alcivar veliz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
