POST-TENSIONING

POST-TENSIONING

Post Tensioning Leadership and Expertise

KLINE Engineering & Consulting is internationally recognized for its excellence in post tensioned concrete design. Our innovative engineering solutions reduce risk, accelerate project delivery, and generate millions of dollars in savings for clients across a range of sectors.

We specialize in the design of post tensioned systems for multistory residential buildings, podium slabs, slabs on ground, water tanks, bridges, transfer elements, and complex cable supported structures. Each design is tailored to maximize structural efficiency, constructability, and long term performance.

KLINE plays an active role in shaping the future of the post tensioning industry. Our engineers regularly contribute to industry advancement through published research, technical lectures, conference presentations, and active participation in ACI and PTI technical and code committees.

This deep expertise and commitment to continuous improvement ensure that our clients receive smarter, safer, and more cost effective solutions—every time.

OTHER SERVICES:

Post-Tensioning

Evaluation & Restoration

Construction Services

Expert Services 

Structural Health Monitoring  

Structural Wood Engineering

ADVANTAGES OF POST-TENSIONING (PT):

Construction site with steel reinforcement bars and workers in safety gear installing the framework on a building roof in an urban area

Advanced Structural Solutions with Post Tensioning

At KLINE, we leverage the latest advancements in construction technology to deliver designs that are efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible. Among the most impactful innovations in the industry today is the use of post-tensioned concrete. This technique allows us to optimize structural performance while minimizing material use and environmental impact.

Post-tensioning offers a wide range of benefits across building and parking structure design, including:

  1. Larger column-free spaces within the building or parking structure with thinner structural members.

  2. Reduced depth of transfer elements such as transfer girders, transfer plates, and podium slabs.

  3. Reduced material, labor costs, and congestion during construction by reducing concrete quantities by over 20% compared to conventional reinforced concrete, and rebar in beams and slabs by up to 80%

  4. Reduced cracking in concrete members due to pre-compressing from the PT.

  5. Reduced cement consumption results in reduced production of greenhouse gases.

KLINE offers the following post-tensioning consulting services:

  • Design of post-tensioned structures

  • Structural analysis, condition assessment, repair, and strengthening of PT structures

  • Value engineering

  • Peer reviews

  • Barrier cable design

  • PT shop drawings

Unlocking the Value of Post-Tensioning

When it comes to value engineering, post-tensioning (PT) delivers an exceptional return on investment. With advantages such as thinner slabs, enhanced durability through pre-compression, and improved constructability, PT is a smart, cost-effective solution for a wide range of projects.

Curious about the impact?


Here are real results from a recent project:

  • 11% reduction in material consumption


  • 16.5% reduction in overall construction costs, thanks to labor savings and streamlined constructability


  • Redesign delivered in just 3 weeks, including foundations, lateral framing, and the podium.

If you’re exploring how a PT solution could drive savings and performance on your next project, let’s talk. Our passion and expertise in post-tensioning make every conversation valuable.

Two workers in yellow safety vests and white helmets looking at a computer screen in an industrial setting
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THE PT KNOWLEDGE CORNER:

Constructible PT Details: Let’s Talk About Restraint

When designing post-tensioned (PT) slabs, one of the most critical — and often overlooked — considerations is restraint to shortening (RTS). As PT introduces precompression, elastic shortening of the slab is expected. But when that shortening is restrained, it can lead to cracking and long-term durability issues (🔗 Learn more about common pitfalls in PT design HERE).

To minimize RTS, it’s essential to strategically place stiff walls throughout the framing plan. However, when restraint is unavoidable, slip or isolation details become vital to mitigate cracking.

While slip details aren’t new, not all are created equal, especially when it comes to constructability. Based on feedback from our concrete construction partners, we’ve identified the most practical and cost-effective slip details they prefer to see on drawings. These details not only reduce field issues but can also drive real savings on your next project.

Architectural detail drawing of a wall section showing brick facade, PT slab, and layered insulation and bond breaks.
Architectural detail of a wall section showing a see plan, level 2.0, and a note to provide two layers of 6-mil poly bond, with a break between slab and wall. Instructions to wrap the vert. dowels at the top of the wall with 1 thick x 8 long compressible material, and a note about reinforcement and concrete specifications.

Have more questions? feel free to reach out. We exist to empower our partners to build great things.

POST-TENSIONING PROJECT GALLERY

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