A concrete strengthening technique where high-strength steel cables are tensioned after the concrete has hardened, creating compression that counteracts tensile forces. This method allows for longer spans and thinner slabs than conventional reinforced concrete.
From 'post' (after) and 'tensioned' (stretched tight), developed in the 1940s by French engineer Eugène Freyssinet. The technique evolved from early prestressed concrete experiments in the 1920s.
Post-tensioned concrete revolutionized skyscraper construction - buildings like the Willis Tower use post-tensioned slabs that are 30% thinner than conventional concrete, reducing building weight and allowing for more floors within height limits! The cables can be stressed to over 200,000 pounds per square inch.
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