RKALC Learning Centre

PT band beam analysis and design using PTKalc

A practical engineering walkthrough of a five-span post-tensioned band beam, from geometry and loading through tendon profiling, load balancing, analysis, serviceability, reinforcement design and the final calculation report.

Watch the walkthrough Open worked example PTKalc user manual
Worked design example

A five-span PT band beam from model to report

The example is intended to keep the focus on engineering decisions: how the model is established, how results are interpreted and how the tendon profile is refined during design.

Example beam

The worked example uses a five-span T-shaped band beam with spans of 6.0 m, 9.0 m, 6.0 m, 5.0 m and 9.0 m. The section is 600 mm deep with a 1000 mm band width, 2000 mm flange width, 200 mm flange thickness and 40 MPa concrete.

The loading includes beam self-weight together with a 32 kN/m superimposed dead load and 48 kN/m live load. The prestress strategy begins by balancing approximately 80% of self-weight, then reviewing deflection and flexural reinforcement demand as the tendon profile is refined.

What the walkthrough covers

  • Beam geometry, supports, section definition and loading.
  • Prestressing tendon profiling and equivalent load balancing.
  • Elastic stresses, bending moments and structural response.
  • Short-term and long-term deflections.
  • Flexural reinforcement demand and reinforcement envelopes.
  • Shear reinforcement demand and design review.
  • Refinement of the tendon profile based on the analysis results.
  • Generation and review of the final PTKalc calculation report.
PTKalc five-span PT band beam worked example
Worked example: five-span T-shaped PT band beam analysed and designed using PTKalc.
Video walkthrough

Follow the complete PTKalc workflow

The video demonstrates the full analysis and design sequence while keeping the emphasis on the engineering decisions behind the model.

Complete walkthrough

PTKalc: Five-Span PT Band Beam

Model the beam, establish the tendon profile, review equivalent prestress loading, interpret the structural response, assess serviceability and reinforcement demand, refine the design and produce the final calculation report.

  • Geometry and loading setup.
  • Tendon profiling and load balancing.
  • Stress, moment and shear review.
  • Elastic and long-term deflection assessment.
  • Flexural and shear reinforcement envelopes.
  • Tendon profile refinement and final reporting.
Worked example PDF

Keep the example beside the video

The attached PDF contains the beam arrangement and supporting PTKalc material used for the learning-centre example.

PDF attachment

PT Band Beam — PTKalc worked example

Use the PDF as the companion document to the walkthrough. It records the five-span geometry, T-section dimensions, loading assumptions and prestressing objectives used to establish the model.

  • Spans: 6.0 m, 9.0 m, 6.0 m, 5.0 m and 9.0 m.
  • T-shaped band beam, 600 mm overall depth.
  • 1000 mm band width and 2000 mm flange width.
  • 40 MPa concrete.
  • SDL = 32 kN/m and LL = 48 kN/m, in addition to beam self-weight.
  • Initial prestress objective: balance approximately 80% of self-weight and optimise deflection and reinforcement demand.
Preview PDF Download example
Cover of the PTKalc PT band beam worked example PDF
Five-span PT band beam example used in the walkthrough.

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Technical resources

Go beyond the walkthrough

Use the manual for the analysis and design methodology, and the verification library for independent checks and comparison examples.

User, analysis and design manual

PTKalc Manual

Review tendon-profile mathematics, equivalent prestress loading, friction and anchorage effects, finite-element representation, flexural and shear design, serviceability and long-term deflection methodology.

Open PTKalc manual
Verification library

PTKalc Verification

Review the published PTKalc verification examples and supporting documentation used to check the analysis and design implementation.

Open verification page
Engineering perspective
The objective is not simply to operate the software. It is to make the engineering decisions behind the model visible and reviewable.

PTKalc keeps the modelling workflow deliberately direct so attention can remain on tendon geometry, load balancing, structural response, serviceability, reinforcement demand and the iterative judgement required to arrive at a practical design.