BUILDING WORLD CLASS CIVIL CAPABILITIES | 5th February 2018 | Issue - 9

APPLICATION OF PRESTRESSING
Prestressing of Concrete • Bridges and long span beams
What is Post Tensioning?
Post-tensioning- is a method of
Prestressing is the process by which a concrete element is compressed, generally by steel • Framed structures
wires or strands. Precast elements may be prestressed during the construction process reinforcing (strengthening) concrete or
• Marine and waterside structures other materials with high strength
(pre-tensioning) or structures may be stressed once casting is completed (post-tensioning).
• Railway sleepers, Prestressing piles steel strands called tendons.
Prestressing compensates for the tensile stresses introduced when the element is loaded.
Hence the concrete generally remains in compression. • Water tanks and other liquid containers Post-tensioning allows construction
The principle behind prestressed concrete is that compressive stresses induced by high- • Pipes, Poles, Masts, Towers, Tall structures that would otherwise be impossible
strength steel tendons in a concrete member before loads are applied which will balance • Roads, Runways due to either site constraints or
the tensile stresses imposed in the member during service. • Nuclear power reactors architectural requirements.
As we know concrete is poor in bearing tension. • Floating structures Requires specialized knowledge
Normally, in loading of beam, part below the neutral axis is in tension and is prone to Equipment Used – and expertise to fabricate, assemble
cracks, as illustrated in Figure 2’s top beam. and install.
After adequate curing of concrete,
reinforcing tendons (placed inside the
voids of the structure) are tensioned/
stretched by jacks on the sides &
grouts filled with appropriate mix.
Applications – a) Structural
members beams, bridge-deck panels,
Roof –Slabs, Concrete Silos Etc.

Figure 1 & 2
Thus, we use reinforcement in part of concrete which comes under tension (here, part
below the neutral axis).
As the name suggests, prestressed concrete, initially during casting a tension is given to
reinforcement and concrete is casted with tension still applied.
When tension is released, due to its elastic nature, reinforcing bars try to come in their
natural state and thus developing a compressive stress in concrete.
In figure above, the middle beam is in state with no live load (no external load), thus a
compressive stress in lower part.
So when loading will be applied, the beam will come to its shape as shown in lowermost
beam, thereby inducing minimum compressive stress (zero if highly accurate calculations
are done) on lower part, as stress is induced in reinforcing bars.

Post - Tensioning

Benefits of Prestressing – Steps followed for post tensioning Get a chance to be featured in the
• Post-tensioned structures can be designed to next Civil COE Newsletter and win
have minimal deflection and cracking, even under • Sheathing laying & profiling of tendons a surprise gift by answering the
full load. • Strand cutting, bulbing & threading following question:
• Post-tensioning allows longer clear spans, thinner • Concreting
Q. Bituminous membrane
slabs, fewer beam and more slender, dramatic • Post tensioning
waterproofing is mainly
elements • Grouting
used for?
• Post-tensioning can thus allow a significant
reduction in building weight versus a conventional Note: Please send answers & your
concrete building with the same number of floors valuable suggestions to
reducing the foundation load and can be a major svpcivil@kecrpg.com.
advantage in seismic areas. Hint: Refer the previous Civil COE
• Another advantage of post-tensioning is that Newsletters
beams and slabs can be continuous, i.e. a single
beam can run continuously from one end of the Civil SBU is excluded from
participating in the Quiz
building to the other.
• Freezing & thawing durability is higher in Mr. Rajesh Gupta - Sikkim Office
prestressed concrete. Mr. Rishikesh V. Pawar – KEC Abu
Dhabi

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