Basic Concepts of Prestressing

• Prestressed concrete is basically concrete in which internal

stresses of a suitable magnitude and distribution are introduced
so that the stresses resulting from external loads are
counteracted to a desired degree.

• In reinforced concrete members, the prestress is commonly

introduced by tensioning the steel reinforcement.

• In 1904, Prof. Freyssinet attempted to introduce permanently

acting forces in concrete to resist the elastic forces developed
under loads and this idea was later developed under the name of
“prestressing”.

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In the words of Prof. Guyon:

“There is probably no structural problem to which prestress

cannot provide a solution, and often a revolutionary one.
Prestress is more than a technique; it is a general principle”

Need for High-Strength Steel and Concrete

1. Necessity of using high-strength steel and concrete.

2. Recognition of losses of prestress due to various causes.

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Tendon: A stretched element used in a concrete member of
structure to impart prestress to the concrete.

Anchorage: A device generally used to enable the tendon to impart

and maintain prestress in the concrete.

Pretensioning: A method of prestressing concrete in which the

tendons are tensioned before the concrete is placed.

Post-tensioning: A method of prestressing concrete by tensioning

the tendons against hardened concrete.

Degree of prestressing: A measure of the magnitude of the

prestressing force related to the resultant stress occurring in the
structural member at working load.

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Advantages of Prestressed Concrete

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Precast prestressed Double Tee floor beams

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 Post-tensioned prestressed concrete twin box girder bridge
under construction using the segmentally cast cantilever method

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 Sunshine Sky Bridge,
Tampa Bay, Florida,
365 m main span
cable-stayed bridge

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Prestressed concrete folded plate roof structure

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Prestressed concrete Floating Dock

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Vidyasagar Sethu cable-stayed bridge in Kolkata

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 Materials for Prestressed Concrete

High-Strength Concrete Mixes

• Prestressed concrete requires concrete which has a high
compressive strength at a reasonably early age, with
comparatively higher tensile strength than ordinary concrete.

• Low shrinkage, minimum creep characteristics and a high value

of Young’s modulus are generally deemed necessary for
concrete used for prestressed members.

• Many desirable properties, such as durability, impermeability

and abrasion resistance, are highly influenced by the strength of
concrete.

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