METHODS OF PRESTRESSING

IN CONCRETE

PRE-TENSIONING & POSTTENSIONING

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
Using high tensile strength
steel alloys producing permanent precompression in areas subjected to
Tension.

PRINCIPLE

A portion of tensile stress is

counteracted thereby reducing the

cross-sectional area of the steel
reinforcement .
METHODS :-

a) Pretensioning
b)Post-

tensioning
PRETENSIONING :- Placing of concrete

around reinforcing tendons that have

been stressed to the desired degree..

STEEL BARS BEING

STRETCHED BY JACKS

POST-TENSIONING :- Reinforcing tendons

are stretched by jacks whilst keeping them in
serted in voids left pre-hand during curing of
concrete.
These spaces are then pumped full of grout to
bond steel tightly to the concrete

HISTORY

In 1904, Freyssinet attempted to

introduce
permanent acting forces
in concrete to resist forces
coming from loads and was named
Pre stressing.

POST - TENSIONING
Post-tensioning- is a method of reinforcing

(strengthening) concrete with high-strength

steel strands called tendons.
Requires specialized knowledge and expertise

to fabricate, assemble and install.

After

curing of concrete, reinforcing tendons

(placed in side 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.

POST TENSIONING METHOD

BENEFITS

Concrete is very strong in compression but

weak in tension.

This deflection will cause the bottom of the beam

to stretch slightly & cause cracking.

It limits crackwidth.
Because it is prestressed, the steel is effective

as reinforcement even though the concrete may

not be cracked .
Post-tensioned structures can be designed to

have minimal deflection and cracking, even

under full load.

Post Tensioned Structure

Cont..
Post-tensioning allows longer clear spans,

thinner slabs, fewer beams and more slender,

dramatic elements.

This innovative form is result of

post tensioning.

Thinner slabs mean less concrete is required.

It means a lower building height for the same

floor-to-floor height.
Post-tensioning can thus allow a significant

reduction in building weight.

A lower building height can also translate to

considerable savings in mechanical systems

and faade costs.
Another advantage of post-tensioning is that

beams and slabs can be continuous, i.e. a

single beam can run continuously from one
end of the building to the other. .
Freezing & thawing durability is higher than

non prestressed concrete.

Bridge decks

 Post-tensioning is the system of choice for

parking structures since flexibility is there.

.
Post-tensioning allows bridges to be built to very

demanding geometry.
.
Post-tensioning can also be used to produce

virtually crack-free concrete for water-tanks.

Helps in quick assembly.

Pre-tensioned concrete
Pre-tensioned concrete
Pre-tensioned concrete is cast around

tendons that are in tension..

This method produces a good bond
between the tendon and concrete, which
both protects the tendon from corrosion
and allows for direct transfer of tension.
Thus, most pretensioned concrete

elements are prefabricated in a factory and

must be transported to the construction
site, which limits their size.
Pre-tensioned elements may be railway
sleepers ,balcony elements, lintels , floor
slabs, beams or foundation piles.

Principle of Pre-stressing

Prestressing Steel
(High Strength steel)
Forms:
Wires
Strands
Tendons
Cables
Bars
Source of Force:
Mechanical
Hydraulic
Chemical

THANKING YOU
..