PRESTRESSED

CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Ar.C.N.Vaishnavi
Ar.M.Padma
Reinforcement
• Concrete is about 90% weaker in tension than it is in
compression
• Steel has high tensile strength, has the same thermal expansion
as concrete, and bonds well with concrete

Reinforced Concrete
• Reinforced concrete is a strong durable building material that
can be formed into many varied shapes and sizes.
• Its utility and versatility are achieved by combining the best
features of concrete and steel.
 PROPERTIES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE
 The tensile strength is only about 10 per cent of the compressive
strength.
 Reinforced concrete structures are designed on the assumption that the
concrete does not resist any tensile forces.
 Reinforcement is designed to carry these tensile forces, which are
transferred by bond between the interface of the two materials.
 If this bond is not adequate, the reinforcing bars will just slip within the
concrete and there will not be a composite action.
 Concrete must be well compacted around the reinforcement during
construction.
 In addition, some bars are ribbed or twisted so that there is an extra
mechanical grip.
PRESTRESSING
Theory: “Place all the concrete of
the member in compression”
(take advantage of concrete’s
compressive strength of the
entire member)
 Internal stresses are induced to
counteract external stresses.

Advantages:
- Increase the load carrying
capacity
- Increase span length, or
- Reduce the member’s size
PRINCIPLE OF PRE-STRESSING:

 Pre-stressing is a method in which compression

force is applied to the reinforced concrete
section.
 The effect of pre stressing is to reduce the
tensile stress in the section to the point till the
tensile stress is below the cracking stress. Thus
the concrete does not crack.
 It is then possible to treat concrete as a elastic
material.
 The concrete can be visualized to have two
compressive force
i . Internal pre-stressing force.
ii . External forces (d.l , l.l etc )
 These two forces must counteract each other.
PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE: METHODS

 There are two basic methods of applying pre-

stress to a concrete member

 Pre-tensioning – most often used in factory

situations

 Post-tensioning – site use

PRESTRESSING – PRE-TENSIONING
 In Pre-tension, the tendons are tensioned against some
abutments before the concrete is placed. After the concrete
hardened, the tension force is released. The tendon tries to
shrink back to the initial length but the concrete resists it
through the bond between them, thus, compression force is
induced in concrete. Pretension is usually done with precast
members.
STAGES OF PRE-TENSIONING
 PRESTRESSING – POST-TENSIONING
 In Post tension, the tendons
are tensioned after the
concrete has hardened.
Commonly, metal or plastic
ducts are placed inside the
concrete before casting.
 After the concrete hardened
and had enough strength, the
tendon placed inside the
duct, stressed, and anchored
against concrete.
 Grout may be injected into
the duct later. This can be
done either as precast or
cast-in-place.
STAGES OF POST-TENSIONING
 ADVANTAGES:

• Take full advantages of high strength concrete and high

strength steel
• Need less materials
• Smaller and lighter structure
• No cracks
• Use the entire section to resist the load
• Better corrosion resistance
• Good for water tanks and nuclear plant
• Very effective for deflection control
• Better shear resistance
DISADVANTAGES

 Need higher quality materials

 More complex technically
 More expensive
 Harder to re-cycle

APPLICATIONS
 Bridges
 Slabs in buildings
 Water Tank
 Concrete Pile
 Thin Shell Structures
 Offshore Platform
 Nuclear Power Plant
 Repair and Rehabilitations