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