Pre-stress Design

Basic Principles of Prestressing Beams

• Prestressed Concrete – it is defined as a structural concrete in

which internal stresses have been introduced to reduce potential
tensile stresses in concrete due to the imposed loads.

METHODS OF PRESTRESSING
• Pre-tensioning – is a method of prestressing in which tendons are
tensioned before concrete is placed.
• Post-tensioning – is a method of prestressing in which tendons are
tensioned after concrete has hardened.
Forms of Prestressing Steel
Types of Tendons

• Bonded tendons – it is a tendon that is bonded throughout their

length to the surrounding concrete.
• Unbonded tendons – it is a tendon in which the prestressing steel is
prevented from bonding
Advantages of Prestressing
Disadvantages
Pre-tensioning System
Pre-tensioning System
Post-tensioning System
Loss of Prestress

• To determine the effective prestress, allowance for the following

sources of loss of prestress shall be considered:
• Tendon seating at transfer
• Elastic shortening of concrete
• Creep of concrete
• Shrinkage of concrete
• Relaxation of tendons stress
• Friction losses due to intended or unintended curvature in post-tensioning
tendons.