PRESTRESSING CONCRETE

NEDA SHAKIL
4 TH YEAR, B

WHAT IS PRESTRESSED CONCRETE ?

- Prestressed concrete, invented by Eugene Frevssinet in 1928 is a method
for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension.
- It is a method of applying pre-compression to control the stresses resulting
due to external loads below the neutral axis of the beam.
- It is basically concrete in which internal stresses of a suitable magnitude and
distribution are introduced so that the stresses resulting from the external load
are counteracted to a desired degree.
- It is introduced by stretching steel wire and anchoring them against
concrete.

CONCEPT OF PRE-STRESSING:
A pre-stressed concrete structure is different from a conventional reinforced
concrete structure due to the application of an initial load on the structure prior
to its use. The initial load or pre-stress is applied to enable the structure to
counteract the stresses arising during its service period.
The pre-stressing of a structure is not the only instance of pre-stressing. The
concept of pre-stressing existed before the applications in concrete.

PRINCIPLE OF PRE-STRESSING:
Pre-stressing is a method in which compression force is applied to the
reinforced concrete section.

The concept of pre stressing was

invented years ago when metal
brands were wound around
wooden pieces to form barrels.
The metal brands were tighten
under tensile stress which creates
compression between the staves
allowing them to resist internal
liquid pressure.

The pre-tension of a spoke in a bicycle

wheel is applied to such an extent that there
will always be a residual tension in the
spoke

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
These two forces must counteract each other.

INTRODUCTION

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

MATERIALS FOR PRESTRESS CONCRETE MEMBERS:

ADVANTAGES OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

1) Section remains un-cracked under service loads
Reduction of steel corrosion
Full section is utilized
Higher moment of inertia (higher stiffness)
Less deformations (improved serviceability)
Increase in shear capacity.
Suitable for use in pressure vessels, liquid retaining structures.
Improved performance (resilience) under dynamic and fatigue loading.
2) High span-to-depth ratios
Larger spans possible with pre-stressing (bridge, buildings with large columnfree spaces)
3) Suitable for precast construction
Rapid construction
Better quality control
Reduced maintenance
Suitable for repetitive construction
Availability of standard shapes

DISADVANTAGES OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

Pre-stressing needs skilled technology. Hence, it is not as
common as reinforced concrete.
The use of high strength materials is costly.
There is additional cost in auxiliary equipment.
There is need for quality control and inspection.

Bridge

2. Concrete Prestress concrete requires concrete, which has a high

compressive strength reasonably early age with comparatively higher
tensile strength than ordinary concrete.
The concrete for the members shall be air-entrained concrete composed
of Portland cement, fine and coarse aggregates, admixtures and water.
The entrained air content shall be not less than 4 percent or more than 6
percent.
Minimum cement content of 300 to 360 kg/m3 is prescribed for the
durability requirement.
The water content should be as low as possible.
3. Steel
High tensile steel 5 mm to 7 mm diameter, tendons, strands or cables
The steel used in prestress shall be any one of the following:(a) Plain hard-drawn steel wire conforming to IS1785 (Part-I & Part-III)
(b) Cold drawn indented wire conforming to IS6003
(c) High tensile steel wire bar conforming to IS2090
(d) Uncoated stress relived strand conforming to IS6006
FORMS OF PRE-STRESSING STEEL
Wires
single unit
made of
steel.

APPLICATION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

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

1. Cement The cement used should be any of the following:

(a) Ordinary Portland cement conforming to IS269
(b) Portland slag cement conforming to IS455. But the slag content should
not be more than 50%.
(c) Rapid hardening Portland cement conforming to IS8041.
(d) High strength ordinary Portland cement conforming to IS8112.

Strands
Two, three or
seven wires are
wound.

Cable
A group of
tendons form a
pre-stressing
cable.

Bars
A tendon can
be made up
of a single
steel bar.

Water Tank

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE: METHODS

There are two basic methods of applying pre-stress to a concrete member 1. Pre-tensioning most often used in factory situations 2. Post-tensioning site use
PRE-TENSIONING

STEPS

In which the tendons are tensioned before the concrete is placed, tendons are
temporarily anchored and tensioned and the pre-stress is transferred to the concrete
after it is hardened.
In Pre-tension, the tendons are tensioned against some abutments before the concrete
is place.
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
ADVANTAGES
The relative advantages of pre-tensioning as compared to post-tensioning are as follows.
Pre-tensioning is suitable for precast members produced in bulk.
In pre-tensioning large anchorage device is not present.
DISADVANTAGES
The relative disadvantages are as follows.
A prestressing bed is required for the pre-tensioning operation.
There is a waiting period in the prestressing bed, before the concrete attains strength.
There should be good bond between concrete and steel over the transmission length.
DEVICES:
Pre-stressing bed
End abutments
Shuttering / mould
Jack
Anchoring device
Harping device (optional)
Pre-tensioned Electric Poles

PRE-TENSIONING METHOD

Pre-tensioned Beam

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

POST-TENSIONING
In which the tendon is tensioned after concrete has hardened. Tendons are placed in
sheathing at suitable places in the member before casting and later after hardening
of concrete.

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 was 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.

DEVICES
The essential devices for post-tensioning are as follows.
Casting bed
Mould/Shuttering
Ducts
Anchoring devices
Jacks
Couplers (optional)
Grouting equipment (optional).
Sequence of Anchoring

They are classified into two types:

BONDED POST-TENSIONED concrete is the descriptive term for a method of
applying compression after pouring concrete and the curing process (in situ).The
concrete is cast around a plastic, steel or aluminum curved duct, to follow the area
where otherwise tension would occur in the concrete element.
UNBONDED POST TENSIONED concrete differs from bonded post-tensioning by
providing each individual cable permanent freedom of movement relative to the
concrete. To achieve this, each individual tendon is coated with a grease (generally
lithium based) and covered by a plastic sheathing formed in an extrusion process.

EXAMPLE

Formwork of box girder

Post-tensioning of box
girder

Transporting box girder

Completed Bridge

ADVANTAGES OF POST-TENSIONING
Post-tensioning is suitable for heavy cast-in-place members.
The waiting period in the casting bed is less.
The transfer of pre-stress is independent of transmission length.
DISADVANTAGE OF POST-TENSIONING
The relative disadvantage of post- tensioning as compared to pre-tensioning is the
requirement of anchorage device and grouting equipment.

POST-TENSIONING METHOD

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

CLASSIFICATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BASED ON SHAPE OF

MEMBER PRESTRESSED:

LINEAR PRE-STRESSING:

CLASSIFICATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BASED ON DIRECTION

PRESTRESSING A MEMBER:

UNIAXIAL PRE-STRESSING:

When the prestressed members are straight or flat, in the direction of

prestressing, the prestressing is called linear prestressing. For example,
prestressing of beams, piles, poles and slabs. The profile of the prestressing
tendon may be curved. The following figure shows linearly prestressed railway
sleepers.

When the pre-stressing tendons are parallel to one axis, it is called Uniaxial
Pre-stressing. For example, longitudinal pre-stressing of beams.

longitudinal pre-stressing of beams

Linearly pre-stressed railway
sleepers

Railway sleepers Moulds

CIRCULAR PRE-STRESSING:

Steel mould for making precast

pre-stressed bridge beams

BIAXIAL PRE-STRESSING:
When there are pre-stressing tendons parallel to two axes, it is called Biaxial
Pre-stressing. The following figure shows the biaxial pre-stressing of slabs.

When the pre-stressed members are curved, in the direction of pre-stressing, the
pre-stressing is called circular pre-stressing. For example, circumferential prestressing of tanks, silos, pipes and similar structures.

Reinforcement
Grouts vent

Anchorage
Pocket former

Ducts for
prestressing
tendons

MULTIAXIAL PRE-STRESSING:
When the pre-stressing tendons are parallel to more than two axes, it is
called Multiaxial Pre-stressing. For example, pre-stressing of domes.
Circularly pre-stressed containment structure

CLASSIFICATIONS OF PRE-STRESSING

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

FORMWORK SETUP

FIXING OF BAR CHAIR FOR POST-TENSION

TENON OVER REINCEFORCEMENT

FIXING ANCHORAGE BURSTLING

REINFORCEMENT (SIDES) AND
PLACING TOP REINFORCEMENT

PLACING ANCHORAGE POCKET

FORMER AND GROUT VENT

CONCRETING OF SLAB AND LATER

REMOVING OF EDGE FORMWORK

REMOVING POCKET FORMER &

PLACING ANCHOR HEAD & WEDGE

STRESSING THE STRANDS, CUTTING END OF

STRAND, CAPPING RECESS WITH CEMENT
MORTAR, AND LAST GROUTING
PLACING POST-TENSION TENON

BIAXIAL PRE-STRESSING OF SLAB

FIXING SLAB EDGE FORMWORK

WITH POCKET FORMER

REPEAT THESE STEPS FOR NEXT FLOOR SLAB

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B

CLASSIFICATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BASED ON

SOURCE OF PRESTRESSING FORCE
This classification is based on the method by which the pre-stressing force is
generated. There are four sources of pre-stressing force: Mechanical,
hydraulic, electrical and chemical.
1. HYDRAULIC PRE-STRESSING:
This is the simplest type of prestressing, producing large prestressing forces.
The hydraulic jack used for the tensioning of tendons, comprises of calibrated
pressure gauges which directly indicate the magnitude of force developed
during the tensioning.
2. MECHANICAL PRE-STRESSING:
In this type of prestressing, the devices includes weights with or without lever
transmission, geared transmission in conjunction with pulley blocks, screw
jacks with or without gear drives and wire-winding machines. This type of
prestressing is adopted for mass scale production.
3. ELECTRICAL PRE-STRESSING:
In this, the steel wires are electrically heated and anchored before placing
concrete in the molds. This type of pre-stressing is also known as thermoelectric pre-stressing.

CLASSIFICATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BASED ON

AMOUNT OF PRESTRESSING FORCE

CLASSIFICATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BASED ON

LOCATION OF THE PRESTRESSING TENDON WITH RESPECT TO
THE CONCRETE SECTION :
1. INTERNAL PRE-STRESSING:
When the prestressing is achieved by elements located inside the concrete
member (commonly, by embedded tendons), it is called internal prestressing.
Most of the applications of prestressing are internal prestressing. In the
following figure, concrete will be cast around the ducts for placing the tendons.

Internal tendons are located inside the structural concrete section, are
housed in corrugated metal ducts or corrugated plastic ducts, and are bonded
to the structural concrete by means of cementitious grout.
The plastic corrugated ducts are made from high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) or polypropylene material.
The high-strength steel tendon can be strands, wires, or bars.
2. EXTERNAL PRE-STRESSING:
When the prestressing is achieved by elements located inside the concrete
member (commonly, by embedded tendons), it is called internal prestressing.
Most of the applications of prestressing are internal prestressing. In the
following figure, concrete will be cast around the ducts for placing the tendons.

1. FULL PRE-STRESSING:
When the level of pre-stressing is such that no tensile stress is allowed in
concrete under service loads, it is called Full Pre-stressing.
2. LIMITED PRE-STRESSING:
When the level of prestressing is such that the tensile stress under service
loads is within the cracking stress of concrete, it is called Limited Prestressing.
3. PARTIAL PRE-STRESSING:
When the level of prestressing is such that under tensile stresses due to
service loads, the crack width is within the allowable limit, it is called Partial
Prestressing.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF PRE-STRESSING

External tendons are typically located outside the perimeter of a concrete

section, are housed in HDPE smooth duct, and are filled with cementitious
grout. External tendons are not bonded with the concrete structural section.

NAME - NEDA SHAKIL

ROLL NO. - 13
CLASS 4TH YR., B