Prestressed concrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" (compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens it against tensile forces which will exist when in service.[1][2]: 3–5 [3]
This compression is produced by the tensioning of high-strength "tendons" located within or adjacent to the concrete and is done to improve the performance of the concrete in service.[4] Tendons may consist of single wires, multi-wire strands or threaded bars that are most commonly made from high-tensile steels, carbon fiber or aramid fiber.[1]: 52–59 The essence of prestressed concrete is that once the initial compression has been applied, the resulting material has the characteristics of high-strength concrete when subject to any subsequent compression forces and of ductile high-strength steel when subject to tension forces. This can result in improved structural capacity and/or serviceability compared with conventionally reinforced concrete in many situations.[5][2]: 6 In a prestressed concrete member, the internal stresses are introduced in a planned manner so that the stresses resulting from the imposed loads are counteracted to the desired degree.
Prestressed concrete is used in a wide range of building and civil structures where its improved performance can allow for longer spans, reduced structural thicknesses, and material savings compared with simple reinforced concrete. Typical applications include high-rise buildings, residential slabs, foundation systems, bridge and dam structures, silos and tanks, industrial pavements and nuclear containment structures.[6]
First used in the late nineteenth century,[1] prestressed concrete has developed beyond pre-tensioning to include post-tensioning, which occurs after the concrete is cast. Tensioning systems may be classed as either monostrand, where each tendon's strand or wire is stressed individually, or multi-strand, where all strands or wires in a tendon are stressed simultaneously.[5] Tendons may be located either within the concrete volume (internal prestressing) or wholly outside of it (external prestressing). While pre-tensioned concrete uses tendons directly bonded to the concrete, post-tensioned concrete can use either bonded or unbonded tendons.
^ abcLin, T.Y.; Burns, Ned H. (1981). Design of Prestressed Concrete Structures (Third ed.). New York, US: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-01898-8. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
^ abFederation Internationale du Beton (February 2005). fib Bulletin 31: Post-tensioning in Buildings(PDF). FIB. ISBN 978-2-88394-071-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^American Concrete Institute. "CT-13: ACI Concrete Terminology". American Concrete Institute. Farmington Hills, Michigan US: ACI. Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016. Post-tensioned concreted is "structural concrete in which internal stresses have been introduced to reduce potential tensile stresses in the concrete resulting from loads."
^Warner, R. F.; Rangan, B. V.; Hall, A. S.; Faulkes, K. A. (1988). Concrete Structures. South Melbourne, Australia: Addison Welsley Longman. pp. 8–19. ISBN 0-582-80247-4.
^ abWarner, R. F.; Faulkes, K. A. (1988). Prestressed Concrete (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Longman Cheshire. pp. 1–13. ISBN 0-582-71225-4.
^Post-Tensioning Institute (2006). Post-Tensioning Manual (6th ed.). Phoenix, AZ US: PTI. pp. 5–54. ISBN 0-9778752-0-2.
and 24 Related for: Prestressed concrete information
Prestressedconcrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" (compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens...
This page is a glossary of Prestressedconcrete terms. Contents Top A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W See also Notes References actual extension...
primarily by of the Precast/PrestressedConcrete Institute (PCI), focuses on prestressedconcrete elements and on other precast concrete elements used in above-ground...
use trusses built from structural steel, or box girders built from prestressedconcrete. The steel truss cantilever bridge was a major engineering breakthrough...
one of the primary causes of premature failure of reinforced or prestressedconcrete bridge decks, roadways, and parking garages. The use of epoxy-coated...
force unless adequately reinforced with steel. Prestressedconcrete is a method for overcoming the concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can be used...
Deep foundations can be made out of timber, steel, reinforced concrete or prestressedconcrete. Prefabricated piles are driven into the ground using a pile...
of ready-mix concrete, and more so for precast/prestressedconcrete. This has resulted in refinement of mixing technologies for concrete production. Different...
in 1875. Prestressedconcrete and post-tensioned concrete were pioneered by Eugène Freyssinet, a French structural and civil engineer. Concrete components...
box girder normally comprises prestressedconcrete, structural steel, or a composite of steel and reinforced concrete. The box is typically rectangular...
using prestressedconcrete and are also referred to as beams in beam-and-block slabs or as ribs in rib-and-block slabs. These prestressedconcrete lintels...
(24 m) or more for span length. Double tees are pre-manufactured from prestressedconcrete which allows construction time to be shortened. The developments...
of light materials that are strong in tension such as steel and prestressedconcrete. Deck (bridge) List of arch bridges by length List of longest masonry...
Concrete cover, in reinforced concrete, is the least distance between the surface of embedded reinforcement and the outer surface of the concrete (ACI...
H. (1987). Design of PrestressedConcrete. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-83072-0. Nawy, Edward G. (1989). PrestressedConcrete. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-698375-8...
Material – PrestressedConcrete Sleepers), or EN 13230-4:2016 (Railway applications – Track Concrete sleepers and bearers, Part 4: Prestressed bearers for...
Genesee River in Letchworth State Park, New York The first major prestressedconcrete trestle railroad bridge built was the Atlantic Coast Line's Salkehatchie...
beams, columns, floors or bridges. Prestressedconcrete is a kind of reinforced concrete used for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can...
correct gauge. Railroad ties are traditionally made of wood, but prestressedconcrete is now also widely used, especially in Europe and Asia. Steel ties...
wire fabric for reinforcing concrete. IS: 1785 – specifications for plain hard drawn steel wire fabric for prestressedconcrete. IS: 2090 – specifications...
streets, railways Span range Short (multiple) Material reinforced concrete, prestressedconcrete, masonry Movable No Design effort medium Falsework required...
stays constructed from steel cables with prestressedconcrete shells poured on. The concrete was prestressed only to 10 MPa (1,500 psi),[citation needed]...
PC Strand, or prestressedconcrete steel strand, is a twisted steel cable composed of 2, 3, 7 or 19 high strength steel wires and is stress-relieved (stabilized)...
configuration of isosceles triangles. Rebar being placed before casting a prestressedconcrete girder Bridge built using multiple I-girders Box girder bridge being...