PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

Introduction:

Definition of Prestress:

Prestress is defined as a method of applying pre-compression to control the stresses

resulting due to external loads below the neutral axis of the beam tension developed due to
external load which is more than the permissible limits of the plain concrete. The pre-
compression applied (may be axial or eccentric) will induce the compressive stress below
the neutral axis or as a whole of the beam c/s. Resulting either no tension or compression.

Basic Concept

Prestressed concrete is basically concrete in which internal stresses of a suitable magnitude

and distribution are introduced so that the stresses resulting from the external loads are
counteracted to a desired degree.

Terminology

1. Tendon: A stretched element used in a concrete member of structure to impart prestress

to the concrete.
2. Anchorage: A device generally used to enable the tendon to impart and maintain
prestress in concrete.

3. Pre-tensioning: A method of prestressing concrete in which the tendons are tensioned

before the concrete is placed. In this method, the concrete is introduced by bond between
steel & concrete.
4. Post-tensioning: A method of prestressing concrete by tensioning the tendons against
hardened concrete. In this method, the prestress is imparted to concrete by bearing.

Necessity of high grade of concrete & steel:

Higher the grade of concrete higher the bond strength which is vital in pretensioned
concrete, Also higher bearing strength which is vital in post-tensioned concrete. Further
creep & shrinkage losses are minimum with high-grade concrete.

Generally minimum M30 grade concrete is used for post-tensioned & M40 grade
concrete is used for pretensioned members.
 The losses in prestress members due to various reasons are generally in the range of
250 N/mm2 to 400 N/mm2. If mild steel or deformed steel is used the residual stresses
after losses is either zero or negligible. Hence high tensile steel wires are used which
varies from 1600 to 2000 N/mm2.

Advantage of Prestressed Concrete

1. The use of high strength concrete and steel in prestressed members results in
lighter and slender members than is possible with RC members.
2. In fully prestressed members the member is free from tensile stresses under
working loads, thus whole of the section is effective.
3. In prestressed members, dead loads may be counter-balanced by eccentric
prestressing.
4. Prestressed concrete member posses better resistance to shear forces due to effect
of compressive stresses presence or eccentric cable profile.
5. Use of high strength concrete and freedom from cracks, contribute to improve
durability under aggressive environmental conditions.
6. Long span structures are possible so that saving in weight is significant & thus it
will be economic.
7. Factory products are possible.

8. Prestressed members are tested before use.

9. Prestressed concrete structure deflects appreciably before ultimate failure, thus

giving ample warning before collapse.

10. Fatigue strength is better due to small variations in prestressing steel,

recommended to dynamically loaded structures.

Disadvantages of Prestressed Concrete

1. The availability of experienced builders is scanty.

2. Initial equipment cost is very high.

3. Availability of experienced engineers is scanty.

4. Prestressed sections are brittle

5. Prestressed concrete sections are less fire resistant.

Classifications and Types

Prestressed concrete structures can be classified in a number of ways depending upon the
feature of designs and constructions.

1. Pre-tensioning: In which the tendons are tensioned before the concrete is placed,
tendons are temporarily anchored and tensioned and the prestress is transferred to the
concrete after it is hardened.

2. 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.

The various methods by which pre-compression are imparted to concrete are classified as
follows:

1. Generation of compressive force between the structural elements and its abutments
using flat jack.
2. Development of hoop compression in cylindrically shaped structures by
circumferential wire binding.
3. Use of longitudinally tensioned steel embedded in concrete or housed in ducts.

4. Use of principle of distortion of a statically indeterminate structure either by

displacement or by rotation of one part relative to the remainder.
5. Use of deflected structural steel sections embedded in concrete until the hardening
of the latter.

The most widely used method for prestressing of structural concrete elements is
longitudinal tensioning of steel by different tensioning devices. Prestressing by the
application of direct forces between abutments is generally used for arches and pavements,
while flat jacks are invariably used to impart the desired forces.

Tensioning Devices

The various types devices used for tensioning steel are grouped under four principal
categories, viz.

1. Mechanical devices: The mechanical devices generally used include weights with
or without lever transmission, geared transmission in conjunction with pulley
blocks, screw jacks with or without gear devices and wire-winding machines. These
devices are employed mainly for prestressing structural concrete components
produced on a mass scale in factory.
 2. Hydraulic devices: These are simplest means for producing large prestressing force,
extensively used as tensioning devices.
3. Electrical devices: The wires are electrically heated and anchored before placing
concrete in the mould. This method is often referred to as thermo-prestressing and
used for tensioning of steel wires and deformed bars.
4. Chemical devices: Expanding cements are used and the degree of expansion is
controlled by varying the curing condition. Since the expansive action of cement
while setting is restrained, it induces tensile forces in tendons and compressive
stresses in concrete.

Prestressing System:

1. Pretensioning system:

In the pre-tensioning systems, the tendons are first tensioned between rigid anchor-blocks
cast on the ground or in a column or unit –mould types pretensioning bed, prior to the
casting of concrete in the mould. The tendons comprising individual wires or strands are
stretched with constant eccentricity or a variable eccentricity with tendon anchorage at one
end and jacks at the other. With the forms in place, the concrete is cast around the stressed
tendon. The system is shown in Fig. 1 below.

Fig. 1 Prestressing system

 a) prior to prestressing

b) effect of prestressing,
ignoring self-weight

c) Prestress plus self-weight

d) Prestress plus self-weight

and live load

Fig. 2 Effect of load during Prestressing

2. Post-tensioned system:

In post-tensioning the concrete unit are first cast by incorporating ducts or grooves to house
the tendons. When the concrete attains sufficient strength, the high-tensile wires are tensioned
by means of jack bearing on the end of the face of the member and anchored by wedge or
nuts. The forces are transmitted to the concrete by means of end anchorage and, when the
cable is curved, through the radial pressure between the cable and the duct. The space
between the tendons and the duct is generally grouted after the tensioning operation.

Most of the commercially patented prestressing systems are based on the following principle
of anchoring the tendons:

1. Wedge action producing a frictional grip on the wire.

2. Direct bearing from the rivet or bolt heads formed at the end of the wire.

3. Looping the wire around the concrete.

Methods:

1. Freyssinet system

2. Gifford-Udall system

3. Magnel blaton system

4. Lee-McCall system

Differences of Prestressed Concrte over Reinforced Concrete:

1. In prestress concrete member steel plays active role. The stress in steel prevails whether
external load is there or not. But in R.C.C., steel plays a passive role. The stress in steel in
R.C.C members depends upon the external loads. i.e., no external load, no stress in steel.
2. In prestress concrete the stresses in steel is almost constant where as in R.C.C the stress in
steel is variable with the lever arm.
3. Prestress concrete has more shear resistance, whereas shear resistance of R.C.C is less.
4. In prestress concrete members, deflections are less because the eccentric prestressing force
will induce couple which will cause upward deflections, where as in R.C.C., deflections
are more.
5. In prestress concrete fatigue resistance is more compare to R.C.C. because in R.C.C. stress
in steel is external load dependent where as in P.S.C member it is load independent.
6. Prestress concrete is more durable as high grade of concrete is used which are more dense
in nature. R.C.C. is less durable.
7. In prestress concrete dimensions are less because external stresses are counterbalance by
the internal stress induced by prestress. Therefore reactions on column & footing are less
as a whole the quantity of concrete is reduced by 30% and steel reduced by about 60 to
70%. R.C.C. is uneconomical for long span because in R.C.C. dimension of sections are
large requiring more concrete & steel. Moreover as self-weight increases more reactions
acted on columns & footings, which requires higher sizes.
 Comparative Study: Pretension Vs Post-tensioned Member

Pretension member Post-tensioned member

1. In pretensioned prestress concrete, steel is 1. Concreting is done first then wires are
tensioned prior to that of concrete. It is tensioned and anchored at ends. The stress
released once the concrete is placed and transfer is by end bearing not by bond.
hardened. The stresses are transferred all
along the wire by means of bond.

2. Suitable for short span and precast products 2. Suitable for long span bridges
like sleepers, electric poles on mass
production.

3. In pretensioning the cables are basically 3. The post tensioning cables can be aligned in
straight and horizontal. Placing them in any manner to suit the B.M.D due to external
curved or inclined position is difficult. load system. Therefore it is more economical
However the wire’s can be kept with particularly for long span bridges. The curved
eccentrically. Since cables can not be aligned or inclined cables can have vertical component
similar to B.M.D. structural advantages are at ends. These components will reduce the
less compare to that of post-tensioned. design shear force. Hence post-tensioned
beams are superior to pretensioned beams both
from flexural and shear resistances point.

4. Prestress losses are more compare to that of 4. Losses are less compare to pre-tensioned
post-tensioned concrete. concrete