Pre-stressed concrete was a major innovation that replaced conventional reinforced concrete, allowing for longer spans, higher impact resistance, and greater load capacity without tensile stresses. It involves casting concrete around high-strength steel that is placed under compression before use to counteract tensile stresses when in service. There are two main types: pre-tensioning applies tension before casting, while post-tensioning does so after casting, using ducts to hold the steel. Pre-stressed concrete enables more efficient structures through factory casting and reduced material needs.