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Pre-stressed Concrete

What is Pre-stressed Concrete ?


Pre-stressed concrete is a form of reinforced concrete that
builds in compressive stresses during construction to
oppose those found when in use.
Materials for pre-stress concrete members

Cement
- Ordinary portland cement conforming IS269.

- Portland slag cement conforming to IS455. But the


slag content should not be more than 50%.

- High strength ordinary portland cement conforming to


IS8112.
Concrete
- Pre-stress 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.

- Minimum cement content of 300 to 360 kg/m3 is


prescribed for the durability requirement.

- M30 grade concrete is used for post-tensioned.

- M40 grade concrete is used for pre-tensioned.


Steel
- High tensile steel, tendons, cables.

- Plain hard-drawn steel wire conforming to IS1785.

- High tensile steel wire bar conforming to IS 2090.


Forms of Pre-stressing steel

Wires
Pre-stressing wire is a single unit made up of steel.

Strands
Two, three or more wires are wound to form a pre-stressing
strand.

Tendon
Group of strands or wires are wound to form a pre-stressing
tendon.

Bars
A tendon can be made up of a single bar. The diameter of a
bar is much larger than wire.
Wire Strand

Bars Tendon
Method of Pre-stressed concrete

i) Pre-tensioning
ii) Post-tensioning

i) Pre-tensioning : Pre-stressing steel is tension stressed prior


to the placement of the concrete and
unloaded after concrete has harden to the
required strength.

ii) Post-tensioing : Reinforcing tendons are stretched by jacks


while keeping them inserted in voids left pre
hand during curing of concrete.
Stages of Pre-tensioning concrete
Usually railway sleepers
are made up of pre-
tensioning method.
Stages of Post-tensioning concrete
Sub types of a post-tensioning

i) Bonded post-tensioning
ii) Unbonded post-tensioning

i) Bonded post-tensioning : The concrete is cast around


the plastic, steel, or aluminium
curved duct to follow the area
where otherwise tension would
occur in the concrete element.
A set of tendons are fished
through the duct and the
concrete is poured.
ii) Unbonded post-tensioning : Unbonded post tensioned
concrete is 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 grease and covered by
a plastic sheathing formed
in an extrusion process.
Pre-stressed structural member

Beams

Bridge deck panels

Roof slabs

Wall panel
Advantages of pre-stressed concrete

- In fully pre-stressed member the member is free from


tensile stresses under working loads, thus whole of the
section is effective.

- Pre-stressed concrete member posses better


resistance to shear force due to effect of compressive
stresses presence or eccentric cable profile.

- Use of high strength concrete and freedom from


cracks, contribute to improve durability under
aggressive environmental conditions.

- Factory products are possible.


- Pre-stressed members are tested before use.

- Long span structures are possible so that saving in


weight is significant & thus it will be economic.

- Pre-stressed concrete structure deflects apriciably


before ultimate failure, thus giving ample warning
before collapse.
Disadvantages of pre-stressed concrete

- The availability of experienced builders is scanty.

- Initial equipment cost is very high.

- Pre-stressed sections are brittle.

- Pre-stressed concrete sections are less fire resistant.

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