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In pretensioning, the tension is applied to the tendons before casting of the concrete.
There are general guidelines of prestressing in Section 12 of IS:1343 - 1980.
Stages of Pre-tensioning
In pre-tensioning system, the high-strength steel tendons are pulled between two end
abutments (also called bulkheads) prior to the casting of concrete. The abutments are
fixed at the ends of a prestressing bed.
Once the concrete attains the desired strength for prestressing, the tendons are cut
loose from the abutments.
The prestress is transferred to the concrete from the tendons, due to the bond between
them. During the transfer of prestress, the member undergoes elastic shortening. If the
tendons are located eccentrically, the member is likely to bend and deflect (camber).
The various stages of the pre-tensioning operation are summarised as follows.
1)
2)
3)
4)
Steel tendon
Prestressing bed
(a) Applying tension to tendons
Cutting of tendon
Stages of pre-tensioning
Advantages of Pre-tensioning
The relative advantages of pre-tensioning as compared to post-tensioning are as
follows.
Disadvantages of Pre-tensioning
The relative disadvantages are as follows.
Devices
The essential devices for pre-tensioning are as follows.
Prestressing bed
End abutments
Shuttering / mould
Jack
Anchoring device
Prestressing Bed, End Abutments and Mould The following figure shows the devices.
End
abutment
Mould
Anchoring device
A series of moulds
Prestressing bed
Figure 3
The end abutments have to be sufficiently stiff and have good foundations. This is
usually an expensive proposition, particularly when large prestressing forces are
required. The necessity of stiff and strong foundation can be bypassed by a simpler
solution which can also be a cheaper option. It is possible to avoid transmitting the
heavy loads to foundations, by adopting self-equilibrating systems. This is a common
solution in load-testing. Typically, this is done by means of a tension frame.
The
following figure shows the basic components of a tension frame. The jack and the
specimen tend to push the end members. But the end members are kept in place by
members under tension such as high strength steel rods.
Plan or Elevation
Figure 4
Free bodies
A tension frame
Jack
Elevation
Mould
Threaded rod
Strands
Plan
Figure 5
The following figure shows the free body diagram by replacing the jacks with the applied
forces.
Figure 6
The following figure shows the stress bench after casting of the concrete.
Elevation
Plan
Source: NPTEL web course on Prestressed Concrete
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/105106117/
Figure 7
Jacks
The jacks are used to apply tension to the tendons. Hydraulic jacks are commonly used.
These jacks work on oil pressure generated by a pump. The principle behind the design
of jacks is Pascals law. The load applied by a jack is measured by the pressure reading
from a gauge attached to the oil inflow or by a separate load cell. The following figure
shows a double acting hydraulic jack with a load cell.
Figure 8
Anchoring Devices
Anchoring devices are often made on the wedge and friction principle. In pre-tensioned
members, the tendons are to be held in tension during the casting and hardening of
concrete. Here simple and cheap quick-release grips are generally adopted. The
following figure provides some examples of anchoring devices.
Figure 9
Harping Devices
The tendons are frequently bent, except in cases of slabs-on-grade, poles, piles etc. The
tendons are bent (harped) in between the supports with a shallow sag as shown below.
Harping point
Hold up device
Harping of tendons
The tendons are harped using special hold-down devices as shown in the following
figure.
Figure 11
Stages of Post-tensioning
In post-tensioning systems, the ducts for the tendons (or strands) are placed along with
the reinforcement before the casting of concrete. The tendons are placed in the ducts
after the casting of concrete. The duct prevents contact between concrete and the
tendons during the tensioning operation.
Unlike pre-tensioning, the tendons are pulled with the reaction acting against the
hardened concrete.
If the ducts are filled with grout, then it is known as bonded post-tensioning. The grout
is a neat cement paste or a sand-cement mortar containing suitable admixture.
In unbonded post-tensioning, as the name suggests, the ducts are never grouted and
the tendon is held in tension solely by the end anchorages. The following sketch shows
a schematic representation of a grouted post-tensioned member. The profile of the duct
depends on the support conditions. For a simply supported member, the duct has a
sagging profile between the ends. For a continuous member, the duct sags in the span
and hogs over the support.
Figure 12
Casting of concrete.
Placement of the tendons.
Placement of the anchorage block and jack.
Applying tension to the tendons.
Seating of the wedges.
Duct
Casting bed
Side view
Advantages of Post-tensioning
The relative advantages of post-tensioning as compared to pre-tensioning are as
follows.
Disadvantage of Post-tensioning
The relative disadvantage of post-tensioning as compared to pre-tensioning is the
requirement of anchorage device and grouting equipment.
Devices
The essential devices for post-tensioning are as follows.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Casting bed
Mould/Shuttering
Ducts
Anchoring devices
Jacks
Couplers (optional)
Grouting equipment (optional).
Mould
Source: NPTEL web course on Prestressed Concrete
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/105106117/
Duct
Casting bed
Figure 14
Anchoring Devices
In post-tensioned members the anchoring devices transfer the prestress to the concrete.
The devices are based on the following principles of anchoring the tendons.
1) Wedge action
2) Direct bearing
3) Looping the wires
Wedge action
The anchoring device based on wedge action consists of an anchorage block and
wedges. The strands are held by frictional grip of the wedges in the anchorage block.
Some examples of systems based on the wedge-action are Freyssinet, Gifford-Udall,
Anderson and Magnel-Blaton anchorages. The following figures show some patented
anchoring devices.
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
Direct bearing
The rivet or bolt heads or button heads formed at the end of the wires directly bear
against a block.
based on this principle. The following figure shows the anchoring by direct bearing.
Figure 18
The
Figure 19
Figure 20
Jacks
Figure 21
Couplers
The couplers are used to connect strands or bars. They are located at the junction of the
members, for example at or near columns in post-tensioned slabs, on piers in
posttensioned bridge decks. The couplers are tested to transmit the full capacity of the
strands or bars. A few types of couplers are shown.
Figure 22
Grouting
Grouting can be defined as the filling of duct, with a material that provides an
anticorrosive alkaline environment to the prestressing steel and also a strong bond
between the tendon and the surrounding grout. The major part of grout comprises of
water and cement, with a water-to-cement ratio of about 0.5, together with some waterreducing admixtures, expansion agent and pozzolans.