PRE STRESSED CONCRETE

BASIC CONCEPTS IN PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

CONTENTS

 INTRODUCTION
 C O M PA R I S O N W I T H R E I N F O R C E D C O N C R E T E
 BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING
 EQ U I VA L E N T LOA D S
 PRESTRESSING METHODS
 CHANGES IN PRESTRESS FORCE
 LOADS
INTRODUCTION
Concrete by itself is weak in tension but excellent in compression

Tensile strength of concrete ranges from 8 % to 14 % of its compressive strength

Flexural cracks develop at the early stage of loading

These cracks can be prevented/ minimized by imposing an eccentric compressive

load
INTRODUCTION
Almost the full strength of concrete can be efficiently utilized

PRESTRESSING
preloading a structure before the application of service loads

PRESTRESSING FORCE
a tensile force applied to the prestressing tendon that gives a compressive effect
on the span of structural element
INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF PRESTRESSING

LINEAR PRESTRESSING
analogous to series of blocks that forms a beam

CIRCULAR PRESTRESSING
done by applying tensile force on wires wound in circles in circular
structures
C O M PA R I S O N W I T H R E I N F O R C E D C O N C R E T E
REINFORCED CONCRETE RC
Tensile Strength is negligible and disregarded
Tensile forces resulting from the bending moments are
resisted by the bond created in the reinforcement
Crack widths are roughly proportional to tensile
reinforcement stress
High stress in concrete would inevitably produce large
rotations and deflections
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PSC
Permanent stresses are created before imposed loads
are applied in order to considerably reduce the net
tensile stresses
If the flexural tensile strength of the concrete is
exceeded, the prestressed member starts to act like a
reinforced concrete element
High stress are not accompanied by wide cracks since
much of the strain is applied to the steel before it is
anchored to the concrete
By prestraining the high strength reinforcement,
large rotations and deflection is avoided. Also,
uncracked members are stiffer.
C O M PA R I S O N W I T H R E I N F O R C E D C O N C R E T E

R E I N FO RC E D CO N C R E T E RC

P R EST R ES S E D CO N C R E T E P S C
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING

Consider a simply supported rectangular beam subjected to a concentric

prestressing force, P as shown below

The compressive stress on the

beam cross section has an
intensity:

bh Sign
Conventions
b width
(-) compression
h total depth
(+) tension
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING

If external transverse loads are applied to the beam causing maximum moment M
at midspan, the resulting stress becomes:

stress at top fiber

stress at bottom
fiber
gross moment of
inertia

c ½h
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING

To induce tensile stresses at the top fibers

due to prestressing, the prestressing tendon
is placed eccentrically below the neutral
axis at midspan
If the tendon is placed at eccentricity, e
from the center of gravity of the concrete
(cgc), a moment Pe is created and the
ensuing stresses at mid-span become
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRESTRESSING
Since the support section of a simply supported beam carries no moment from the
external transverse load, high tensile fiber stresses are caused by the eccentric
prestressing force.

To limit such stresses the eccentricity of the prestressing tendon profile is

-made less at the support section

-eliminated altogether
-a negative eccentricity above the cgc line is used
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
S I T U AT I O N 1

A 200 x 400 mm PSC beam is prestressed with a final prestressing force of 500 kN at
an eccentricity of 100 mm below the neutral axis. Determine the maximum moment
that will produce no tension at the bottom fiber.

Answer: M = 83.33 kNm