Prestressed Concrete Structures

1.2 Advantages and Types of Prestressing

This section covers the following topics. Definitions Advantages of Prestressing Limitations of Prestressing

Types of Prestressing

1.2.1 Definitions
The terms commonly used in prestressed concrete are e plained. The terms are placed in groups as per usage. Forms of Prestressing Steel !ires Prestressing wire is a single unit made of steel. Strands Two" three or seven wires are wound to form a prestressing strand. Tendon A group of strands or wires are wound to form a prestressing tendon. Ca#le A group of tendons form a prestressing ca#le. $ars A tendon can #e made up of a single steel #ar. The diameter of a #ar is much larger than that of a wire. The different types of prestressing steel are further e plained in Section 1.%" Prestressing Steel. Nature of Concrete-Steel Interface $onded tendon !hen there is ade&uate #ond #etween the prestressing tendon and concrete" it is called a #onded tendon. Pre'tensioned and grouted post'tensioned tendons are #onded tendons.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

+n#onded tendon !hen there is no #ond #etween the prestressing tendon and concrete" it is called un#onded tendon. !hen grout is not applied after post'tensioning" the tendon is an un#onded tendon. Stages of Loading The analysis of prestressed mem#ers can #e different for the different stages of loading. The stages of loading are as follows.

1, (nitial

- (t can #e su#divided into two stages. a, During tensioning of steel #, At transfer of prestress to concrete.

2, (ntermediate ., /inal

- This includes the loads during transportation of the prestressed mem#ers. - (t can #e su#divided into two stages. a, At service" during operation. #, At ultimate" during e treme events.

1.2.2 Advantages of Prestressing

The prestressing of concrete has several advantages as compared to traditional reinforced concrete 01C, without prestressing. A fully prestressed concrete mem#er is usually su#2ected to compression during service life. This rectifies several deficiencies of concrete. The following te t #roadly mentions the advantages of a prestressed concrete mem#er with an e&uivalent 1C mem#er. /or each effect" the #enefits are listed. 1) Section remains uncrac ed under service loads 1eduction of steel corrosion (ncrease in dura#ility.

/ull section is utilised 3igher moment of inertia 0higher stiffness, Less deformations 0improved servicea#ility,.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

(ncrease in shear capacity. Suita#le for use in pressure vessels" li&uid retaining structures. (mproved performance 0resilience, under dynamic and fatigue loading.

2) !ig" s#an-to-de#t" ratios Larger spans possi#le with prestressing 0#ridges" #uildings with large column'free spaces, Typical values of span'to'depth ratios in sla#s are given #elow. 4on'prestressed sla# Prestressed sla# /or the same span" less depth compared to 1C mem#er. 1eduction in self weight )ore aesthetic appeal due to slender sections )ore economical sections. 25-1 67-1

$) Suita%le for #recast construction The advantages of precast construction are as follows. 1apid construction $etter &uality control 1educed maintenance Suita#le for repetitive construction )ultiple use of formwor8 1eduction of formwor8 Availa#ility of standard shapes.

The following figure shows the common types of precast sections.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

T-section

Double Tsection

Hollow core

Piles

L-section

Inverted T-section

I-girders

Figure 1-2.1 Typical precast mem#ers

1.2.$ Limitations of Prestressing

Although prestressing has advantages" some aspects need to #e carefully addressed. Prestressing needs s8illed technology. 3ence" it is not as common as reinforced concrete. The use of high strength materials is costly. There is additional cost in au iliary e&uipments. There is need for &uality control and inspection.

1.2.& '(#es of Prestressing

Prestressing of concrete can #e classified in several ways. The following classifications are discussed. Source of #restressing force This classification is #ased on the method #y which the prestressing force is generated. There are four sources of prestressing force- )echanical" hydraulic" electrical and chemical.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

)*ternal or internal #restressing This classification is #ased on the location of the prestressing tendon with respect to the concrete section. Pre-tensioning or #ost-tensioning This is the most important classification and is #ased on the se&uence of casting the concrete and applying tension to the tendons. Linear or circular #restressing This classification is #ased on the shape of the mem#er prestressed. Full+ limited or #artial #restressing $ased on the amount of prestressing force" three types of prestressing are defined. ,nia*ial+ %ia*ial or multi-a*ial #restressing As the names suggest" the classification is #ased on the directions of prestressing a mem#er. The individual types of prestressing are e plained ne t. Source of Prestressing Force 3ydraulic Prestressing This is the simplest type of prestressing" producing large prestressing forces. The hydraulic 2ac8 used for the tensioning of tendons" comprises of cali#rated pressure gauges which directly indicate the magnitude of force developed during the tensioning. )echanical Prestressing (n this type of prestressing" the devices includes weights with or without lever transmission" geared transmission in con2unction with pulley #loc8s" screw 2ac8s with or without gear drives and wire'winding machines. This type of prestressing is adopted for mass scale production.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

9lectrical Prestressing (n this type of prestressing" the steel wires are electrically heated and anchored #efore placing concrete in the moulds. This type of prestressing is also 8nown as thermo' electric prestressing. )*ternal or Internal Prestressing 9 ternal Prestressing !hen the prestressing is achieved #y elements located outside the concrete" it is called e ternal prestressing. The tendons can lie outside the mem#er 0for e ample in ('girders or walls, or inside the hollow space of a #o girder. This techni&ue is adopted in #ridges and strengthening of #uildings. (n the following figure" the #o girder of a #ridge is prestressed with tendons that lie outside the concrete.

Figure 1-2.2 9 ternal prestressing of a #o girder 01eference- :SL (nternational Ltd., (nternal Prestressing !hen the prestressing is achieved #y elements located inside the concrete mem#er 0commonly" #y em#edded tendons," it is called internal prestressing. )ost of the applications of prestressing are internal prestressing. (n the following figure" concrete will #e cast around the ducts for placing the tendons.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

Figure 1-2.$ (nternal prestressing of a #o girder 0Courtesy- Cochin Port Trust" *erala, Pre-tensioning or Post-tensioning Pre'tensioning The tension is applied to the tendons #efore casting of the concrete. The pre' compression is transmitted from steel to concrete through #ond over the transmission length near the ends. The following figure shows manufactured pre'tensioned electric poles.

Figure 1-2.& Pre'tensioned electric poles 0Courtesy- The Concrete Products and Construction Company" C;PC;" Chennai,

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

Post'tensioning The tension is applied to the tendons 0located in a duct, after hardening of the concrete. The pre'compression is transmitted from steel to concrete #y the anchorage device 0at the end #loc8s,. The following figure shows a post'tensioned #o girder of a #ridge.

Figure 1-2.- Post'tensioning of a #o girder 0Courtesy- Cochin Port Trust" *erala, The details of pre'tensioning and post'tensioning are covered under Section 1.." <Pre' tensioning Systems and Devices<" and Section 1.6" <Post'tensioning Systems and Devices=" respectively. Linear or Circular Prestressing Linear Prestressing !hen the prestressed mem#ers are straight or flat" in the direction of prestressing" the prestressing is called linear prestressing. /or e ample" prestressing of #eams" piles" poles and sla#s. The profile of the prestressing tendon may #e curved. The following figure shows linearly prestressed railway sleepers.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

Figure 1-2.. Linearly prestressed railway sleepers 0Courtesy- The Concrete Products and Construction Company" C;PC;" Chennai, Circular Prestressing !hen the prestressed mem#ers are curved" in the direction of prestressing" the prestressing is called circular prestressing. /or e ample" circumferential prestressing of tan8s" silos" pipes and similar structures. The following figure shows the containment structure for a nuclear reactor which is circularly prestressed.

Figure 1-2./ Circularly prestressed containment structure" *aiga Atomic Power Station" *arnata8a 01eference- Larsen > Tou#ro Ltd" 9CC Division" 60 Landmark Years,

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

Full+ Limited or Partial Prestressing /ull Prestressing !hen the level of prestressing is such that no tensile stress is allowed in concrete under service loads" it is called /ull Prestressing 0Type 1" as per IS01$&$ - 1123,. Limited Prestressing !hen the level of prestressing is such that the tensile stress under service loads is within the crac8ing stress of concrete" it is called Limited Prestressing 0Type 2,. Partial Prestressing !hen the level of prestressing is such that under tensile stresses due to service loads" the crac8 width is within the allowa#le limit" it is called Partial Prestressing 0Type .,. ,nia*ial+ 4ia*ial or 5ultia*ial Prestressing +nia ial Prestressing !hen the prestressing tendons are parallel to one a is" it is called +nia ial Prestressing. /or e ample" longitudinal prestressing of #eams. $ia ial Prestressing !hen there are prestressing tendons parallel to two a es" it is called $ia ial Prestressing. The following figure shows the #ia ial prestressing of sla#s.

Non-prestressed reinforcement
Duct for prestressi ng tendon Figure 1-2.2 $ia ial prestressing of a sla# 0Courtesy- :SL (ndia Pvt. Ltd." Chennai,
(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras

Prestressed Concrete Structures

Dr. Amlan * Sengupta and Prof. Devdas )enon

)ultia ial Prestressing !hen the prestressing tendons are parallel to more than two a es" it is called )ultia ial Prestressing. /or e ample" prestressing of domes.

(ndian (nstitute of Technology )adras