CE 133-2

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN

INTRODUCTION

CONCRETE

Strong in
compression
but weak in
tension
INTRODUCTION

CONCRETE

Strong in
compression
but weak in
tension
INTRODUCTION

CONCRETE

Tensile strength varies

from 8 to 14% of its
compressive strength

flexural cracks
develop at such
early stages of
loading
INTRODUCTION
CONCRETE

Tensile strength varies

from 8 to 14% of its
compressive strength

to reduce or prevent such cracks from developing, a concentric or

eccentric force is imposed in the longitudinal direction of the
structural element
INTRODUCTION
CONCRETE

Tensile strength varies

from 8 to 14% of its
compressive strength

this force prevents the cracks from developing by eliminating or

considerably reducing the tensile stresses at the critical mid-span
and support sections at service load
INTRODUCTION
DESIGN BASIS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE
INTRODUCTION
DESIGN BASIS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

almost the full capacity

of the concrete in
compression can be
efficiently utilized across
the entire depth of the
concrete sections when
all loads act on the
structure

bending, shear and torsional capacities of the sections are increased

INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PRESTRESSING STRUCTURE
Egyptian Boats (built approx. 3500 years ago)
boat structures were prestressed by twisting ropes
the hull, posts and ropes formed structures to prevent “hogging,” or negative curvature in hulls
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PRESTRESSING STRUCTURE

George Ferris’ Wheel (1893)

the great wheel was

prestressed by tensioning
the cable spokes
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PRESTRESSING STRUCTURE

Flying Pratt Trusses of

Wibur and Orville Wright
(1903)

the flyer was a 3-D versions

of Pratt trusses with timber
vertical compressive struts
and wire X-bracing
the flyer has turnbuckles on
the diagonals for
prestressing the structure
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PRESTRESSING STRUCTURE

San Marcos Bridge in El

Salvador (1955)

the bridge was

pretensioned with
horizontal cables at the
level of the deck
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PRESTRESSING STRUCTURE

Colosseum (80 AD)

the tall attic wall

of the
Colosseum works
as a stabilizing
device for the
wall piers
beneath
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPT OF PRESTRESSING
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPT OF PRESTRESSING

PRESTRESSING

preloading of a structure before the application of the

service loads so as to improve its general performance in
specific ways

a method of applying pre-compression to control the stresses

resulting due to external loads below the neutral axis of the
beam tension developed due to external load which is more
than the permissible limits of the plain concrete
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPT OF PRESTRESSING

PRESTRESSING

Objectives:

control or eliminate tensile stresses in the concrete

(cracking) at least up to service load levels

control or eliminate deflection at some specific load level

allow the use of high strength steel and concrete

INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPT OF PRESTRESSING
PRESTRESSING

Net Results:

improved performance of concrete in “ordinary” design

situations (compared to RC)

extended range of application of structural concrete

(longer spans)

innovative forms of structures

INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPT OF PRESTRESSING

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

a material that has induced internal stress to balance out

stresses, to a desired degree, due to externally applied loads
INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

Walnut Lane Bridge, Philadelphia (1908)

INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

Luzancy Bridge, France (1946)

INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

Guadiana International Bridge, Spain-Portugal (1991)

INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

Yiling Bridge, Yangtze River (2001)

INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

Yabegawa Bridge,
Japan (2009)
INTRODUCTION
EXAMPLES OF MODERN PRESTRESSED STRUCTURE

San Marcos Bridge,

Mexico (2013)