COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

1st Sem., S.Y 2020-2021

Name: CYRILLE JANE O. BESTO Course & Year: BSCE - 5

Activity No.: 1 Lesson No.: 1

1. Explain the concept of prestressed concrete in your own words.

Since Reinforced Concrete has high compressive strength but low in tensile strength
Prestressing concrete is used so that the concrete member capacity is increased by
compressing it using high tensile cable. The compressed concrete carries the load so that
there would be zero to minimal tension in the concrete member.

2. Name atleast three methods of prestressing and explain its theory

External prestressing

External prestressing is a prestressing system in which the concrete structural

members are prestressed longitudinally using tendons located completely outside the
concrete section.

Pre-tensioning method

In this method tendons are stretched between external anchorages before concrete is
placed, when concrete hardens it bonds to steel and when concrete reaches the required
strength the tendons are cut and the force in the tendons is transferred through bond from
the steel to concrete, the tendons tend to regain their original length by shortening and in
this process transfer through bond a compressive stress to the concrete

Post-tensioning method

 In a post-tensioned method, the tendons are stressed and each end is anchored to the
concrete section after the concrete has been cast and has attained sufficient strength to
safely withstand the prestressing force.

3. Name atleast 5 advantage of prestressing

- The spans of prestressed beams and girders are longer compared with that
of reinforced concrete
- It has long-term durability
- Prestressed concrete beams have usually low deflection.
- The use of curved tendons and the pre-compression of concrete helps to
resist shear
- Possibility of steel corrosion and subsequent concrete deterioration is
declined because concrete is crack-free.

4. What are the factors that contribute to prestress losses?

- Elastic shortening
- Shrinkage of concrete
- Creep of concrete
- Frictional loss
- Relaxation of steel
- Anchorage take-up