6 PRESTRESSED CONCRETE [Ch.

very limited degree in this country, since extremely careful control of the
design, construction planning, and execution of the construction is required
if the results which are obtained are to be satisfactory. Furthermore, the
loss of prestress which results with this method is much larger than when
other methods are used, unless frequent adjustments in the jacks are made,
since the concrete is subjected to constant strain in this method rather than
to nearly constant stress as in other methods. For these reasons, and since
the type of structures to which this method of prestressing can be applied is
very limited and is beyond the scope of usual generalities, subsequent
consideration of this method is not given in this book (see Ref. 5).

1–4. Pre-tensioning. Another method of creating the necessary pre

stressing force is referred to as pre-tensioning. Pre-tensioning is accomplished
by stressing steel wires or strands, called tendons, to a predetermined amount,
and then, while the stress is maintained in the tendons, placing concrete
around the tendons. After the concrete has hardened, the tendons are
released, and the concrete, which has become bonded to the tendons, is
prestressed as a result of the tendons attempting to regain the length which
they had before they were stressed. In pre-tensioning, the tendons are
usually stressed by the use of hydraulic jacks, and the stress is maintained
during the placing and curing of the concrete by anchoring the ends of the
tendons to abutments which may be as much as 500 more apart. The
ft.
or
abutments and appurtenances used this procedure are referred

to
as
in

a
pre-tensioning bed some instances, rather than using pre
In
as or

bench.
tensioning benches mentioned above, the steel molds, forms, which are
or
to

form the concrete members, are designed manner that the

in

used such
a

safely anchored
be

to

tendons can the mold. The results obtained with each

determining which
of

these methods identical and the factors involved

in
is
be

con
to

prestressed
of

of

method should used are concern the fabricator

crete but do not usually affect the designer.
pre-tensioned construction must
be

The tendons used small diameter

in

in

relied upon
to

since the bond stress between the concrete and the tendon
is

addition,
to In
to

transfer the stress from the tendon the concrete. large

a

the small tendons are normally required develop the pre

of

number
stressing force which required.
is

Pre-tensioning has become the major method used

of

the manufacture
in

this country. The basic principles and some

of

prestressed concrete the

in

methods which are currently used domestically were imported from Europe,
develop and adapt the procedures
to

to

but much has been done here the

the more recent developments
of

North American market. One this

in

country has been the use pre-tensioned tendons which not pass straight
do
of

through the concrete member but which are deflected into trajectory which
a

approximates curve. This procedure was first used light roof slabs but
on

is
a

Although the use

on

large structural members.

of

now used deflected tendons