Art.

1–5] PRESTRESS ING METHODS AND MATER ALS 7

did not originate in this country, it is now considered a major and practicable
method for bridge construction. In other countries it is used to a much
smaller extent.
Although many of the devices used in pre-tensioned construction are
patented, the basic principle is in the public domain. This partially accounts
for the very rapid rate of increase in the use of this method in this country.
A detailed discussion of the construction procedures and equipment used in
pre-tensioned construction is given in Chapter 10.

1–5. Post-tensioning with Tendons. When a member is fabricated

in such a manner that 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, the member is said to be
post-tensioned. In this country, when using post-tensioning, the most
common method used in preventing the tendon from bonding to the concrete
during placing and curing of the concrete is to encase the tendon in a mortar
tight, flexible metal hose before placing it in the forms. The metal hose
remains in the structure, and after the tendon is stressed, the void between
the tendon and hose is filled with grout. In this manner the tendon becomes
bonded to the concrete section and corrosion of the steel is prevented.
Rather than use a metal hose, a rubber hose, which may be inflated with
air or water or which may be stiffened during the placing of the concrete
it,

by placing a metal rod in hole through the

to

sometimes used form

is

concrete section. After the concrete sufficiently hard, the rubber tube

is
is

removed by pulling from one end, and the tendon then inserted the duct
in
is

which was formed by the tube. The construction completed by stressing

is

the tendon, anchoring each end, and grouting place. Occasionally the
in
it

tendons are prevented from bonding the concrete by coating the tendons
to

bituminous material and then wrapping them paper

or

or

with grease
in
a

plastic tubing. This type post-tensioning usually referred un

of

to
as
is

bonded construction.
Post-tensioning offers prestressing on the job, which
of

means neces
is
a

sary some instances. Very large roof bridge girders which

or

or

desirable
in

transported from precasting plant the job site due

be

to

to

cannot their
to a

weight, size, the nearest prestressing plant can made by

be
or

the distance
post-tensioning the job site. addition, fabricators pre-tensioned con
on

In

of

crete will frequently post-tension the members for small projects on which the
produced does not warrant the expenditures required
be
of

to

number units
set up pre-tensioning facilities. There are other advantages inherent
to

in

post-tensioned construction which will

be

discussed later.
In

post-tensioning, use some type

of

or
to

to

necessary device attach

is
it

anchor the ends of the tendons to the concrete section. These devices are
usually referred and the end anchorages, together
to
as

end anchorages,
with the special jacking and grouting equipment used accomplishing the
in