PRESTRESSED

CONCRETE
BQS 502 Construction Technology III

Mohd Arif Marhani

A377
0193105479
Centre of Studies for Quantity Surveying
CONTENT
o Intro to Prestressed
concrete
o Pre-tensioned Prestressed
concrete
o Post-tensioned

Pre- Post-
tensioned tensioned
INTRODUCTION

o Introduced by a French engineer

– Eugene Freyssinet in 1928
o A method for overcoming
concrete's natural weakness in
tension
o Concrete with stresses induced in
it before use so as to counteract
stresses that will be produced
by loads
INTRODUCTION
Typical stress in
beam
INTRODUCTION Impact of load in
beam
INTRODUCTION Impact of load in
RC beam
 Impact of load in
INTRODUCTION Prestressed RC
beam
INTRODUCTION
o The compressive strength is introduced into a concrete
member before it begins it working life at a position where
tensile stress will develop under working load
o This strength is gained by means of tendons (stressing wires)
incorporated permanently in the member
o It can be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a
longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced
concrete
INTRODUCTION
o The most common way is to stretch steel bars or wires, called
tendons, and to anchor them to the concrete; when they try to
regain their initial length, the concrete resists & is prestressed
o Strand tendons consist of a straight core wire, which is helically
wound around it a further wire in the form of 6 over 1 (7-wire
strand) or 9 over 1 (10-wire strand)
o Tendons are usually in the form of high-strength wires, strands
or bar used singly or made up into cables
o The tendons may be stretched with jacks or by electrical
heating
INTRODUCTION TENDONS
INTRODUCTION
o Prestressed concrete is particularly advantageous for beams
o It permits steel to be used at stresses several times larger than
those permitted for reinforcing bars
o Concrete reinforced by either pre-tensioning or post-
tensioning, allowing it to carry a greater load or span, a
greater distance than ordinary reinforced concrete
o Pre-stressing can be accomplished in two ways:
▪ Pre-tensioned concrete
▪ Post-tensioned (bonded & un-bonded)
INTRODUCTION
o Quality of the concrete used:
▪ Min. Grade 40 for pre-tensioned
▪ Min. Grade 30 for post-tensioned
o Steel or tendon should conform to BS 5896
o The wire can be plain round, crimped or indented (2-7mm
diameter)
o Crimped or indented bars will develop a greater bond
strength than plain round bars (4-7mm diameter)
 Prestressed concrete in SMM2
F34 – General Rules
F35 – In Situ Concrete Members
F36 – Reinforcement to In Situ Concrete Members
F37 – Formwork to In Situ Concrete Members
F38 – Precast Concrete Units
F39 – Ducts, Grooves and Pockets
F40 – Prestressed Tendons
PC should be under separate heading from other
concrete work, stating type of prestressing style.
Details of jacking and anchorage must also be
detailed out
Similar to other concrete works
Similar to other concrete works
Similar to other concrete works, stating additional
works for extra support, temporary restraints,
anchorage pockets and temporary construction
joints
Similar to other precast concrete works, stating
pre/post tensioning and self supporting or not.
Measurement of ducts and grooves in M and
support. Anchorage pockets and grouting must
also be stated.
Enumerated, stating length, number or wires, size,
the core and sheathing
PRE-TENSIONED Prestressed
concrete
PRE-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
o Concrete is cast around already tensioned tendons
o Produces a good bond between the tendon and concrete, which
both protects the tendon from corrosion & allows for direct
transfer of tension
o Most pretensioned concrete elements are prefabricated in a
factory & must be transported to the construction site, which
limits their size
o Most suitable for mass manufacturing of precast components
such as slabs, beams, poles, piles, railway sleepers etc. that
involved long line method of casting
 PRE-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE: SEQUENCE OF WORK
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Tendons & Tendons are stressed Concrete is cast into When the concrete
reinforcement are to about 70% of the beam mould & has cured the
positioned in the their ultimate allowed to cure to stressing force is
beam mould strength the required initial released (with
strength additional 10% of
The tendons are Overstress the ultimate strength) &
anchored at one end tendons by 10% is the tendons anchor
(strong abutment) of common in order to themselves in the
the mould & stressed counteract the concrete
by hydraulic jack anticipated losses,
from the other end which will occur due Bond between
until it reached the to creep, shrinkage tendons & concrete:
required stress & relaxation prevent from
regaining original
lengths & can be
improved: crimped/
indented wires
 PRE-TENSIONED Sequence of work
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
 PRE-
TENSIONED
PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
Examples
 PRE-TENSIONED Pre-stressing jacks
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE & abutment
 PRE-TENSIONED “Hold Down”
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE Anchor
 PRE-TENSIONED Concrete pour
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
PRE-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE: APPLICATIONS
o Pre-tensioned elements may be balcony elements, lintels, floor
slabs, beams or foundation piles
o The most effective method is long line production where a
number of similar units are produced at the same time
o Deciding factors in using pre-tensioning:
▪ Cross-section of member
▪ Number of units required must be massive
▪ Suitability of using straight wires
POST-TENSIONED Prestressed
concrete
POST-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
o Post-tensioning method is usually applied where stressing is to
be carried out on site
o The method is more versatile & efficient, resulting in reduced
tension loss (because it is bonded at both ends)
o Commonly used in heavy structures such as bridges, portal
frame, shell roof, reservoir & fly over
 POST-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE: SEQUENCE OF WORK
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Cable ducts (duct Concrete is cast into Tendons are Wedges are inserted
tube/Metal the beam mould & threaded through the into the end
sheathing/Flexible allowed to cure to cable ducts & anchorages and the
steel tubing the required initial tensioned to about tensioning force on
/Inflatable rubber strength 70% of their the tendons is
tubes) are positioned ultimate strength released. Grout is
in the beam mould. then pumped into the
The ducts are usually ducts to protect the
raised towards the tendons, to stop any
neutral axis at the moisture present that
ends to reduce the will set up corrosive
eccentricity of the action & to assist the
stressing force stress distribution
 POST-TENSIONED Sequence of work
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
POST-
TENSIONED
PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
Examples
 POST-
TENSIONED
PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
Examples
 ADVANTAGES VS DISADVANTAGES OF
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
Advantages Disadvantages
o Pre-stressed members remain free o Requires special equipment such as
from cracks jacks & anchorage
o Full utilisation of high compressive o Requires great deal of technical
strength of concrete & high tensile knowledge & close supervision
strength of steel thus resulting in o High quality control of concrete is
smaller section used for longer span required
o Longer life span of members
o Good quality components can be
produced economically
 REINFORCED CONCRETE VS
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
Reinforced concrete Prestressed concrete
o Tensile strength of concrete is assumed to o Permanent stresses are created - reduce
be negligible net tensile stresses
o RC cracks - only 1/2 – 1/3 of concrete o Little, if any, cracking. Entire cross-section
cross-section contributes to effectiveness contributes to effectiveness
o Cracking and deflection are typically o A higher level of recovery of cracking and
irrecoverable after reaching these limit deflection due to pre-stressing force
states
o Stiffness is difficult to control economically o Stiffness can be flexible or rigid by
controlling
o No direct assistance from longitudinal steel o Some assistance from longitudinal steel
o Heavy o Lighter weight, can accommodate longer
spans & more adaptable to pre-casting
o Safe o Partial testing of steel and concrete by
tensioning loads
o More material o Less material, but higher cost materials
used. Tend to save on other parts of
structure because PC is lighter
POST-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE
o Precast Pre-tensioned Concrete
▪ Most widely employed pre-cast segment is double tee
▪ Used for roof slabs & wall panels
▪ In combination with cast-in-place topping, double tees are
used for floor slab

o Manufacture
▪ Precast segment are cast in steel forms with tapered legs
▪ Straight strands are employed for short span while
deflected strands are employed for longer & more heavily
loaded span
ERECTION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
o Precast segments are typically transported by truck & erected by a large
truck crane with extended outriggers
o Proper procedures & safety practices must be followed in order to ensure
safety & efficient operations
o Pre-stressed Concrete Institute (1995) has published a manual, Erection
Safety for Precast and Pre-stressed Concrete that includes:
▪ Pre-planning the erection
▪ Site conditions
▪ Cranes
▪ Equipment
▪ Rigging
▪ Tools
▪ Unloading
▪ Lifting
▪ Fall protection
▪ Setting/connecting/releasing
REPAIR & MAINTENANCE OF PRE-
STRESSED CONCRETE
o Although pre-stressed concrete structure properly designed &
constructed, have proven highly durable in wide range of
environment, there have been numerous cases where corrosion
has seriously damage both conventional reinforcing & pre-
stressing tendons
o The most prevalent cases are:
▪ Deck of pre-stressed concrete bridges, to which deicing salts have been applied
during winter
▪ Decks of parking structures where tires have carried salts from the adjoining
streets
▪ Piling and the underside of wharf decks of coastal marine structures in tidal and
splash zones
▪ Un-bonded tendons, wrapped in paper and bitumastic, in area near the
seacoast where chlorides are present in the fog
REPAIR & MAINTENANCE OF PRE-
STRESSED CONCRETE
o Maintenance Program
▪ Wash down concrete surface on, which salt has been
deposited by spray, accidents or intention
▪ Treat the surface with silane to render them relatively
impermeable to water that contains chlorides
▪ Seal static cracks with epoxy injection or coatings
▪ Seal active cracks with flexible members, such as
polyurethane, which have crack-spanning ability
▪ Where feasible reduce the relative humidity in enclosures
to below 50%. This is applicable to such structures as
seawater pump room