**ADVANTAGES OF PRE STRESSING**

The pre stressing of concrete has several advantages compared to traditional reinforced concrete
without pre stressing. A fully pre stressed member is usually subjected to compression during service
life. This rectifies several deficiencies of concrete. The ff. broadly mentions the advantages of a pre
stressed concrete member with an equivalent RC member.

1.) SECTION REMAIN UNCRACKED UNDER SERVICE LOADS

- Reduction of steel corrosion

• Increase in durability

- Full section is utilized

• Higher moment of inertia (higher stiffness)

• Less deformations (improve serviceability)

- Increase in shear capacity

- Suitable for use in pressure vessels, liquid retaining structures

- Improved performance (resilience) under dynamic & fatigue loading.

2.) HIGH SPAN-TO-DEPTH RATIOS

- Larger spans possible with pre stressing (bridges, buildings with large columns, free spaces)
** Typical values of span-to-depth ratios in slabs **
Non-Pre stressed Slab – 28 : 1
Pre stressed Slab – 45 : 1
- For the same span, less depth compared to RC member
• Reduction in self-weight.
• More aesthetic to appeal due to slender sections
• More economical sections
3.) SUITABLE FOR PRE CAST CONSTRUCTION
- Rapid construction
- Better quality control
- Reduced maintenance
- Suitable for repetitive construction
- Multiple use of formworks
• Reduction of formworks
- Availability of standard shapes
••LIMITATIONS OF PRE STRESSING••

Although prestressing has advantages some aspects need to be carefully addressed.

- skilled technology (hence, not as common as reinforced concrete)

- used of high strength material is costly
- there is additional cost in auxilliary equipment
-need for quality control and inspection

Types of Prestressing
Prestressing of concrete can be classified in several ways the following are.

1. Source of prestressing force.

- based on method by which the prestressing force is generated. There are four sources of
prestressing forces mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and chemical
2. External or internal prestressing
- based on the location of the prestressing tendon with respect to the concrete section.
3. Pre tensioning and post tensioning
- most important classification and is based on the sequence of casting the concrete and
applying tension to the tendons.
4. Linear or circular prestressing
- based on the shape of the member of prestressed.
5. Full limited or partial prestressing
- based on the amount of prestressing force.
6. Uniaxial, biaxial, multi-axial,
- based on the directions of prestressing a member

Hydraulic Prestressing
- hydraulic jack is used for the tensioning of the tendon, comprises of the calibrated pressure
gauges which directly indicate the magnitude of force develop during the tensioning. Most
common form.

Mechanical prestressing
- The devices includes weights with or without lever transmission in conjunction with pulley
blocks, screw jacks with or without gear drives and wire winding machines adopted for mass
scale production.
Electrical prestressing
- The steel wires pure electrically heated and anchored before placing concrete in moulds. Also
known as thermo-electrical prestressing.

Chemical prestressing
- expansive cements are used and the degree of expansion is controlled by varying the curing
condition. The expansive action of cement is restrained while setting this generates tensile
forces in the tendons and compressive forces int the concrete (relatively rare).

External prestressing
- prestressing is achieved by elements located inside the concrete member this technique is
adopted with repair and strengthening work such as retrofitting of bridges.

Post tensioning
- the tension is applied to the tendons (located in a duct) after hardening the concrete. The pre
compression is transmitted from steel to concrete by the anchorage device the end of blocks.

Linear prestressing
- when the prestressed members pre straight or flat in the direction of prestressing, the
prestressing is called linear prestressing, for example, prestressing of beams, piles, poles and
slabs, the prestressing cable profile may be curve.

Circular prestressing
- when the prestressed members are curves in the direction of prestressing, the prestressing is
called circular pre stressing for example, circumferential prestressing of tanks, silos, pipes and
similar structures.

Full prestressing
- when the level of prestressing is such that no tensile stress is allowed in concrete under
service load.

Limited prestressing
- is when the level of prestressing is such that the tensile stress under service loads within the
cracking stress of the concrete.

Partial prestressing
- when the level of prestressing is such that under tensile due service loads. The crack width is
within the allowable limits.

Uniaxial prestressing
- when the prestressing cables are parallel to one axis for example longitudinal prestressing
beams.

Biaxial prestressing
- when the prestressing cables parallel to two axis for examples, biaxial prestressing of slabs.

Multi-axial prestressing
- when the prestressing cables are parallel to more than two axis. For examples, prestressing of
domes.

Internal prestressing
- prestressing is achieved by elements located inside the concrete member ( commonly
embedded tendons ) most common.

Pre tensioning
- the tension is applied to the tendons before casting of the concrete. The pre compression is
transimitted from steel to concrete through bond over the transmission length near the end.