Pre-Tensioning and Post-Tensioning in

Prestressed Concrete Design

The prestressed concrete design of a structure is influenced by either of the
two processes, pre-tensioning, and post-tensioning. Pre-tensioning can be
further classified into two categories such as linear pre-tensioning and
circular pre-tensioning.

Pre-Tensioning and Post-Tensioning in

Prestressed Concrete Design

Pre-Tensioning in Prestressed Concrete

Pre-tensioning is accomplished by stressing wires or strands, called tendons,
to predetermined amount by stretching them between two anchorages prior
to placing concrete as shown in fig.1. The concrete is then placed and
tendons become bonded to concrete throughout their length.

After concrete has hardened, the tendons are released by cutting them at
the anchorages. The tendons tend to regain their original length by
shortening and in this process transfer through bond a compressive stress to
the concrete.

The tendons are usually stressed by the use of hydraulic jacks. The stress in
tendons is maintained during the placing and curing of concrete by
anchoring the ends of the tendons to abutments that may be as much as
200m apart. The abutments and other formwork used in this procedure are
called prestressing bench or bed.
 Fig.1: Section for Pre-tensioning

Most of the pre-tensioning construction techniques are patented although

the basic principle used in all of them is common and is well known.

Post-Tensioning in Prestressed Concrete

The alternative to pre-tensioning is post-tensioning. In a post-tensioned
beam, 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 as shown in fig.2.

In post-tensioning method, tendons are coated with grease or a bituminous

material to prevent them from becoming bonded to concrete. Another
method used in preventing the tendons from bonding to the concrete during
placing and curing of concrete is to encase the tendon in a flexible metal
hose before placing it in the forms. The metal hose is referred to as sheath
or duct and remains in the structure.
 Fig.2: Section for Post-tensioning

After the tendon has been stressed, the void between the tendon and the
sheath is filled with grout. Thus the tendons become bonded to concrete and
corrosion of steel is prevented.

Post-tension prestressing can be done at site. This procedure may become

necessary or desirable in certain cases. For heavy loads and large spans in
buildings or bridges, it may be very difficult to transport a member from
precasting plant to a job site. On the other hand, pre-tensioning can be used
in precast as well as in cast-in-place construction.

In post-tensioning it is necessary to use some types of device to attach or

anchor the ends of the tendons to the concrete section. These devices are
usually referred to as end anchorages. There are a large number of patents
for different types of anchorages. They may also differ n the details of
construction

Some of the popular methods of post-tensioning in prestressed

concrete are:

1. Freyssinet system
2. Magnel system
3. Leonhardt system
4. Lee-McCall system
 5. Gifford-Udall system

What is Pre-Stressed Concrete?

Pre-stressing is generally a way to overcome concrete weakness in tension. Generally, the concrete
undergoes compression on top flange and tension at bottom flange. In pre-stressing the tendons are
stretched along the axis and cement is poured, later when the tendons are released the compression is
generated at the bottom which tries to counter-balance the compression due to loading at the top part
of the beam. The upward force along the length of the beam counteracts the service loads applied to
the member. The unique characteristics of pre-stressed concrete allow predetermined, engineering
stresses to be placed in members to counteract stresses that occur when the unit is subjected to service
loads.

Pre-stressing removes a number of design limitations conventional concrete faces on span and load and
also permits the building of roofs, floors, bridges, and walls with longer unsupported spans. This allows
architects and engineers to design and build lighter and shallower concrete structures without
sacrificing strength. This also helps in the construction of longer spans thereby reducing the
intermediate pier construction and making bridge construction economical.

Pre-stressed concrete has experienced the greatest growth in the field of commercial buildings. For
buildings such as shopping centers, pre-stressed concrete is an ideal choice because it provides the span
length necessary for flexibility and alteration of the internal structure. Pre-stressed concrete is also used
in school auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias because of its acoustical properties and its ability to
provide long, open spaces. One of the most widespread uses of pre-stressed concrete is parking garages.

Although concrete is highly versatile, one of its major drawbacks is its weakness in tension.
Conventional iron-reinforced concrete faces significant limitations when used in beams,
floors, or bridges. The advent of prestressed concrete in the post-WWII era helped
overcome key issues with concrete construction. Today, prestressed concrete is used as a
foundation slab for both residential and commercial construction. How did it emerge and
how is it different?

The Emergence of Prestressed Concrete

The first known patent for prestressed concrete was actually filed in San Francisco in 1886,
only a handful of years after reinforced concrete was first used. Although sound in
principle, it did not emerge in practice for decades. As Europe faced a major shortage of
steel after World War II, engineers needed ways to facilitate large-scale construction
projects without using conventional reinforced concrete. Likewise, high-rise construction
was running up against the functional limits of traditional concrete elements. A new
innovation was necessary.

In the early postwar years, European engineers and architects relied on prestressed
concrete far more than their American counterparts: The first prestressed concrete building
in the U.S. was the Walnut Lane Memorial Bridge of Philadelphia, which was dedicated in
1950. The bridge achieved a 30% savings against conventional concrete designs of the
time, leading to a wave of interest in prestressed concrete that led to its wide adoption. By
contrast, thousands of structures throughout continental Europe incorporated prestressed
concrete during postwar rebuilding.

While prestressed concrete slabs are important for a variety of uses, there other forms of
prestressing used in construction projects. Concrete pipes can be prestressed, and
depending on the design, a thinner concrete pipe wall may be allowed in the final project.
Prestressing bridge elements is also very useful in adding strength to items such as beams
and girders. With the history and styles of prestressed concrete covered, let’s take a look at
the prestressing process.
 https://www.dywidag-systems.com/uploads/pics/DSI_Czech_Republic_Railway_Intersection_01.jpg

How Prestressed Concrete Works

There are three major implementations of prestressed concrete:

 Pre-Tensioned Concrete: In this form, concrete is cast around steel bars or cables under tension.
The concrete naturally bonds to these “tendons” while it cures. Compression by static friction
transfers the tension to the concrete once it is released. Subsequently, any tension on the concrete
transfers readily to the tendons. Pre-tensioned concrete elements are common in beams, lintels,
and floor slabs.
 Bonded Post-Tensioned Concrete: In this form, compression is applied in situ during curing. A
duct of aluminum, plastic, or steel is used in casting and follows the area where tension would
occur in the concrete. Tendons are pushed through the duct, then tensioned via hydraulic jack
 after hardening. Once tendons’ stretching meets design specifications, they are wedged in place
and the duct is grouted.
 Unbonded Post-Tensioned Concrete: Here, the individual tendons retain freedom of movement
relative to the concrete. Tendons are prepared with a coating of lithium-based grease, then given a
plastic-based “shell” formed through extrusion. The steel cables are tensioned against anchors
placed in the slab’s perimeter. This design provides the ability to de-stress the embedded tendons
prior to repair.
Major Benefits of Prestressed Concrete

Today, prestressed concrete is widely used in the floors of skyscrapers and within
containment structures of nuclear reactors. It can facilitate emergency repairs to a wide
range of buildings due to its ability to be stressed and de-stressed, allowing it to prop up
damaged walls until a solution is found. Its versatility allows it to be used in bridges and
other projects.

The major benefit that popularized prestressed concrete is its relatively low cost. It
improves the efficiency of vertical structures thanks to its thinner slabs, which translate
into additional floors. Thanks to its span distance, it requires fewer joints when compared
to traditional reinforced concrete construction. This also leads to greater usable floor
space.

Prestressed concrete construction also has major benefits from the perspective of the end
user. Joints are the focus of most repair work over the lifetime of a concrete building, so a
reduced number of them naturally leads to lower maintenance costs over time. This
improves safety for the tenants and maximizes the time that the building can be in use.

Commercial Adoption of Prestressed Concrete

Over the last several decades, prestressed concrete has seen widespread commercial
adoption. It is popular in shopping centers, parking garages, and large office complexes. It
is also commonly seen in public buildings including libraries, schools, and auditoriums.

Aside from cost, some of the factors driving its popularity include:

 Versatility: High span length facilitates easier alteration of a structure’s interior and makes it
somewhat simpler to plan additions. This ability is at a premium in dynamic, growing businesses
across a range of industries.
 Acoustics: Prestressed concrete provides acoustical benefits to a building interior that can make it
suitable for musical performances and public address. Effective positioning of joints makes it
possible to create longer open spaces.

Many of the most notable high-rise buildings of the postwar period incorporated
prestressed concrete. Although innovative approaches are becoming more practical than
they once were, it is still important for engineers to understand the many applications of
prestressed concrete. Moving forward into the 21st century and beyond, prestressed
concrete is likely to remain an important tool in the design, development, and maintenance
of a wide range of commercial structures.

Sources
http://www.cement.org/cement-concrete-basics/products/prestressed-concrete
http://nptel.ac.in/courses/IIT-
MADRAS/PreStressed_Concrete_Structures/pdf/1_Introduction/1.2_Advantages_Types%20o
f%20Prestressing.pdf
https://www.pci.org/Design_Resources/Precast_Components/About_Precast/
http://www.structuremag.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/F-WalnutLane-Nasser-
Oct081.pdf

Pre-tensioning Prestresssed Devices

1. 1. PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEMS AND DEVICES PRESENTATION BY- DAVINDERPAL SINGH
2. 2. WHAT IS PRE-TENSIONING ?  IN PRE-TENSIONING, THE TENSION IS APPLIED TO THE
TENDONS BEFORE CASTING OF CONCRETE.  FOR PRE-TENSIONED PRESTRESSED CONCRETE,
THE GRADE OF CONCRETE SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN M40. [AS PER IS 1343:2012]
3. 3. PRE-TENSIONING STAGE'S SUMMARY  ANCHORING OF TENDONS AGAINST THE
ABUTMENTS  PLACING OF JACKS  APPLYING TENSION TO THE TENDON  CASTING OF
CONCRETE  CURING OF CONCRETE  CUTTING OF TENDONS
4. 4. PRE-TENSIONING STAGE'S DETAILS  IN PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM, THE HIGH STRENGTH
STEEL TENDONS ARE PULLED BETWEEN TWO END ABUTMENTS, ALSO CALLED BULKHEADS,
PRIOR TO CASTING OF CONCRETE. THE ABUTMENTS ARE FIXED TO THE ENDS OF A
PRESTRESSING BED.  ONCE THE CASTED CONCRETE ATTAINS THE DESIRED STRENGTH FOR
THE TRANSFER OF PRESTRESS, THE TENDONS ARE CUT LOOSE FROM THE ABUTMENTS.
5. 5. PRE-TENSIONING STAGE'S DETAILS  THE PRESTRESS IS TRANSFERRED TO THE
CONCRETE FROM THE TENDONS, DUE TO THE BOND AT THEIR INTERFACE.  DURING THE
TRANSFER OF PRESTRESS, THE MEMBER UNDERGOES ELASTIC SHORTENING.  IF THE
TENDONS ARE LOCATED ECCENTRICALLY, THE MEMBER IS LIKELY TO BEND AND DEFLECT
UPWARDS [CAMBER].
6. 6. STAGES OF PRE- TENSIONING
7. 7. ADVANTAGES OF PRE-TENSIONING  SUITABLE FOR PRECAST MEMBERS THAT ARE TO BE
PRODUCED IN BULK.  ABSENCE OF LARGE ANCHORAGE DEVICE.
8. 8. DISADVANTAGES OF PRE-TENSIONING  REQUIREMENT OF PRE-STRESSING BED. 
WAITING PERIOD IN PRE-STRESSING BED, BEFORE CONCRETE ATTAINS SUFFICIENT
STRENGTH.  REQUIRES GOOD BOND BETWEEN CONCRETE AND STEEL TENDONS OVER THE
TRANSMISSION LENGTH.
9. 9. WHAT IS TRANMISSION LENGTH ?  The prestress is transferred over a certain length from
each end of a member which is called the transmission length or transfer length (Lt). The stress
in the tendon is zero at the ends of the members. It increases over the transmission length to the
effective prestress (fpe) under service loads and remains practically constant beyond it
10. 10. VARIATION ALONG MEMBER LENGTH
11. 11. PRE-TENSIONING DEVICES  PRESTRESSING BED WITH END ABUTMENTS  MOULD /
SHUTTERING  JACK  ANCHORING DEVICES  HARPING DEVICE
12. 12. PRESTRESSING BED  THESE ARE THE PLATFORMS ON WHICH PRE-TENSIONING OF
TENDONS AND CONCRETE IS CARRIED OUT.
13. 13. PRESTRESSING MOULD  EQUIPMENTS USED TO PROVID E PROPER PLATFORM FOR
PRESTRESSING AND CASTING OF CONCRETE.
14. 14. JACK  The jacks are used to apply tension to the tendons. Hydraulic jacks are commonly
used. These jacks work on oil pressure generated by a pump. The principle behind the design of
jacks is Pascal’s law. The load applied by a jack is measured by the pressure reading from a
gauge attached to the oil inflow or by a separate load cell.
15. 15. ANCHORING DEVICES  Anchoring devices are often made on the wedge and friction
principle. In pre-tensioned members, the tendons are to be held in tension during the casting
and hardening of concrete. Here simple and cheap quick-release grips are generally adopted.
The following figure provides some examples of anchoring devices.
16. 16. HARPING DEVICES  The tendons are frequently bent, except in cases of slabs-on-grade,
poles, piles etc. The tendons are bent (harped) in between the supports with a shallow sag.
17. 17. HARPING DEVICE
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ADVANTAGES & APPLICATIONS OF POST-

TENSIONING

Post-tensioning, which is a form of prestressing, has several advantages over standard reinforcing steel (rebars):
 It reduces or eliminates shrinkage cracking-therefore no joints, or fewer joints, are needed
 Cracks that do form are held tightly together
 It allows slabs and other structural members to be thinner
 It allows us to build slabs on expansive or soft soils
 It lets us design longer spans in elevated members, like floors or beams

Common Applications for PT

Post-tensioning, or PT, has become increasingly popular over the past 30 years or so as the technology has been
perfected. At one time there were problems with corrosion of the cables, especially in deicing-salt-laden parking
structures, but better materials and construction methods (plus good training and certification programs) have
eliminated most problems.

External post-tensioning is a good method for strengthening or retrofitting concrete structures. www.vsl.net

The applications for post-tensioning are almost endless, but what holds it back is the lack of experience among
designers and builders. In an article in Structure magazine (PDF), Gerard Feldman noted that "Most engineers have
only a cursory overview of post tensioning in college...this unfamiliarity creates a bias towards conventional reinforced
concrete structures."

Some of the more common applications are:

 Slabs on ground: Today, PT is used extensively for slabs on grade where soils are likely to move (expansive soils)-
especially in the American southwest. Jim Rogers, editor and publisher of Post Tension Magazine, says that until
housing construction ground to a halt last year, about half of all post-tensioning work was slabs-on-ground for
homes. Residential Concrete magazine had a good review of this in its September 2006 issue.
 Another good application for PT slabs is producing crack-free tennis courts.
 A recently developed application of PT is external post-tensioning for strengthening of existing structures, especially
as an upgrade to resist seismic forces. The best review of this is available from the International Concrete Repair
Institute, "Guideline for the Selection of Strengthening Systems for Concrete Structures."

Water tanks can be post-tensioned. DYK in El Cajon, CA

 Bridge designers have used PT both for cast-in-place concrete and for precast segmental construction. PT allows
longer spans and keeps cracks tight.
 Concrete water tanks are often post-tensioned to reduce crack width and leakage. The companies that make
prestressed concrete tanks are Crom, DYK, Natgun, and Preload.
 Masonry walls can be post-tensioned-this is usually done with a solid steel bar fastened to the foundation and
stressed with a nut at the wall's top. A good article on PT for masonry is available on Masonry Construction
magazine.
 One interesting application is for a concrete countertop that needed to span 6 feet and carry a heavy load.

Concrete is known as a durable material that has a long life and low maintenance requirements. These benefits
combined with its affordability make it a popular option for use with a wide range of applications. However, one
of the major downsides associated with using concrete is that it has a natural weakness when tension is
applied to it. Prestressed concrete, however, is a unique material that is much stronger than typical concrete,
and it can be used for both architectural detail and for strength in a wide range of structures.

What Is Prestressed Concrete?

This type of concrete is made by incorporating steel into the concrete structure during the manufacturing
process. This may include steel cables, bars or other steel materials. While the steel is under tension, the
concrete is cast around it. During the concrete curing process, the concrete will bond to the steel. The tension
on the steel is then released, and the concrete is compressed to create additional strength in the material.

What Are Applications for Prestressed Concrete?

Prestressed concrete can be used in a wide range of residential and commercial construction products on the
interior and exterior of buildings. For example, cast stone panels can be created for both interior and exterior
walls. These can be decorated through a wide range of methods, which may include scoring, stamping,
staining and more. The unique combination of strength and decorative detail of the prestressed concrete
makes these types of wall panels a popular option. Prestressed concrete can also be used to create cast stone
and numerous other architectural products. It can even be used for landscaping design. For example,
preformed concrete retaining walls can be customized based on length, width and height, and the look of the
concrete can be customized as well to create a strong, decorative landscaping retaining wall.

What Are the Benefits of Using Prestressed Concrete?

There are numerous benefits associated with using prestressed concrete for architectural applications. The
most obvious benefit is the strength of the material in comparison to regular concrete. Concrete is a material
that can be treated in various ways to create different looks. Staining, scoring and more, for example, can give
concrete the look of natural stone, tile, marble and more. However, it has minimal maintenance needs and is
typically more affordable than many other materials. Furthermore, because of the incredible strength of the
material, prestressed concrete is also a more affordable option than many other materials that may be used for
structural support. This is a great material to use when trying to keep costs low without sacrificing on the
architectural detail or structural integrity of the project.
There are a number of precast concrete products that are available, and a top prestressed concrete provider
like Stonecast will also customize orders specifically to suit your needs. Those who are interested in taking
advantage of prestressed concrete in their upcoming projects can begin learning more about the precast
products available. When unable to find precast products that meet your needs, customizing an order through a
prestressed concrete provider is a great option.