Prestressed Concrete Design (PCD) Part 1 - Essay

1) * PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM (Before)
- A method of Pre stressing concrete in which the tendons are tensioned before
the concrete is placed. In this method, the prestress is imparted to concrete by bond
between steel and concrete.
- In the pre-tensioning systems, the tendons are first tensioned between rigid anchor-
blocks cast on the ground or in a column or unit –mould types pretensioning bed, prior
to the casting of concrete in the mould. The tendons comprising individual wires or
strands are stretched with constant eccentricity or a variable eccentricity with tendon
anchorage at one end and jacks at the other. With the forms in place, the concrete is
cast around the stressed tendon.
* POST-TENSIONING SYSTEM (After)
- A method of pre stressing concrete by tensioning the tendons against hardened

concrete. In this method, the prestress is imparted to concrete by bearing.
- In post-tensioning the concrete unit are first cast by incorporating ducts or grooves to
house the tendons. When the concrete attains sufficient strength, the high-tensile wires
are tensioned by means of jack bearing on the end of the face of the member and
anchored by wedge or nuts. The forces are transmitted to the concrete by means of end
anchorage and, when the cable is curved, through the radial pressure between the cable
and the duct. The space between the tendons and the duct is generally grouted after
the tensioning operation.
2) * PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM LOSSES
a) Elastic deformation of concrete - When the tendons are cut and the prestressing
force is transferred to the member; concrete undergoes immediate shortening due to
prestress. Tendon also shortens by same amount, which leads to the loss of prestress.
b) Relaxation of stress in steel - Under constant strain, creep stops entirely after about
15 days. Therefore, creep of steel could be reduced considerably by overstressing steel
about 10% above its initial stress and then releasing it to the initial stress.
c) Shrinkage of concrete - In the case of pre-tensioned members, generally moist curing
is resorted to in order to prevent shrinkage until the time of transfer. Consequently the
total residual shrinkage strain will be larger in pretensioned members after transfer of
prestress in comparison with post tensioned member, where a portion of shrinkage will
have already taken place by the time of transfer of stress.
d) Creep of concrete – Happens when either one loss stated before occurs. It is the
deformation of structure under sustained load. Basically, long term pressure or stress on
concrete can make it change shape.
3) * POST-TENSIONING SYSTEM LOSSES
a) Elastic deformation of concrete - No loss due to elastic deformation if all the wires
are simultaneously tensioned. If the wires are successively tensioned, there will be loss
of prestress due to elastic deformation of concrete.
b) Relaxation of stress in steel - You can say that rebar is a passive reinforcement.
However, in post tensioning, the tendons are active reinforcement. The prestressed
force in the tendons will enable the beam to withstand and carry the load. ... These days
post tensioning uses low relaxation 7-wire high tensile steel PC strand as prestressing
tendons.
c) Shrinkage of concrete - In a post-tensioned building, however, the prestressing force
fully or partially closes cracks which develop in the floor system, and the ends tend to
move inwards. ... For the short period of time after placement when shrinkage-
compensating concrete expands, growth of the floor system is restrained by connected
members.
d) Creep of concrete - Happens when either one loss stated before occurs. It is the
deformation of structure under sustained load. Basically, long term pressure or stress on
concrete can make it change shape.
e) Friction - Friction loss occurs due to an interaction between strands and surrounding
materials, and induces a gradual force reduction along the tendon. Therefore, the
effective prestressing forces along a post-tensioning structure are a function of the
distance from the jacking end.
f) Anchorage grip - Post-tensioning tendons are usually anchored with some form of
mechanical anchorage device which provides a clearly defined anchorage for the
tendon.

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1) * PRE-TENSIONING SYSTEM (Before)

* POST-TENSIONING SYSTEM (After)

- A method of pre stressing concrete by tensioning the tendons against hardened

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