Prestressed concrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially compressed during its fabrication that strengthens it against tensile forces.
This compression is produced by the tensioning of high-strength tendons located within or adjacent to the concrete and is done to improve the performance of the concrete in service.
Tendons may consist of single wires, multi-wire strands or threaded bars that are most commonly made from steels. The essence of prestressed concrete is that once the initial compression has been applied, the resulting material has the characteristics of high-strength concrete when subject to any subsequent compression forces and of ductile high-strength steel when subject to tension forces. This can result in improved structural capacity serviceability compared with conventionally reinforced concrete in
many situations.
Prestressed concrete is used in a wide range of building and civil structures where its improved performance can allow for longer spans, reduced structural thicknesses, and material savings compared with simple reinforced concrete.
Prestressed concrete is classified as:-
i) Pre-tensioned concrete uses tendons directly bonded to the concrete
ii) Post-tensioned concrete can use either bonded or unbonded tendons.
Applications:-
High-rise buildings, residential slabs, foundation systems, bridge and dam structures and tanks, industrial pavements and nuclear containment structures.
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