Introduction to Prestressed Concrete

It is applied to enable the structure to counteract the stresses arising during its service period.

• Prestressed concrete structure

• Pre-tensioning the spokes

• Force-fitting of metal bands

• Initial load or Prestress

It is different from the conventional reinforced concrete structure due to the application of an initial load on the structure prior to its use

• Prestressed concrete structure

• Pre-tensioning the spokes

• Force-fitting of metal bands on wooden barrels

• Initial load or Prestress

Example of prestressing before the development of prestressed concrete

• Prestressed concrete structure

• Force-fitting of metal bands on wooden barrels

• Pre-tensioning the spokes in a bicycle wheel

• Initial load or Prestress

This concept existed before the application in concrete.

• Prestressing of structure

• Cracks

• Prestressing

• Perpendicular direction

The tensile strength of concrete is only about _____ of its compressive strength.

• 8% to 14%

• 7% to 14%

• 6% to 14%

• 5% to 14%

Tends to develop at early stages of loading in flexural members such as beams and slabs.

• Perpendicular direction

• Compressive Force

• Prestressing

• Cracks

Enhances the bending, shear, and torsional capacities of the flexural members.

• Prestressing

• Compressive Force

• Perpendicular direction

• Cracks

To prevent such cracks, compressive force can be suitably applied in the _____.

• Perpendicular direction

• Parallel direction

• Tangential direction

• None of the above

To prevent such cracks, _____ can be suitably applied in the perpendicular direction.

• Shear Force

• Tensile Force

• Compressive Force

• Flexural Force

Prestressing enhances the _____, _____ and _____ capacities of the flexural members.

• bending

• shear

• torsional

• compressive