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Prestressing Systems
Methods of application:
A) In the early attempts, hydraulic jacks reacting against abutments
were used to apply the prestressing force.
Jack
Abutment
Beam
Enhancements:
Jacks may be replaced with struts after force application.
Cheap jacks filled with cement grout, as the hydraulic fluid, may
be used.
Drawbacks:
Considerable loss of prestressing force due to possible movement
of the abutment
Prestressed concrete, Dr. Hazem Elbakry
B) Instead, jacks reacting against internal (or external) cables were used
to apply the prestressing force.
Jack
Cable Beam
Advantages:
Cables may take any required profile.
Steps of application:
Beam
End anchorages:
wires
Advantages:
Several units may be manufactured in one batch.
Suitable for mass production.
Steps of application:
Form wires Jack
1) Forms are made and
wires are placed and
tensioned.
Concrete
2) Concrete is placed and
cured to harden.
Beam
3) Jacks are released and
wires are cut.
Commercial systems:
Almost all practical techniques are forms of the last two methods which
fit in two main categories:
Pre-tensioned systems.
Post-tensioned systems.
Pre-tensioning Post-tensioning
Prestressed concrete, Dr. Hazem Elbakry
Notes:
Materials
Steel:
Steel is used for the prestressing tendons.
Early attempts of prestressed concrete failed due to the use of low
grade steel as explained in the following example:
Prestressing tendons:
Types: wires, strands and bars
Concrete:
Good quality/strength concrete is used for prestressed concrete
(fcu=30N/mm2 and higher) due to the following reasons:
1) It reduces the sizes of required members.
2) It is faster in gaining early strength, therefore, allowing early
removal of forms to save time and cost.
3) It has a relatively high modulus of elasticity and, therefore, has
small elastic and creep strains under prestressing force which
reduces prestress losses.
4) It is more effective in resisting stresses at the anchorage zones
(post- tensioned).
5) It has a better bond strength (pre-tensioned).
6) It has a better shear resistance.
7) Prestressed concrete is usually precast in factories under good
quality control conditions.