The power of prestressing

J. Strasky

The idea of prestressing—a product of the twentieth century—has announced the single most significant new
direction in structural engineering of any period in history. It put into the hands of the designer an ability to control
structural behaviour and, at the same time, it enabled the designer—or forced the designer—to think more deeply
about the construction. Moreover, the idea of prestressing opened up new possibilities for a form that influences
the general culture. To focus on that fact, and to narrow the scope, the paper will consider bridges only, even
though prestressing has broad applications to all kinds of buildings. However, the idea of prestressing arose out of
bridge design, and its most impressive forms, from a purely engineering viewpoint, have appeared in bridges.

Jiri Strasky This paper focuses on some problems that Load balancing
Technical University of are connected with finding the correct struc-
Brno, and Strasky Husty tural solution and the corresponding arrange- The design of structures is based on the full
and Partners, Brno, ment of prestressing steel. In the examples of understanding of the function of post-tension-
Czech Republic several structures, the possibilities of post-ten- ing, both during the post-tensioning service
sioning are presented and they serve to remind and in the ultimate limit state. During the
us of the outstanding structures that use pre- post-tensioning, the structure is loaded by an
Introduction stressing in a non-traditional way. equilibrium of forces. Owing to the creep of
The paper includes some structures where concrete, the original stage of stress can
While reinforced concrete combines concrete the author worked on the design, and these change significantly in time. The importance
and steel bars by simply putting them together show the author’s approach to the design of of this phenomenon is presented in the follow-
and letting them act together as they may structures, which is developed from an ing example.
wish, prestressed concrete combines high- attempt to understand the structural beha- Figure 1 shows a simple beam with a span
strength concrete with high-strength steel in viour and to find the most appropriate solu- length of 12 m, which was, after 14 days of
an active manner. The prestressing allows us tion. curing, suspended at mid-span on a very stiff
to balance the load, change boundary condi-
tions and create supports within the structure.
Prestressing is really a revolution. Prestressing
is a radical step from passive reinforcement to
creative thinking and development.
Modern concrete structures combine rein-
forced concrete with different levels of post-
tensioning in order to obtain the most appro-
priate behaviour of structures, both for service
and ultimate load.1 In this way, so-called
‘structural concrete’ is developed.
By post-tensioning structures, we can redis-
tribute internal forces within the structure and
achieve any stage of stress. But we have to be
careful. In contrast to steel structures, the cho-
sen stage of stress is redistributed in time by
the creep of the concrete to the natural stage
of concrete structures. And, of course, the
alignment of prestressing tendons is influ-
enced by the requirements on the ultimate
capacity and the ductility of the structures.

Figure 1 Redistribution of bending

moments in a two-span beam "

1464^4177  2003 Thomas Telford and fib

26 Strasky

stay cable (EA ¼ 1). Before suspending, a

force S was created at the cable. The value
of force S was S ¼ 0, S ¼ R and S ¼ 2R,
where R is a reaction at the intermediate sup-
port of a continuous beam of two spans
2  6 m.
The time-dependent analysis was per-
formed for the old Mörch and CEB-FIP creep
function. In the course of time, a significant
redistribution of the bending moments
occurred for S ¼ 0 and S ¼ 2R. The course of
the bending moments is changing towards the
course of the bending moments of a two-span
beam. Concrete is a natural material and,
therefore, the structure tries to behave natu-
rally—as a continuous beam. In this case, a
redistribution of stresses is larger for the old
Mörch creep function.
It is important to realise that for the force ~ Figure 2 Balancing of the dead load in a two-span beam: (a) by internal tendons;
S ¼ R, there is no redistribution of stresses in (b) by external cables situated within the perimeter of the cross-section; and (c) by
time for both creep functions. The structure external cables situated outside the perimeter of the cross-section. g = uniform dead
keeps its shape and the stresses are constant load; G = resultant of the dead load; P = prestressing force; r = uniform radial forces from
in time. Their values do not depend on the prestressing; Rp = radial force from prestressing at support; R = radial force from
adopted creep function. prestressing
Since it is difficult to design a structure in
which the stresses are changing in time, it is
very important to design an initial stage in such
a way that the redistribution of stresses is mini-
mal. That means that the geometry and forces
in the internal prestressing tendons or external
cables (situated inside or outside the perimeter
of the deck) have to be determined in such a
way that their effects, together with the dead
load, create zero deflection at deviators (see
Figure 2). It means that the dead load should
be balanced by prestressing. Then the struc-
ture that is loaded only by a normal force
keeps its shape in time. This approach, which
was developed by Professors F. Leonhardt2
and T. Y. Lin,3 simply guides us to use partial,
limited or full prestressing. The importance of
the load balancing was again proved by Pro-
fessor R. Favre.4
If the deck is suspended on arches or
pylons, the initial forces in the stay or suspen-
sion cables have to be determined from the
condition of zero deflection of the deck at
the anchor points—see Figure 3.
The attempt to limit the redistribution of
stresses caused by the creep of concrete forces ~ Figure 3 Balancing of the dead load: (a) arch structure; (b) cable-stayed structure;
us to design a correct structural system and (c) suspension structure; and (d) equivalent continuous beam. G = resultant of the dead
prevents us from designing fancy structures load situated between two cables; S = force in the cable; HL = resultant of the horizontal
that are very common in steel at present. In forces left to the pylon; HP = resultant of the horizontal forces right to the pylon

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
 The power of prestressing 27

contrast to steel structures, we are not able to

design the structures in which a beam is
suspended on stay cables, stressed to a small
or large force, and so create an un-
natural structural system developed by an
architect.
The following subsections demonstrate
how a full understanding of prestressing
enables us to solve the problems of finding
the best structural solution that is inherent in
the site and which best fulfils the function of
bridging the site.

Hoechst Bridge, Frankfurt, Germany

The Hoechst Bridge, which was designed and
built by Dywidag, is one of the first modern
concrete cable-stayed bridges (Figure 4).5 It
was built across the River Main close to Frank-
furt and carries a railway and a motorway. The
deck, which is formed by a box girder with
large overhangs, is suspended on a single
pylon situated on one bank of the river and
it is stiffened by a low concrete wall situated
above the pier on the other bank. A hinge is
created between these two parts of the deck
(Figure 5).
The forces in the stay cables are designed in
such a way that they exactly balance the dead
load of the deck in the length between the
neighbouring stays. Similarly, the prestressing
of the wall is designed so that it balances the
dead load (see Figure 5). By a clever combina-
tion of the external prestressing created by the
stay cables and the internal prestressing of the
wall, it was possible to reduce the length of
~ Figure 4 Hoechst Bridge, Frankfurt, Germany
the suspended portion of the deck and the
height of the pylon. The solution opened up
the view onto the river and created an
impressive structure that fits into nice sur-
roundings.
Viaduct near a shopping centre in
Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Swiss engineers have developed a strip post-
tensioning of flat slabs. The prestressing ten-
dons that are arranged in the support strips
create support strips of zero deflection in the
structure. A similar approach can also be used
in bridges. An advantage of this arrangement
has been demonstrated in a recently com-
pleted bridge built in the Czech Republic.
The bridge, 238 m long, is formed by a
continuous deck slab of 13 spans, which
range in length from 12 to 19 m. The deck
slab, which is 0.90 m deep and varies in
width from 12.30 to 14.30 m, is supported
by two pot bearings situated on narrow piers
(Figure 6).
Owing to the difficulties in obtaining the
building permission, the bridge had to be
designed and built within 15 weeks. There-

~ Figure 5 Hoechst Bridge—balancing of the dead load (units in m)

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
28 Strasky

fore, a traditional span-by-span construction,

which requires progressive casting and post-
tensioning of each span, was impossible. The
deck had to be cast in a few stages only, and
progressive longitudinal post-tensioning of the
deck had to be substituted by reinforcement
using reinforcing bars.
To allow a very simple reinforcement
formed by uniformly distributed straight rebars
and stirrups, a transverse post-tensioning of
the structure above the piers was designed.
The concept of the transverse post-tensioning
came from the idea of the post-tensioning of
the flat slab. The transverse post-tensioning
was created in such a way that there was no
deformation in the transverse strips above the
support.6 From Figure 7 it is evident that the
transverse post-tensioning can create a similar
distribution of longitudinal bending moments,
as it is supported by several bearings in the
structure.

~ Figure 6 Viaduct near the shopping centre in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Sunniberg Bridge, Switzerland

Sunniberg Bridge, whose concept was devel-
oped by Professor Menn, is one of the clever-
est structures ever built. The bridge has five
spans, ranging in length from 59 to 134 m,
and a plan curvature with a radius R = 503 m
(see Figures 8 and 9(b)).7,8 The slender deck,
running at 60 m above the grade, is suspended
on pylons protruding 15 m above the deck.
The stiffness of the structure comes from
the plan curvature of the deck, which is fixed
at the abutments (Figure 9(a)). While in the
traditional multi-span cable-supported struc-
tures, vertical deflection of the deck has to
be controlled by intermediate anchor piers or
by the bending stiffness of the deck, in this
bridge the vertical deformation of the deck is
controlled by the transverse stiffness of the
curved deck. Any vertical load causes the
horizontal movement of the deck, which
acts in the horizontal plane as an arch. The
transverse movement of the deck creates sig-
nificant transverse moments in the piers form-
~ Figure 7 Viaduct near the shopping centre in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic: (a) deck ing transverse frames (Figure 10(c)). Non-
supported by three bearings; (b) deck supported by one bearing; (c) transversely post- traditional post-tensioning of the pylon legs
tensioned deck supported by one bearing; and (d) distribution of longitudinal bending and diaphragms (Figure 11) eliminates these
moments above the support. P = prestressing force; Mx = longitudinal bending moment stresses.

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
 The power of prestressing 29

3 Figure 8 Sunniberg Bridge, Switzerland (courtesy of Christian

Menn)

~ Figure 9 Sunniberg Bridge, Switzerland: (a) calculation model; and (b) cross-section of the deck (courtesy of Christian Menn)

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
30 Strasky

~ Figure 11 Sunniberg Bridge,

Switzerland—post-tensioning of the pylon
(courtesy of Christian Menn)

Vranov Lake pedestrian bridge,

Czech Republic
The deck (252 m long) of the suspension
pedestrian bridge across the Swiss Bay of the
~ Figure 10 Sunniberg Bridge, Switzerland—pylon: (a) cross-section; (b) longitudinal
Vranov Lake is suspended on suspension
section; (c) transverse bending moments; and (d) longitudinal bending moments
cables that are supported by A-shaped con-
(courtesy of Christian Menn)
crete pylons (Figure 12).9 In order to create a
uniform architectural expression of all the
structural members and to visually soften the
structure, the pylons have slightly curved legs
(Figure 13).

~ Figure 12 Vranov Lake pedestrian bridge, Czech Republic—suspension cables ~ Figure 13 Vranov Lake pedestrian
supported by A-shaped concrete pylons bridge, Czech Republic

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
 The power of prestressing 31

~ Figure 16 Bridge across the Vrsovice

railway station, Czech Republic—inter-
mediate support

~ Figure 14 Vranov Lake pedestrian bridge, Czech Republic: (a) transverse bending and 33.00 m.10 The last three spans are sus-
moments due to the dead load; (b) layout of prestressing tendons and equivalent radial pended on one single pylon. Single piers, situ-
forces; and (c) transverse bending moments due to prestressing. P = prestressing force; ated in the bridge axis, support the approach
r = uniform radial forces from prestressing spans (Figure 16).
Both bridges have similar decks formed by
a spine box girder and additionally cast over-
hangs that are supported by precast struts. The
The pylons were cast horizontally and then Bridges across the River Elbe and load from the girder’s webs is transferred into
lifted into the design position. To resist signifi- Vrsovice railway station, Czech the stay cables situated on the bridge axis by
cant bending stresses that originated in the Republic internal ties formed by prestressed concrete
pylon’s legs during its lifting, it was necessary members (Figure 17(a)). This arrangement,
to post-tension them. This post-tensioning The cable-stayed bridge across the River Elbe
which was developed by a French engineer in
was utilised in the completed structure as (Figure 15) has three spans of lengths
well. The layout of the prestressing tendons 61.60 m, 123.20 m and 61.60 m, and the
was designed in such a way that it exactly cable-stayed bridge across the Vrsovice railway
balanced the bending moment due to the station has nine spans of lengths 26.40 m,
dead load (Figure 14). 4  35.00 m, 44.00 m, 101.20 m, 48.40 m

~ Figure 17 Bridges across the River Elbe

and across the Vrsovice railway station,
Czech Republic—suspension of the deck:
(a) on stay cables; and (b) on external
~ Figure 15 Bridge across the River Elbe, Czech Republic cables

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
32 Strasky
the design for the Broton Bridge, allows the
transfer of the dead load shear directly into
the pylon. However, in the non-suspended
part of the structure, the shear has to be
resisted by webs.
In the case of the cable-stayed bridge
across the River Elbe, the bending moments
in the non-suspended portion of the deck
were balanced by short straight cables situated
~ Figure 19 Bridges across the River Elbe and across the Vrsovice railway station, Czech
Republic—testing of the external cables
at the top slab. The shear was resisted by the
shear capacity of the widened webs (Figure
18(a)).
In the case of the Vrsovice Bridge, the shear
in the non-suspended parts of the deck (close
to the pylon and in the approaches) is trans-
ferred into the pylon or single supports directly
by the external cables situated like the stay
cables in the bridge axis. These cables are
3 Figure 18 Bridges across
the River Elbe and across the
Vrsovice railway station,
Czech Republic: (a) balancing
of the bending moments by
straight tendons; and (b) bal-
ancing of the shear forces and
bending moments by draped
external cables. W = resultant
of the dead load situated
between two cables; S = force
in the cable; PV = vertical com-
ponent of the prestressing
force; M = bending moment;
V = shear force; DL = dead
load; P = prestressing
draped in blisters situated at the bottom slab.
The vertical component of the prestressing
force balances the shear forces that are trans-
ferred into the middle of the top slab by ties
(see Figures 17(b) and 18(b)). The middle of
the top slabs are connected by short compres-
sion struts (Figure 19).
In 2000, a similar structural arrangement
and a similar layout of external cables was
used in the construction of the Santarem
cable-stayed bridge in Portugal.11
Cable-stayed bridge across the River
Odra, Czech Republic
At present, many clients prefer motorway
bridges in which there is an independent struc-
ture for each direction of the motorway to
allow easy repair works by transferring all the
traffic onto one structure when repairing the
other. The following structure shows the pos-
sible solution for a cable-supported bridge.
Freeway D47 crosses the River Odra and
Antosovice Lake on a 589 m long bridge. The
span across the River Odra is suspended on a
single pylon situated on the bridge axis (Figure
21). The deck on each structure is formed by a
continuous box girder. The girders, which are
2.20 m deep, are assembled out of precast
match-cast segments and additionally cast
top slab (see Figures 20 and 21). The segments
have an open cross-section formed by a central
web and curved bottom slab. The segments,
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1

together with the top slab, form two cell box
girders without any traditional overhangs.
In the suspended spans, the segments are
connected by a continuous deck slab and by
single precast struts erected between the seg-
ments. These struts are fabricated together
with stay anchor blocks (Figure 21).
The transverse connection of the segments
is relatively simple and creates a clear truss
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
structural system. The shear forces from the
central webs are transferred by post-tensioned
inclined webs into the stay cable’s anchor
blocks. The transverse bending of the structure
is resisted by a tension capacity of the trans-
versally prestressed deck and by a compression
capacity of the struts (Figure 22).
A similar arrangement can be easily used in
the design of an arch or suspension structure.
The power of prestressing 33
3 Figure 20 Cable-stayed bridge across
the River Odra, Czech Republic—structural
solution of the approaches
3 Figure 21 Cable-stayed bridge across
the River Odra, Czech Republic—structural
solution of the main span
Bridge across the River Svratka,
Czech Republic
A relatively small cable-stayed bridge with a
span length of 50 m has been built across
the River Svratka in the small city of Zidlocho-
vice.12,13 The adjacent roads leave little space
on the banks, therefore the deck is suspended
on one side by an inclined pylon (Figure 23).
34 Strasky

3 Figure 22 Cable-stayed bridge across

the River Odra, Czech Republic—trans-
verse connection: (a) structural arrange-
ment; and (b) static function. G = dead
load; S = force in the inclined webs;
T = tension in the deck slab;
C = compression in the strut

(a)

3 Figure 23 Bridge across the River

Svratka, Czech Republic

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
 The power of prestressing 35

~ Figure 25 Bridge across the River

Svratka, Czech Republic—static function of
the connection of the transverse and
~ Figure 24 Bridge across the River Svratka, Czech Republic—erection of the deck
longitudinal members. WTM = dead load of
the transverse members; PV = vertical
The deck of the bridge, 18.60 m wide and only Although this bridge has not been built, its component of the stay force;
0.70 m deep, is formed by two longitudinal design clearly demonstrates how all internal PH = transverse prestressing force;
precast edge girders and transverse solid slab forces can be balanced by an external prestres- H = compression force in the screw head;
members connected by longitudinal and trans- sing—by the arrangement of stay cables. MH = bending moment created by hori-
verse post-tensioning (Figure 24). The bridge, with a span of 396.24 m, zontal forces PH and H; MV = bending
The structure was erected progressively moment created by vertical forces PV and
crosses the reservoir in the plan curvature of
(see Figure 24). Initially, the edge girders WTM
628 m (Figure 26). The deck is suspended on
were erected and suspended on the stay
cables (see Figures 24(a) and (b)), then the
3 Figure 26 Ruck a Chucky
transverse solid members were placed on the
edge girders (see Figure 24(c)). To eliminate Bridge, California (courtesy of
the torsion of the longitudinal girders, caused T. Y. Lin International)
by their eccentric loading by the transverse
members, an eccentric transverse post-ten-
sioning was created (Figure 25).
The transverse members have steel brack-
ets with nuts and screws located on the sur-
face close to their ends. After the transverse
members were erected, the screws were
drawn out until their heads touched the long-
itudinal girders. Then, the post-tensioning bars
were partially tensioned. The force couple act-
ing on the girder (under the screw’s head and
the bar’s anchor) created a moment that
balanced the torsion.

Ruck a Chucky Bridge, California

An excellent example of load balancing is
represented by the design of the Ruck a
Chucky Bridge by T. Y. Lin International.14

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
36 Strasky
~ Figure 27 Ruck a Chucky Bridge, California: (a) balancing of the vertical forces; and (b) balancing of the transverse forces (courtesy of
T. Y. Lin International)
the stay cables arranged in a hyperbolic para-
boloid formation to create an array of tensile
forces, which produce pure axial compression
in the curved deck. The vertical force compo-
nents of the cables balance the weight of the
deck (see Figure 27(a)). The horizontal compo-
nents are designed to reduce the horizontal
bending moments at critical points to zero
(see Figure 27(b)).
The design demonstrates how a pure engi-
neering approach can create a structure of
unbelievable beauty and elegance.
Pedestrian bridge, Kelheim,
Germany
The design of the pedestrian bridge built in the
small city of Kelheim clearly proves that
science, not intuition, is the tool of creativity.
The structural solution was developed from a
deep understanding of the behaviour of
3 Figure 28 Pedestrian bridge, Kelheim, Germany (courtesy of Schlaich,
Bergerman and Partners)
curved structures. The design was performed
by Professor Schlaich from Stuttgart.15
The bridge crosses the Mohan–Danube
canal in smooth curves, naturally connecting
the pedestrian traffic on both banks (Figure
28). The deck, which, in the plan curvature
has a radius from 18.89 to 37.79 m, is sus-
pended on one suspension cable situated
inside the plan curvature. Two inclined pylons,
situated on both banks, support the suspen-
sion cables with hangers. The geometry and
initial stresses in the cables were designed in
such a way that the vertical components of the
hangers’ forces balance the dead load (Figure
29). The horizontal components of the hanger
force, together with the radial forces from the
prestressing cables situated close to the top
fibre of the cross-section, create a moment
that balances a torsional moment caused by
vertical forces.
By fully understanding the prestressing,
and by clever arrangement of the suspension
cables, a true structure was developed. Again,
the design demonstrates how a pure engineer-
ing approach can create a structure of unbe-
lievable beauty and elegance.
Bridge across the River Vltava near
Prague, Czech Republic
At present, cantilever structures are being
designed for longer and longer spans. The sec-
tions above piers create unnatural barriers in
the countryside. A proposed bridge across the
River Vltava tries to solve this problem by
creating a light and transparent structure
(Figure 30).
The bridge is formed by a self-anchored
arch, in which a horizontal force due to the
dead load is resisted by external cables. The
structure has three spans of lengths 64 m,
114 m and 64 m. The arch is erected in sym-
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1

metrical cantilevers starting from the piers,
using a temporary pylon and stays (Figure
31). After erection of the arches, the central
joint is to be cast and the external cables are to
be post-tensioned. Then the portion of the
deck above the piers is cast and post-ten-
sioned. Although the arches can be designed
as traditional reinforced concrete members,
they call for taking advantage of the high-
strength concrete.
~ Figure 31 Bridge across the River Vltava near Prague, Czech Republic—static function and erection
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
Bridge across the River Odra, Czech
Republic
The bridge, 402 m long, is being built in an
area influenced by the effects of mining sub-
sidence. The structures have to resist the
effects caused by different deflections of the
supports and also the effects caused by their
horizontal movements and rotations. The
motorway bridge is formed by two parallel
The power of prestressing 37
3 Figure 29 Pedestrian bridge, Kelheim,
Germany—balancing of the forces (cour-
tesy of Schlaich, Bergerman and Partners).
G = dead load; S = force in the suspender;
SV = vertical component of the suspender
force; SH = horizontal component of the
suspender force; PH = horizontal radial
forces from prestressing
structures comprised of composite box girders
of four spans, with lengths ranging from 49 to
102 m (Figure 32).
The design of the bridge was influenced by
two opposing requirements. On the one hand,
the structure had to be sufficiently stiff to be
able to resist the designed load and, on the
other hand, the structure had to be sufficiently
flexible to be able to resist the effects of the
subsidence. Since the relative different rota-
3 Figure 30 Bridge across the River
Vltava near Prague, Czech Republic—
rendering
38 Strasky
tions of the supports decrease with the length
of the bridge, the points where rotations are
transferred into the deck were designed at the
longest possible distance—at the abutments.
On all the intermediate supports, the deck is
supported by single bearings situated on the
bridge axis.
The deck slab is stressed by bending and
shear stresses caused by a local load and also
by significant membrane stresses caused by
global bending and torsion (Figure 33). Since
the composite deck slab guarantees the integ-
rity of the structure, we tried to eliminate the
cracks. Therefore, the deck is post-tensioned
both in the transverse and longitudinal direc-
tion of the bridge. The transverse post-tension-
ing is created by traditional transverse deck
tendons, the longitudinal post-tensioning by
external cables situated inside the box (Figure
34). The level of the post-tensioning is
designed in such a way that after all losses,
and after the significant redistribution of stres-
ses caused by the creep and shrinkage of the
concrete, the principal stresses in the deck are
within the limits given for limited prestressing.
The application of post-tensioning in the com-
posite structure allows us to design a very sim-
ple and clear continuous bridge structure in an
3 Figure 32 Bridge across the River Odra,
Czech Republic—structural arrangement
3 Figure 33 Bridge across the River Odra,
Czech Republic—deformation and stresses
in the deck
area where only statically determined struc-
tures have been built so far.
Structures using tension
stiffening
Our experience with the design of stress ribbon
(Figure 35) and suspension structures (Figure
36) has confirmed that the static and dynamic
response of the prestressed concrete deck can
be significantly reduced by preventing the hor-
izontal movement of the deck at the sup-
ports.16–18 Figure 37(a) shows vertical
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1

deformations of the deck of the central span of
the Willamette River Bridge (see Figure 36),
which was completed in 2000 in Eugene,
Oregon, for loading situated on one-half of
the main span and for different values of the
horizontal springs modelling the flexible fixing
of the deck. Although a tension force stresses
the horizontally fixed deck, the resultant
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
normal stresses are much smaller than the
stresses in the structure with moveable sup-
ports.
A similar reduction of the deflection and
stresses is found for the load situated in the
main span in a chessboard pattern that caused
maximum distortions of the deck (Figure
37(b)). It explains the good behaviour of the
The power of prestressing 39
3 Figure 34 Bridge across the River Odra,
Czech Republic—layout of external cables
stress ribbon and suspension structures with a
prestressed concrete deck for pedestrian and
wind loading.
Since the segments of the stress ribbon and
suspension structures are suspended on the
bearing cables before the casting of the joints
between them (Figures 38 and 39), the dead
3 Figure 35 Pedestrian bridge across the
River Rough, Grants Pass, Oregon
40 Strasky

3 Figure 36 Pedestrian bridge across the

River Willamette, Eugene, Oregon

3 Figure 37 Pedestrian bridge across the

River Willamette, Eugene, Oregon: (a)
vertical deformations of the deck for
loading situated on one half of the main
span; and (b) vertical deformations of the
deck for loading situated in a chessboard
pattern

 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1

load of the structures is always balanced by
the forces in the cables.
Tension stiffening of the deck was also uti-
lised by Jean Muller in his proposal for long-
span cable-stayed structures, which he calls bi-
stayed bridges.19 The longest back stays are
anchored in abutments that serve as anchor
blocks as well. In this way, the longest stays,
anchored in the main span, create a tension
force in the deck and stabilise it (Figure 40).
 
Structural Concrete 2003 4 No 1
It is well known that cables can stabilise
mats, pylons and arches (see Figure 41(a)).
The stabilising effect of the cables for the
seismic load is proposed by Professor
Ikeda.20 The cables are tensioned in such a
way that they behave elastically for seismic
load. The tension force in the cables, which
is similar to stay cables, stabilises the columns
(see Figure 41(b)). A similar idea has also
been used recently in a design for the new
The power of prestressing 41
3 Figure 38 Pedestrian bridge across the
River Rough, Grants Pass, Oregon—erec-
tion of a segment
3 Figure 39 Pedestrian bridge across the
River Willamette, Eugene, Oregon—erec-
tion of a segment
San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, Califor-
nia.21
Conclusions
The structures presented in this paper clearly
demonstrate the power of prestressing. Pre-
stressing allows us to balance the load, change
42 Strasky
~ Figure 40 Bi-stayed bridge: (a) axonometric view; and (b) cross-section. DL = dead load; S = force in the cable; T = tension in the deck;
R = radial force; DL = dead load; P = prestressing
~ Figure 41 Tension stiffening: (a) pylons by stay cables; and (b) columns by external cables. EQ = horizontal force due to earthquake
boundary conditions, and create supports
within the structures. Prestressing is really a
revolution—it is a radical step from passive to
creative thinking and development.
Prestressing allows the design of structures
that are of a high architectural value and that
have a minimum impact on the environment. It
is our responsibility to utilise prestressing and
to provide structures of architectural elegance,
beauty and charm.
Acknowledgement
This paper was prepared in conjunction with
the research project MSM 261100007 Theory,
reliability and mechanism of failure of statically
and dynamically stressed structures, granted by
the Ministry of Education of the Czech Repub-
lic.
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