EXPLAIN IN BRIEF VARIOUS CONCEPTS FOR Post-tensioning can be done on-site or in a

ANALYSIS OF PRESTRESSED CONCRTE :

factory. -Post-tensioning allows for larger
members and can be used for a wider range
The analysis of prestressed concrete focuses on
the interaction between the prestressing force of applications, including bridge
construction.
and external loads on a concrete member
concepts include combined stresses (direct and Explain in detail all the losses occur in prestress
bending), stress distribution, and load concrete
balancing. Combined Stresses: -Prestressed
Prestressed concrete experiences losses in the
concrete members experience stresses from initial prestressing force over time, which can be
both the prestressing force itself and the classified as immediate or time-
external loads (dead, live, etc.). -These stresses dependent. Immediate losses occur during the
are combined to determine the overall stress prestressing process, while time-dependent losses
state in the concrete. -The combined stresses occur over the structure's lifespan. These losses
include direct compressive stresses from the reduce the effectiveness of the prestress,
prestress and bending stresses due to the potentially impacting the structural behavior.
external loads. Prestress Distribution: The
Immediate Losses: Elastic Shortening: When
prestressing force is applied through tendons,
prestress is transferred to concrete, the member
and the resulting stresses are distributed
shortens due to the compression. This shortening
throughout the concrete section. Tendon
also affects the tendons, causing a loss of
Profile: The shape of the tendons, particularly
prestress, This is particularly significant in pre-
their eccentricity, influences the distribution tensioned members. Anchorage Slip: After
of prestress and its ability to balance external tensioning, the wedges that grip the tendons in the
loads. Pre-tensioning and Post-tensioning: anchorage can slip slightly, reducing the prestress in
These are the two main methods of the tendon. This loss is primarily in the vicinity of
prestressing, each with different procedures the anchorage. Friction: In post-tensioned members,
for applying the prestressing force. friction between the tendon and the duct (sheath)
Distinguish between pretensioned and during tensioning can cause a loss of prestress. This
post-tensioned methods of prestressing friction can be caused by the curvature of the tendon
or imperfections in the duct.
Pretensioning:
Time-Dependent Losses: Creep: Concrete can
-Steel tendons are tensioned before
deform under sustained stress, causing the tendons
concrete is cast. -The concrete is poured
to relax and lose prestress over time. This
around the tensioned tendons. -Once the
deformation is more significant in pretensioned
concrete hardens, the tendons are released,
members due to their early age of concrete
transferring the tension to the concrete. - transfer. Shrinkage: As concrete dries, it shrinks,
Pretensioning is often used for precast causing a loss of prestress in the tendons. This loss is
concrete elements. influenced by environmental factors like
Post-tensioning: humidity. Relaxation: Prestressing steel can relax
under sustained stress, leading to a loss of
-Steel tendons are tensioned after the
prestress. This relaxation is more significant in
concrete has hardened. -The tendons are
higher-strength steels.
typically encased in sheathing or conduits. -
MERIITS AND DEMRIT IN PRESTRESS Why high strength steel and high
CONCRTE
strength concrete is required for
Merits: Increased Strength and Durability: prestressing.
Prestressed concrete is designed to resist tensile
stresses, making it more durable and less prone to High strength steel and concrete are crucial in
cracking than reinforced concrete. Reduced prestressed concrete because they enhance the
Cracking: The pre-stressing process effectively material's resistance to various stresses and
counteracts tensile stresses, minimizing the risk of loads. High-strength concrete offers greater
cracking and improving the overall durability of resistance to tension, shear, bond, and bearing
the structure. Longer Spans and Thinner stresses, especially in the anchorage zones where
Sections: Prestressed concrete allows for longer stresses are high. High-strength steel, used as
spans and thinner sections, leading to more tendons, provides the necessary tensile strength to
efficient design and construction. Reduced induce compressive stresses in the concrete,
Weight: The use of high-strength concrete and preventing cracking and improving overall
pre-stressing can result in a lighter structure durability. High Strength Concrete: Enhanced
compared to reinforced concrete, which can be Resistance: High-strength concrete offers
beneficial for transportation and superior resistance to tensile, shear, bond, and
construction. Lower Maintenance Costs: Fewer bearing stresses. Reduced Cracking: It's less
cracks and improved durability translate to lower prone to shrinkage cracks and has a higher
maintenance costs over the lifespan of the modulus of elasticity, leading to less loss of
structure. Faster Construction: Pre-stressed prestress in the steel. Reduced Size and Weight:
concrete can be pre-cast and delivered to the site, Using high-strength concrete allows for smaller
reducing construction time. Flexibility in Design: cross-sectional dimensions of prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete offers flexibility in design, elements, resulting in a lighter overall structure.
allowing for more complex shapes and structures. Cost-Effective: While the initial cost might be
higher, using high-strength concrete can lead to
Demerits: Higher Initial Costs: Prestressed cost savings in the long run due to reduced
concrete generally requires higher initial costs due material and construction costs.
to the use of specialized materials and
equipment. Specialized Equipment and Labor: High Strength Steel: High Tensile Strength:
Construction and design of prestressed concrete High-strength steel provides the necessary tensile
require specialized equipment, skilled labor, and strength to create and maintain compressive
advanced technical knowledge. Quality Control: stresses in the concrete. Reduced Relaxation:
Maintaining high quality control during the High-strength steel has lower relaxation rates,
production and placement of concrete is crucial meaning it maintains its tensile strength better
for achieving the desired prestressing. Potential over time, especially under sustained
for Over-Stress: If the prestressing force is not loads. Improved Bond: It exhibits good bonding
properly calculated and controlled, it can lead to properties with concrete, ensuring effective stress
over-stressing and potential failure. Corrosion: transfer between the steel and concrete. Durable:
While prestressed concrete is more durable, there High-strength steel is generally more resistant to
is still a risk of corrosion in certain environments, corrosion, contributing to the overall durability of
especially if the concrete is not properly the prestressed structure.
protected. Long-Term Durability Concerns:
Explain load balancing concept for analysis of
Some concerns exist regarding the long-term
durability of prestressed concrete, particularly in prestressed concrete.
aggressive environments.
In the analysis of prestressed concrete, load
balancing refers to a method where the upward
force exerted by a prestressed tendon is designed to
counteract the downward load on the concrete
beam, effectively balancing the imposed load. This the tensioning process, causing a reduction in the
balance is achieved by carefully selecting the stress within the tendon. Curvature Effect: When
tendon profile and prestressing force. Prestressing: the tendon is curved, it experiences additional
A prestressed concrete beam is pre-stressed, friction due to the changes in direction. This
meaning that high-strength steel tendons (or bars) curvature effect contributes to the loss of prestress.
are tensioned before concrete hardening, Wobble Effect: The wobble effect arises from
introducing initial compressive stresses in the slight deviations or imperfections in the alignment
concrete. Load Balancing: When a curved tendon of the duct. These imperfections cause the tendon
is used, it exerts an upward force on the concrete to rub against the duct walls, leading to frictional
beam, known as the "balanced load" (wb). This losses. Frictional Loss Calculation: The loss of
wb is designed to counteract the downward load prestress due to friction is typically calculated
(w) applied to the beam. Balanced Condition: If using a formula that incorporates the curvature
the upward force (wb) from the tendon exactly coefficient, wobble coefficient, tendon length, and
balances the downward load (w), the beam the initial stress in the tendon. Impact on
experiences minimal bending stresses and no Prestressed Concrete:This frictional loss affects
deflections, resulting in a "balanced the effective prestress in the concrete, reducing
condition". Unbalanced Load: Any additional the compressive stresses and increasing the
load (w - wb) beyond the balanced load will cause potential for cracking under applied
stresses in the concrete beam. Tendon Profile: loads. Minimizing Friction Losses: Design
The shape of the tendon, particularly its curvature, considerations, such as using ducts with smooth
determines the magnitude and distribution of the interiors and minimizing deviations in duct
upward force, influencing the load balancing alignment, can help to reduce frictional losses.
effect. For example, a parabolic tendon profile
generates a uniformly distributed upward load, Draw different cable profiles and explain their
while a straight tendon produces a suitability for different loading conditions
concentrated upward force. Analysis: The load
balancing method is used to analyze prestressed Different cable profiles in prestressed concrete
concrete beams, determining the stresses and structures are designed to match the bending
deflections under various loading conditions. It's a moment diagram caused by applied loads, allowing
crucial step in the design and analysis of for optimal load balancing. A parabolic profile is
prestressed concrete structures, ensuring that the suitable for uniformly distributed loads, while
beam is strong enough to withstand the applied straight profiles are used for concentrated loads or
loads without excessive stresses or deflections. situations where eccentricity is not
required. Curved profiles offer flexibility for
Explain loss of prestress due to friction in post complex load scenarios or to optimize stress
tensioned prestressed concrete distribution. 1. Parabolic Profile: Description: A
parabolic cable profile has maximum eccentricity
In post-tensioned concrete, friction between the (distance between the cable and the neutral axis)
tendon and its sheathing or duct leads to a loss of at the midspan and zero eccentricity at the
prestress. This loss occurs because the tendon supports. Suitability: This profile is ideal for
experiences frictional resistance as it is stretched beams subjected to uniformly distributed loads
along the length of the member. The magnitude of (UDL) over their entire span. Reasoning: The
this loss is affected by factors like duct alignment shape of the parabola is a mirror image of the
(curvature and wobble effects) and the coefficient bending moment diagram caused by a UDL. By
of friction between the tendon and the introducing a parabolic cable, the prestressing
concrete. Friction in Post-Tensioning: In post- force can effectively counteract the bending
tensioning, the tendons are tensioned after the moment, minimizing stress and ensuring the beam
concrete has hardened, and they are typically remains in compression. 2. Straight Profile:
housed within ducts or sheathing. Friction Description:A straight cable profile maintains a
develops between the tendon and the duct during constant eccentricity along the length of the beam.
Suitability:This profile is suitable for beams and the stress is transferred to the concrete,
subjected to concentrated loads at specific points creating a compressive stress. Advantages: Post-
or when the beam's geometry doesn't require
significant eccentricity.Reasoning: Straight tensioning is well-suited for large-scale structures
profiles provide a consistent stress distribution like bridges and long-span floors, allowing for
and are easier to construct, making them suitable more architectural flexibility. Examples: Post-
for certain applications where simplicity and ease tensioning is commonly used in parking structures,
of fabrication are important. 3. Curved Profile: bridges, and building floors and
Description: A curved cable profile can have
varying eccentricities along its length, allowing roofs. Anchorages: Post-tensioned systems use
for more complex stress distributions. Suitability: various anchorages, including conical plugs,
Curved profiles are suitable for beams with threaded nuts, and other devices, to grip the
varying loads, multiple support points, or when tendons and transfer the stress to the concrete.
optimizing stress distribution is crucial.
Reasoning: Curved profiles can be used to Explain in detail different types of prestressing.
balance different types of loads, such as UDLs
Prestressing, a technique used in concrete
and concentrated loads, providing flexibility in
construction, can be broadly classified into two
design.
main types: pre-tensioning and post-
Explain in detail different systems of prestressing tensioning. Pre-tensioning involves tensioning
steel tendons before concrete is cast, while post-
Prestressed concrete involves introducing internal tensioning applies tension to the tendons after the
stresses into the concrete before external loads are concrete has hardened.
applied, typically by stretching steel wires or
strands and anchoring them against the Pre-tensioning:
concrete. There are two main types of prestressing
systems: pre-tensioning and post-tensioning, each -High-strength steel tendons are stretched between
with its own advantages and applications. Pre- anchorages before concrete is poured. -The
tensioning: Process: In pre-tensioning, the steel concrete is then cast around the stressed tendons. -
tendons are tensioned before the concrete is When the concrete hardens and the tendons are
cast. The tendons are stretched between rigid
released, they force the concrete into compression,
abutments, and then the concrete is poured around
them. Bond: Once the concrete hardens, the creating a pre-stressed state. - This method is
tendons are released, and the tensile stress in the commonly used for precast concrete elements,
steel is transferred to the concrete, creating a such as beams and slabs,
compressive stress. Advantages: Pre-tensioning is
suitable for mass production of elements like Post-tensioning:
beams and slabs, as it involves pre-fabrication and
can be automated. Anchorages Pre-tensioned -Tendons are tensioned after the concrete has been
systems typically use wedge anchorages or other cast and hardened. - The tendons are typically
mechanisms to hold the tendons in place and enclosed within a sheath or duct that is later filled
transfer the prestress to the concrete. Post- with grout to bond the tendon to the concrete. -This
tensioning:
method is used for both precast and cast-in-place
Process: In post-tensioning, the steel tendons are concrete structures, - Post-tensioning can be
tensioned after the concrete has hardened. The further classified into bonded and unbonded
tendons are enclosed in ducts within the concrete, depending on whether the tendon is bonded to the
and then stressed using hydraulic jacks. Bond: concrete or not.
The tendons are then anchored to the concrete,