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In a pre-stressed concrete member, why is it necessary to use

high strength concrete and high tensile strength steel wires?

2 ANSWERS

Aravind Natarajan, Structural engineer in the making

2.5k Views
Why do we use high strength concrete ?
-> For post tensioned structures, anchorage regions have concentrated and very high stresses
-> For pre-tensioned structures, you benefit with a better bond strength to avoid slippage
-> In addition, it helps to have a higher initial compressive stresses as a reserve for future tension
(due to flexure from load)

Why do we use high tensile steel ?

 -> Strain. Strain. Strain
Let's assume pseudo numbers for easy understanding....

Modulus of elasticity -> 100 kN/mm2   (same for reinf and prestress cables)
Prestressing force needed -> 200 kN
Area of cable / reinforcement -> 1 mm2

We have 2 cases....

Case 1) Take 20 bars, give a strain of 0.1 ...

Force = Stress * Area
          = E * Strain * Area
          = 100 kN/mm2 * 0.1 * 1 mm2
          = 10 kN
Total force = 200 kN  (for 20 bars)

Case 2) Take 1 bar, give a strain of 2 ...

Force = E * Strain * Area
          = 100 kN/mm2 * 2 * 1 mm2
          = 200 kN

Everything is fine till now ........ BUT, let's assume that concrete shrinks (autogenous + drying
shrinkage) and creeps under prestress for a strain of 0.1 ....

Now, what is the remaining strain in the rebars ? ZERO. Remaining prestress ? ZERO.
What is the remaining strain in the cable ? (2 - 0.1 = 1.9).... Remaining prestressing force ? 100
kN/mm2 * 1.9 * 1 mm2 = 190 kN

This is why we need to use high tensile cables for prestressing. If you use a lot of ordinary bars, you
can replicate the prestressing force. But due to any strain like shrinkage / creep, all your bars will
lose their pre-tension substantially. To avoid that, we need high tensile cables.
Written 4 Mar 2015 · View Upvotes

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