Cast in-situ concrete buildings are normally realised in reinforced concrete, whereas in prefabrication prestressed concrete is often being applied. The principal motivation lies in the technical advantages of prestressed concrete and in the economy of the system. There are several reasons for it: application of high strength materials, more slender units because of the use of the full concrete cross-section with prestressing, and industrialisation of the production process on long line prestressing beds, with reduced labour and reuse of the anchorage devices. There are also some inconveniences such as complex concrete stresses in the transfer zone of the prestressing at the ends of the elements and camber of the units due to the permanent presence of prestressing stresses calculated for the maximum design load.
Subscribe to magazine