PRESTRESSED SYSTEM

WOOD AND STEEL

FORMWORKS
MARY FAYE REYES
 Prestressed System, Image retrieved from:
http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk

PRESTRESSED SYSTEM
 Prestressed
System
 Modified form of
reinforced concrete. It not
only eliminates the
weakness of concrete, but
also makes it possible to
take full advantage of
compressive strength of
concrete.
 Applied to those
reinforced concrete
members in which
concrete is subjected to
compressive stresses.
Prestressed System, iamge retrieved from:
http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk

REFERENCE: www.civilblog.com
 PRESTRESSED SYSTEM
 Prestressed Concrete is an architectural and structural material possessing great strength.
The unique characteristics of prestressed concrete allow predetermined, engineering stresses
to be placed in members to counteract stresses that occur when the unit is subjected to
service loads. This is accomplished by combining the the best properties of two quality
materials: high strength concrete for compression and high tensile strength steel strands for
tension.

 Prestressed concrete is basically concrete in which internal stresses of a suitable magnitude

and distribution are introduced so that the stresses resulting from the external loads are
counteracted to a desired degree.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 PRINCIPLE OF PRESTRESSING
 Since the tensile strength of concrete is low, a homogeneous concrete beam has very little flexural strength. To
offset this deficiency, steel reinforcement is provided near the bottom of simple beams to carry the tensile stresses.
However, a substantial area of concrete below the neutral axis merely retains the reinforcement in position, but its
tensile strength is neglected in the computation for the flexural strength in case of reinforced concrete beams.

 Compressive stresses induced by high-strength steel tendons in a concrete member before loads are applied will
balance the tensile stresses imposed in the member during service.

REFERENCE: www.civilblog.com
 PRESTRESSED SYSTEM
In concrete structures, prestress is introduced
by stretching steel wire and anchoring them
against concrete. Therefore, the prestressing
systems should comprise essentially a method of
stretching the steel and a method of anchoring it
to the concrete. Different systems are adopted for
pre-tensioning and post tensioning.

Prestressed System, image retrieved from

www.youtube.com

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 PRE-TENSIONING
1. the steel is stretched before the concrete is
placed.
2. High-strength steel tendons are placed
between two abutments and stretched to
70 to 80 percent of their ultimate strength.
3. Concrete is poured into molds around the
tendons and allowed to cure.
4. Once the concrete reaches the required
strength, the stretching forces are released.

Pretension, image retrieved from

www.tmgglobals.com

REFERENCE: www.cement.org
 PRE-TENSIONING
6. As the steel reacts to regain its original
length, the tensile stresses are translated
into a compressive stress in the concrete.

Typical products for pretensioned concrete

are roof slabs, piles, poles, bridge girders, wall
panels, and railroad ties.

Prestressed System, image retrieved from

www.tmgglobals.com

REFERENCE: www.cement.org
 POST TENSIONING
 Method where Prestressing Steels are stressed after
concrete attains its preliminary strength.

1. the steel is stretched after the concrete hardens.

2. Concrete is cast around, but not in contact with

unstretched steel.

3. In many cases, ducts are formed in the concrete

unit using thin walled steel forms.

Post Tension, image retrieved from

www.amsyscoinc.com

REFERENCE: www.cement.org
 POST TENSIONING
4. Once the concrete has hardened to the required
strength, the steel tendons are inserted and
stretched against the ends of the unit and anchored
off externally, placing the concrete into
compression.

Post-tensioned concrete is used for cast-in-place

concrete and for bridges, large girders, floor slabs,
shells, roofs, and pavements.

Post Tension, image retrieved from

www.parex.co.uk

REFERENCE: www.cement.org
 Steel formwork, Image retrieved from: civilconcept.com

FORMWORKS
WOOD AND STEEL
 FORMWORKS
 Temporary work used to
mold concrete elements
like beams, slabs, lintel
and sunshades,
 Cost of formwork is
significant.
 Can cause failure during
construction.
 Commonly made of steel
or timber

Wood formwork, Image retrieved from: http://teakdoor.com

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S.

BHAVIKATTI)
 FAILURES OF FORMWORKS
Concentration of loads due to heaping of
concrete, assembly of too many people or
placing of equipment.
Vibrations due to use of equipment and
movement of labor.
Poor bracing of formwork
Localized weakness in parts of formwork
Inadequate size and spacing of props
Unstable support
Failed formwork, Image retrieved from: www.civilconcept.com

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S.

BHAVIKATTI)
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
FORMWORK
 It should be strong enough to bear the load of concrete, labor, equipmenused in placing and
vibrating concrete and their impact.
The formwork should be sufficiently rigid, and the deflection should not ve more than 1/150 of
span.
It should rest on a non-yielding surface,
It should be easy to remove (strip) the formwork
The top surface should be smooth.
There should be minimum leakage through formwork.
It should be economical.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 WOODEN
FORMWORKS
• Well seasoned, easily
workable and not free
• Used for small works
• Most flexible type of
formwork
• Plywood - 20-25 times
• Timber – 10-12 times

Wood formwork, image retrieved fromhttp://hammerandhand.com

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S.

BHAVIKATTI)
 TIMBER FORMWORK
 Most commonly used for bracing the member.
 Can easily be cut on site and replaced with engineered wood beams and
support are replaced with metal props.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 Various sizes of members of timbers
SHEETING FOR SLABS, 25 mm to 40mm thick
BEAM, COLUMN SIDE
AND BEAM BOTTOM
JOINTS AND LEDGES 50x70 mm to 50x150
mm
POSTS 75 X 100 MM to 100mm
to 100 mm

Wood formwork, image retrieved fromhttp://hammerandhand.com

REFERENCE: http://courses.washington.edu/cm420/Lesson1.pdf
 TIMBER FORMWORKS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANATGES

Economical for small construction  Possibility of warping swelling and

jobs shrinkage of timber.
Time-consuming
Design flexible and easy to erect.
Short lifespan
It can easily be made into any shape
or size.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 Wood formwork, image retrieved from http://hammerandhand.com

TIMBER FORMWORK
 PLYWOOD FORWORK
The plywood is built up of odd number of layers with grain of adjacent layers perpendicular to
each other.
Plywood is used extensively for formwork for concrete, especially for sheathing, decking and
form linings.
Can be easily cut and shaped on site
Standard thickness is 18mm
When subjected to curve, use thinner size.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 Steel formworks, Image retrieved from:
http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk

STEEL FORMWORKS
 STEEL FORMWORKS
 Mostly used in large construction projects or in situations
where large number of re-uses of the same shuttering is possible.
Suitable for circular or curved shaped structures such as tanks,
columns, chimneys. Etc. & for structures like sewer tunnel and
retaining wall.
The erection and removal of steel formworks are simple and
smooth surface
Can be used whenever several repetitions are required.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

 ADVANTAGES
It does not absorb water from concrete.
There is no danger of shrinking of the
formwork.
It gives smoother surface to the concrete
structure.
Stronger and more durable
Can be reused several times.
Erection and Stripping of the formwork is
easy.
Formwork of desired strength can be made
precisely.

REFERENCE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI)

REFERENCES
BOOKS: WEBSITES:
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (S.S. BHAVIKATTI) http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk
www.youtube.com
www.tmgglobals.com
http://hammerandhand.com
www.cement.org
www.civilblog.com
www.civilconcept.com