Scribd
Upload
92 views4 pages

RCC vs. Prestressed Concrete Comparison

The key differences between reinforced concrete (RCC) and prestressed concrete are: 1) In RCC, only the concrete in compression and steel in tension resist loads, while in prestressed concrete the entire cross-section is effective due to pre-compression of the concrete. 2) RCC beams generally require shear reinforcement but prestressed concrete beams can resist shear through pre-compression without additional reinforcement. 3) High strength concrete and steel are needed for prestressed concrete to resist stresses at anchorages and transfer large prestressing forces, but regular strength materials can be used for RCC.

Uploaded by

swathi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
92 views4 pages

RCC vs. Prestressed Concrete Comparison

The key differences between reinforced concrete (RCC) and prestressed concrete are: 1) In RCC, only the concrete in compression and steel in tension resist loads, while in prestressed concrete the entire cross-section is effective due to pre-compression of the concrete. 2) RCC beams generally require shear reinforcement but prestressed concrete beams can resist shear through pre-compression without additional reinforcement. 3) High strength concrete and steel are needed for prestressed concrete to resist stresses at anchorages and transfer large prestressing forces, but regular strength materials can be used for RCC.

Uploaded by

swathi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Comparison between RCC and pre stressed concrete.

• In ordinary reinforced cement concrete, compressive stresses are taken up by concrete


and tensile stresses by steel alone.
• The concrete below the neutral axis is ignored since it is weak in tension.
• Although steel takes up the tensile stresses, the concrete in the tensile zone develops
minute cracks.
• The concept of prestressed concrete:
• The load carrying capacity of such concrete sections can be increased if steel and
concrete both are stressed before the applications of external loads.
• As per ACI committee prestresssed concrete is that concrete in which internal stresses of
suitable magnitude are introduced so that the stresses resulting from the external
loadings can be counteracted to a desired degree.
• In R.C.C. members, prestress induced is of compressive nature so that it balances the
tensile stresses produced due to external load.
• It makes the whole section effective (the concrete area in the tension zone also) in
resisting loads.
• In reinforced concrete, prestress is commonly introduced by tensioning the reinforcement
• So, compression is induced in the zones where external loads would normally cause tensile stresses.
• If the prestressed concrete beam of rectangular section subjected to a prestressing force P, at the centroidal axis, a uniform
compressive stress of ‘P/A’ will be induced in concrete.
• Under the action of loads, the stress at any points will be ‘My/I’.
• Materials used in Prestressed concrete
• Steel:
• Ordinary mild steel and deformed bars are used in RCC are not
used in PSC (prestressed concrete) because their yield strength
is not very high. 
• In the prestressed concrete, loss of prestress (about 20 %) occurs
Due to many factors.

• If mild steel bars or HYSD bars are used then very little prestress
will be left after the losses and will be of no use.
• Therefore, high tensile strength steel is used for prestressing.
• In addition to the high strength, the steel used in prestressing
must have a higher ultimate elongation.
The comparisons between the RCC and prestressed concrete
•In RCC beam the concrete in the compression side of the neutral side of the axis alone is effective. The concrete in the
tension side of the neutral axis is ineffective. But in the prestressed concrete beam, the entire section is effective.
•Reinforced concrete beams are generally heavy. They always need shear reinforcements besides the longitudinal
reinforcement for flexure. Prestressed concrete beams are lighter. By providing the curved tendons and the pre-
compression, a considerable part of the shear is resisted.
•In reinforced concrete beams, high strength concrete is not needed. But in prestressed concrete beams, high strength
concrete and high strength steel are necessary. High strength concrete is needed to resist high stresses at the
anchorages. High strength steel is needed to transfer large prestressing force.
•Reinforced concrete beams being massive and heavy are more suitable in situations where the weight is more desired
than strength. Prestressed concrete beams are very suitable for heavy loads and longer spans. They are slender and
artistic treatments can be easily provided. Cracks do not occur under working loads. Even if a minute crack occurs when
overloaded, such crack gets closed when the overload is removed. The deflections of the prestressed concrete beams are
small.
•In reinforced concrete beams, there is no way testing the steel and the concrete. In prestressed concrete beams, testing
of steel and concrete can be made while prestressing.

You might also like