From the course: Construction Management: Concrete Construction
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Pre-tensioning versus post-tensioning
From the course: Construction Management: Concrete Construction
Pre-tensioning versus post-tensioning
- Let's review a term or two from the last video and then add a couple more terms. Active reinforcing means we're applying a constant force to the concrete that helps make it stronger. This force is always in the concrete, and we do this by prestressing the concrete. This term, prestressing, refers to the fact that we're introducing a stress before the concrete is loaded by those external forces, before it has a chance to move or bend for example. There are two ways that I can prestress concrete. I can post-tension it, or I can pre-tension it. Post-tensioning and pre-tensioning are both methods of prestressing concrete. These terms just refer to when we tension the prestressing steel that will squeeze the concrete. In post-tensioning, I'm gonna tension the steel after the concrete's placed and gained some strength, whereas in pre-tensioning, I'm gonna actually tension the steel before the concrete's placed. I'm gonna hold it that way, and then place the concrete around the steel…