Introduction

Prestressed and Post-Tensioned Concrete Structures represent an advanced and highly efficient solution in modern construction, enabling longer spans, shallower sections, reduced material usage, and superior crack control compared to conventional reinforced concrete. By intentionally introducing compressive stresses, these technologies unlock concrete's full potential, making them indispensable for bridges, high-rise buildings, long-span roofs, and liquid-retaining structures. This training course is meticulously designed to equip civil and structural engineers, bridge designers, concrete specialists, contractors, and advanced engineering students with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in understanding the fundamental principles of prestressing, mastering the analysis and design of prestressed and post-tensioned members, exploring various prestressing systems and materials, navigating construction techniques and quality control, and leveraging specialized software tools for complex design challenges. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to conceptualize, analyze, design, and oversee the construction of high-performance prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures that are economical, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Target Audience

• Civil Engineers (Structural Design Focus)
• Structural Engineers
• Bridge Designers
• Concrete Specialists & Materials Engineers
• Contractors involved in Prestressed/Post-Tensioned Construction
• Researchers in Concrete Structures
• Advanced Engineering Students
• Consulting Engineers

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles and advantages of prestressed and post-tensioned concrete.
• Master the analysis of stresses in prestressed concrete members under various loading conditions.
• Develop proficiency in the design of prestressed and post-tensioned beams and slabs.
• Learn about different prestressing systems, tendons, anchorages, and their applications.
• Understand the time-dependent losses in prestress (creep, shrinkage, relaxation).
• Explore construction techniques, stressing operations, and quality control for prestressed concrete.
• Develop skills in using specialized software for prestressed concrete design.
• Understand the design of continuous prestressed concrete structures.
• Learn about the behavior of prestressed concrete members at ultimate limit states.
• Explore advanced topics such as segmental construction and external prestressing.
• Formulate comprehensive design solutions for various prestressed concrete applications.

Course Content

Module 1. Introduction to Prestressed Concrete

• Concept of Prestressing: Why and how it works
• Advantages of prestressed concrete over reinforced concrete
• Types of Prestressing: Pre-tensioning and Post-tensioning
• Historical development and applications of prestressed concrete
• Overview of prestressing systems and components

Module 2. Materials for Prestressed Concrete

• Concrete: High-strength concrete, properties relevant to prestressing
• Prestressing Steel: Types (wires, strands, bars), properties (stress-strain, relaxation)
• Anchorage Systems: Types (active, passive), components, and behavior
• Ducts/Sheathing: Materials and functions
• Grout: Properties and importance for bond and corrosion protection

Module 3. Analysis of Stresses in Prestressed Concrete Members

• Basic Concepts: Eccentricity, tendon profile, resultant force
• Stress Calculation: At transfer, service loads, and ultimate loads
• Stress diagrams and pressure line concept
• Kern Points and Kern Zones: Ensuring compressive stresses
• Analysis for different tendon profiles (straight, parabolic, draped)

Module 4. Flexural Design of Prestressed Concrete Beams (Serviceability Limit State)

• Allowable Stress Design: Based on concrete and steel stresses
• Design for various loading stages: Transfer, service, ultimate
• Limit States: Stress limits for concrete and steel
• Deflection control and camber considerations
• Design examples for simply supported beams

Module 5. Flexural Design of Prestressed Concrete Beams (Ultimate Limit State)

• Ultimate Strength Theory: Equivalent rectangular stress block
• Moment Capacity: Calculation for under-reinforced and over-reinforced sections
• Ductility requirements and detailing for ultimate limit state
• Design for shear and torsion in prestressed beams
• Code provisions (e.g., ACI 318, Eurocode 2) for ultimate strength

Module 6. Time-Dependent Losses in Prestress

• Immediate Losses: Elastic shortening, friction, anchorage slip
• Time-Dependent Losses: Creep of concrete, shrinkage of concrete, relaxation of steel
• Calculation of losses using various methods (e.g., AASHTO, ACI)
• Impact of losses on effective prestress and structural behavior
• Mitigation strategies for minimizing losses

Module 7. Design of Prestressed Concrete Slabs

• One-Way Slabs: Design principles and applications
• Two-Way Slabs: Flat plates, flat slabs with drop panels
• Banded and Uniform Tendon Layouts
• Design for punching shear around columns
• Detailing of tendons and non-prestressed reinforcement in slabs

Module 8. Pre-tensioning Systems and Construction

• Pre-tensioning Process: Stressing bed, casting, release of prestress
• Bond Development: Transfer length, development length
• Manufacturing of pre-tensioned elements (e.g., hollow-core slabs, double tees)
• Quality control in pre-tensioning plants
• Advantages and limitations of pre-tensioning

Module 9. Post-Tensioning Systems and Construction

• Post-tensioning Process: Duct installation, tendon threading, stressing, grouting
• Types of Systems: Bonded vs. unbonded, internal vs. external
• Jacking equipment and stressing procedures
• Grouting operations and quality control for bonded systems
• Advantages and limitations of post-tensioning

Module 10. Design of Continuous Prestressed Concrete Structures

• Secondary Moments: Due to prestressing in indeterminate structures
• Concordant Tendon Profiles: Eliminating secondary moments
• Analysis of continuous beams and slabs
• Design for combined primary and secondary moments
• Detailing for continuity and redistribution of forces

Module 11. External Prestressing and Segmental Construction

• External Prestressing: Principles, advantages, and applications (e.g., bridge strengthening)
• Detailing of deviators and anchorages for external tendons
• Segmental Construction: Precast and cast-in-place segments
• Erection methods: Balanced cantilever, span-by-span
• Design and construction joints in segmental bridges

Module 12. Shear and Torsion Design in Prestressed Concrete

• Shear Resistance: Contributions from concrete, stirrups, and prestressing
• Shear Design Procedures: Strut-and-tie model, sectional design methods
• Torsion in Prestressed Concrete: Analysis and design for torsional moments
• Interaction of shear and torsion
• Detailing of shear and torsional reinforcement

Module 13. Deflection Control and Serviceability

• Long-Term Deflections: Due to creep, shrinkage, and relaxation
• Calculation of deflections in prestressed members
• Camber and Sag: Managing initial and long-term deformations
• Crack control and crack width limitations
• Vibration analysis for prestressed floors

Module 14. Durability and Special Considerations

• Corrosion Protection: For prestressing steel (grouting, ducts, coatings)
• Fire resistance of prestressed concrete members
• Fatigue of Prestressing Steel: Under cyclic loading
• Design for aggressive environments (e.g., marine, chemical)
• Repair and strengthening of prestressed concrete structures

Module 15. Software Applications and Case Studies

• Software Tools: ADAPT, SAFE, CSIBridge, MIDAS Civil for prestressed design
• Modeling Techniques: Tendon layout, loading, analysis options
• Interpretation of software results for design verification
• Case Studies: Iconic prestressed and post-tensioned bridges and buildings
• Practical design examples and workshops.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.