Using prestressed concrete is a great way of ensuring strength, durability, and longevity of your building project.
But it’s not always necessary. Certain types of projects are better candidates for prestressed concrete than others.
Prestressed concrete is more often used in long-spanning projects with wide open spaces, such as:
- Bridges
- Parking garages
- Tall buildings
- Gymnasiums
- Shopping centers
What do all of these have in common? Long spans of concrete with heavy loads applied every day.
Think about a bridge. Think about how much weight and pressure is put on that long surface every day. Stress, stress, and more stress. If it’s not ready for that, cracks can form and strength becomes an issue.
When you use prestressed concrete to build a bridge, however, it’s better prepared for the pressure because the pretension applied helps improve the concrete’s bendability and structural flexibility.
Prestressed concrete has greater shear strength and fatigue resistance, making it the ideal choice for sleek and/or slender structures that require a large span of wide open space, such as parking garages, shopping centers, gymnasiums, and cafeterias.
Before you start your next project, consider using prestressed concrete as a way of providing strength and stability, all while reducing the risk of cracks!
Interested in using us for your next project? Talk to us about prestressed concrete!
