A concrete construction method where steel reinforcement is tensioned before or after concrete placement to create compressive stress that counteracts future tensile loads. This technique allows concrete to carry loads more efficiently and span greater distances.
From 'pre' (before) and 'stressed' (subjected to force), coined in the 1920s by French engineer Eugène Freyssinet who pioneered the technique. The term encompasses both pretensioned and post-tensioned concrete methods.
The ancient Romans unknowingly used prestressing principles when they built stone arches - the weight of the stones created compression that prevented tension cracks! Modern prestressed concrete bridges can span over 1,000 feet, something impossible with regular reinforced concrete.
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