Pre-Stressed Beams Under Direct Bending and Sustained Loading

WHILE many advantages of pre-stressed concrete beams over the ordinary reinforced concrete beam, such as reduction of deflections, lighter construction, greater safety against cracks, and possibilities for precast work, have been recognised, there is a widespread fear among engineers that these advantages may be lost due to a considerable
loss of prestress in course of time. Uncertainty is also felt about the exact effects of pre-stressing on a normal reinforced concrete beam.

Dr. K.L. Rao