Composite and Steel Construction compendium. Part 3: The concrete flange of a composite beam

This article examines the prestressing for a concrete bridge. Prestressing enhances the capacity of a member that is weak in tension, but strong in compression. It effectively creates a new material that is strong in tension. A prestressed bridge has much less steel to be handled, which reduces congestion, leading to easier and quicker concrete placing.

A new series from the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) begins with a look at the history of composite construction and the development of Eurocode 4.

The first in a ‘steel construction’ sub-series, this article discusses the often competing demands on the structural designer to balance frame cost against architectural demands and the cost of other building components, such as curtain walling.