Title: Prestressed Concrete Trusses

Author(s): William T. Carroll, Fred W. Beafait, and Ross H. Bryan

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 75

Issue: 8

Appears on pages(s): 367-373

Keywords: costs;mathematical models;precast concrete;prestressed concrete;prestressing;prestressing steels;structural analysis;strutural design;structural steels;trusses.

DOI: 10.14359/10950

Date: 8/1/1978

Abstract:
This investigation was a pilot study to establish the feaseablity of a totally prestressed concrete truss that could be mass produced. The primary objective of the work was to develop a method of effectively prestressing the truss. Paricular problems were encountered in prestressing the diagonal members of the numerous changes in curvature of the prestressing strands. Four prestressed concrete trusses were constructed and tested. A mathematical model of the structure was developed to enable an elastic analysis of the system. The theortical response of each prestressed truss is compared with the experimental behavior. A preliminary design procedure is presented to enable the engineer to establish an initial design for this tpe of system. Two case studies are presented comparing the cost of a totally prestressed concrete truss structure with comparable steel strucutres. The authors are encouraged by the results of this study and believe the prestressed concrete truss offers a potentially attractive structural system to the engineer.