Details

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A prestressed concrete pile is a type of deep foundation element made of concrete in which internal stresses are intentionally introduced before any external loads are applied. These stresses are created by tensioning high-strength steel tendons within the concrete to counteract the stresses that will result from service loads.

 

Feature	Reinforced Concrete (RC) Piles	Prestressed Concrete (PC) Piles
Definition	Concrete piles with standard steel reinforcement (rebars)	Concrete piles with prestressed steel tendons
Type of Reinforcement	Mild steel rebars (passive)	High-tensile steel strands/wires (actively tensioned before casting)
Pre-tension or Post-tension	❌ No prestressing involved	✅ Prestressing applied (usually pre-tensioned)
Crack Resistance	Moderate – may crack under high tension	High – designed to resist tensile stresses and cracking
Load Capacity	Lower load capacity per unit	Higher load capacity (for same cross-section)
Durability	More prone to cracking and corrosion if not protected	Better resistance to corrosion due to tight, crack-free concrete
Length & Slenderness	Generally shorter or thicker	Can be made longer and more slender
Fabrication Method	Simple casting with rebars	Requires tensioning equipment and more precise control
Cost	Generally cheaper to produce	More expensive due to prestressing steel and process
Usage	Small to medium structures, buildings, short-span bridges	Large buildings, high-rise foundations, marine structures, long-span bridges
Common Shape	Square or circular cross-sections	Mostly spun (circular) or square precast piles

 

🔧 Key Features:

• Material: High-strength concrete and high-tensile steel tendons.

• Shape: Typically square, rectangular, circular, or octagonal cross-sections.

• Length: Can be precast in standard lengths and joined to reach the required depth.

• Prestressing Method:

  • Pretensioned: Tendons are tensioned before casting the concrete.

  • Post-tensioned: Tendons are tensioned after the concrete has hardened (less common for piles)

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