Erasmus +

This course offers an in-depth exploration of prestressed concrete, beginning with its definition and material properties. Participants will gain understanding in the implementation of prestressing and the significance of the eccentric positioning of tendons. Emphasis is placed on the response of concrete sections to increased external loads and the role of tendons in reinforcing concrete girders. Central to the course is the application of elementary statics theorems specific to the mechanics of prestressed concrete.

Further topics include considerations for optimal cross-section geometry and the determination of requisite prestressing forces. The course also addresses the losses associated with prestressing force, the load-bearing capacity of a prestressed concrete section under bending, and the effects of shear and splitting forces, especially at the zones where prestressing forces are introduced.

Students will also familiarize themselves with various prestressing steel systems and the intricacies of hyperstatic systems (HS). Methods for determining section forces in HS, the concept of a plastic hinge, and the levels of prestressing, with a focus on partial prestressing, are also covered. The course concludes with a study of exemplary prestressed concrete structures both in Croatia and internationally, supplemented by a hands-on design example.

The teaching method for incoming Erasmus mobility students will vary depending on the number of students enrolled in each course. The academic department responsible for the course will communicate the details of the teaching method to the students before the beginning of the academic term. Incoming students are encouraged to review the course description carefully to understand the teaching method and requirements.