{{Short description|Structure which contains permanent stresses to increase overall integrity}} [[File:Roman Colosseum With Moon.jpg|thumb|right|Naturally precompressed exterior wall of Colosseum, Rome]][[File:ThreeTwrBrCenter.jpg|thumb|Cable-stayed prestressed concrete bridge over Yangtze river]]
In structural engineering, a '''prestressed structure''' is a load-bearing structure whose overall integrity, stability and security depend, primarily, on ''prestressing'': the intentional creation of permanent stresses in the structure for the purpose of improving its performance under various service conditions.<ref name=PrestressedConcreteDesign>{{cite book|title= Design of Prestressed Concrete|author=Nilson, Arthur H.|year=1987|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=0-471-83072-0}}</ref>
The basic types of prestressing are: *Precompression with mostly the structure's own weight *Pre-tensioning with high-strength embedded tendons *Post-tensioning with high-strength bonded or unbonded tendons Today, the concept of a prestressed structure is widely employed in the design of buildings, underground structures, TV towers, power stations, floating storage and offshore facilities, nuclear reactor vessels, and numerous bridge systems.<ref name=PrestressedConcrete>{{cite book|title= Prestressed Concrete|author=Nawy, Edward G.|year=1989|publisher=Prentice Hall|isbn=0-13-698375-8}}</ref> It is especially prominent in construction using concrete (see pre-stressed concrete).
The idea of precompression was apparently familiar to ancient Roman architects. The tall attic wall of the Colosseum works as a stabilizing device for the wall piers beneath it.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prestressed Structure}} Category:Construction Category:Structural engineering