For prestressed concrete members, the high-tensile steel, used generally, consists of wires, bars or strands. The high tensile strength of steel is generally achieved by marginally increasing the carbon content in steel in comparison to mild steel.

High-tensile steel usually contains 0.6 to 0.85% carbon, 0.7 to 1 % manganese, 0.05% of sulphur and phosphorus.

The high carbon steel ingots are hot rolled into rods and cold drawn through a process of dies to reduce the diameter and increase the tensile strength.

The durability of wires gets improved due to the cold-drawing operation. The cold-drawn wires are then tempered to improve their properties.

Tempering or ageing or stress relieving by heat treatment of wires at 150-420°C improves the tensile strength. These cold-drawn wires are generally available in nominal sizes of 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 mm diameter.

Plain hard-drawn steel wire conforming to IS: 785(Part 1)-1966 and IS: 1785(Part 2)-1967,

Cold-drawn indented wire,

High tensile steel bar conforming to IS: 2090- 1962, and

Uncoated stress relieved strand conforming to IS: 6006-1970.

Hard-drawn steel wires which are indented or crimped are preferred for pretensioned members as their bond characteristics are superior to the plain wires.

Strands normally comprise two, three or seven wires of 2 to 5 mm size. The helical form of twisted wires in the strand improves the bond strength. Two and three-ply strands are made up of 2 mm and 3 mm diameter wires while a seven-ply strand is made by twisting 2 to 5 mm wires.

High-tensile steel bars commonly used in prestressing are manufactured in nominal sizes of 10, 12, 16, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 32 mm diameter. The ultimate tensile strength of bars does not vary appreciably with the diameter. This is because the high strength of the bars is due to alloying rather than due to cold-working as in the case of wires.

The minimum characteristic tensile strength of high-tensile strength bars as per code is 980 N/mm2. Their proof stress should not be less than 80% of the minimum specified tensile strength. Elongation at rupture should be 10% for the specified gauge length.

It is specified that all prestressing steel should be free from splits, harmful stretches, surface flaws, rough, jagged and imperfect edges and other defects likely to impair its use in prestressed concrete. Slight rust on the surface of reinforcement may be permitted provided there is no visible surface pitting.

If any coupling is made or any other similar fixture is used in conjunction with wires or bars, it should have an ultimate strength not less than the individual strength of the wires or bars which are being joined.

It is specified in the code that the modulus of elasticity of steel tendons should be determined by tests on samples of steel to be actually used in construction. Otherwise, the value may be obtained from the manufacturer of the steel. If it also is not possible, then the following values may be used.

As per the Indian code, the permissible stresses in the tendons at the time of initial prestressing should not exceed 80% of the characteristic tensile strength of the tendons. The final prestresses after allowing for all losses of prestress should not be less than 45% of the characteristic tensile strength of tendons.

In prestressed concrete construction, use of untensioned reinforcement also has to be made along with tendons. This is necessary as tensile stresses produced due to prestress act in lateral directions. These stresses are taken up by untensioned reinforcement which is provided in addition to tendons in lateral as well as longitudinal directions.

The untensioned reinforcement is also needed to take on stresses produced during the transport of the prestressed concrete members.

Mild steel and medium tensile steel bars,

Hot-rolled deformed bars,

Cold-twisted bars, and

Hard-drawn steel wire fabric