Prestressed Concrete Design, 1/e

Chapter 11

Indeterminate Structures

11.1 Introduction

A statically indeterminate structure has the following benefits when compared with a determinate structure:

• The continuity of the indeterminate structure greatly reduces the bending moments and deflections leading to economic design.
• Indeterminate structure offers better resistance to horizontal forces developed by wind, blast or earthquake.
• Tensioning of cables over several supports in a continuous member greatly reduce the number of expensive anchorages and the labour cost involved during the prestressing operation.
• Due to the presence of multiple load paths, failure of one member (or section) does not result in the collapse of the entire structure.
• Due to redistribution of moments, ...