Abstract

One solution to improve load carrying capacity of slender columns is to add prestressed cables and cross-arms as they provide additional restraints along the length. Such columns are called prestressed stayed columns (PSSC). This solution is very effective, but there are no experimental results on long columns which is a practical case for such columns. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on 18 m PSSC with single and double cross-arms along the length and using normal and high strength steel. In total, 77 tests were carried out to investigate the structural behaviour of such systems and improvements made by using high strength steel and stay systems. The results in this paper provide detailed data on the behaviour of realistic PSSC which was not available before and highlight the advantages of the using high strength steel in such systems.