Prestressed half cylindrical shell at the Royak Teatre in Copenhagen. Strucure and Photo: K. Hertz
Prestressing was invented by Eugene Freyssinet in 1903. By means of this it is possible to place tension zones as unloaded compression in optimized paths. But the compression zones were not confined. Super-light structural technology represents the next logical step in the development, because now the compression zones can be fixed to optimized paths.
Pearl-chain reinforcement technology makes it affordable to produce compression zones of any shape, which often is a precondition for application of curved optimized compression zones. Application of prestressing for pearl-chain reinforcement opens possibilities of making pearl-chain tension zones with small tensile strains and possibilities for self-supporting pearl-chain structures which can carry moulds for light concrete and remove any need for scaffolding.