Question:
How do I apply prestress to tension members?
Answer:
To correctly combine the planned prestress with the other load cases, define a suitable load case and apply a "pulling" strain load to the members concerned. A pulling strain load can be, for example:
a negative temperature load T-c distributed uniformly over a cross‑section,
a negative axial strain ε,
a negative axial displacement Δl,
a positive initial prestress V, or
a positive final prestress V (in RFEM only).
The input by using the axial displacement is the most comprehensible input, as you can directly measure the displacement at the turnbuckle of the tension member.