Prestressed Constructions without Steel

The aim of this paper is to show the result of the research made by the Spanish engineer Eduardo Torroja focused in finding alternative ways to build prestressed structures. It presents the design of a masonry reservoir in which a precompression is made using an original method. The reservoir is made in reinforced masonry. The wall of the tank has three layers, one is a reinforced masonry, other a masonry wall and, between both, a concrete wall. This concrete wall was made by the injection of cement mortar and the hydrostatic pressure provided the stress needed in the reinforcement of the masonry. The construction system can be an economical way for built reservoirs, highly useful in poor areas. A future work, focused in improve the system, is also proposed.