In prestressed concrete, a tendon is defined as which of the following?

• A. A steel element that can be a wire, bar, rod, or strand, or a bundle of such elements
• B. A steel plate welded to the bar
• C. A concrete core
• D. An external steel cable only

Answer: (A)

In prestressed concrete, the tendon is the steel element that carries the prestressing force. It can be a wire, bar, rod, or strand, or a bundle of such elements, allowing for various configurations and sizes used to introduce compression into the concrete. This includes both internal tendons embedded in the member and external tendons placed outside the concrete. The other options don’t fit because a plate welded to a bar isn’t the prestressing element, a concrete core isn’t steel, and restricting to an external steel cable misses the broader range of forms tendons can take.