What is commonly required in partially prestressed concrete to control cracking?

In partially prestressed concrete, additional mild steel rebar is commonly required to control cracking due to its ability to provide ductility and enhance the tensile strength of the concrete. This is especially important in partially prestressed systems, where the tensioning of the prestressing tendons does not fully eliminate the tensile stresses that may develop under loading conditions. The presence of mild steel rebar helps distribute these stresses and allows the concrete to deform without experiencing catastrophic failure, effectively controlling potential cracking.

While other methods, such as adding welded wire fabric or utilizing fiber reinforcement, can also help manage cracking, the use of mild steel rebar is specifically significant in this context for its role in reinforcing the tensile capabilities of the concrete structure alongside the prestressing. Additionally, greater concrete cover primarily serves to protect steel reinforcement from corrosion and does not directly address the control of cracking in the same manner.