Patent ID: 8333047

Claim:
A method for strengthening or repairing a concrete or masonry structure by additional prestressing using a prestressing cable having at least one strand, including the following steps: fixing onto a structural component of the structure at least one unitary anchorage unit comprising a prestressing cable anchorage end, an anchorage unit section opposite the prestressing cable anchorage end, and a bearing surface extending longitudinally between the prestressing cable anchorage end and the anchorage unit section, said prestressing cable anchorage end including means for anchoring at least one end of the prestressing cable capable of being tensioned along a substantial part of the structural component to be strengthened or repaired by additional prestressing wherein said anchorage unit section is fixed to a surface of said structural component, said bearing surface of the anchorage unit extending longitudinally substantially in the same direction as the prestressing cable, wherein said anchorage unit is so oriented and provided that it is put mainly into longitudinal traction when the prestressing cable is tensioned along said substantial part of the structural component and maintains said bearing surface on the structural component surface, whereby the anchorage unit does not pass through the structural component, said anchorage unit further comprising a side spaced from and opposite the bearing surface, said side including a generally longitudinal recess with an orifice and a generally longitudinal passage for substantially totally surrounding the prestressing cable extending generally longitudinally from the recess through the orifice, performing additional prestressing of said substantial part of the structural component by tensioning the prestressing cable along said substantial part of the structural component by tensioning means external to the anchorage unit, the prestressing cable being external to the structural component, and anchoring the prestressing cable at the prestressing cable anchorage end of said anchorage unit such that the anchorage unit is put into longitudinal traction.