👉 In structural engineering, "prestrain" refers to a material or structure that is subjected to an initial load before it has fully developed its strength and integrity. Prestrains are typically used in the construction of structures such as beams, cables, and frames to ensure their reliability during their initial loading. Prestrains can be defined by the force applied to them before they are allowed to develop their own strength. For example, a beam or frame with prestrain may be subjected to a load that is
