A steel element such as a wire, cable, bar, rod, or strand used to impart pre-stress to concrete when the element is tensioned. See rebar.

In pretensioned applications, the tendon is the pre-stressing steel. In post-tensioned applications, the tendon is a complete assembly consisting of anchorages, prestressing steel, and sheathing with coating for unbonded applications or ducts with grout for bonded applications.

A Tension Element of a Tensegrity Structure

A pre-stressed cable, strand or bar

A high-strength steel cable used to prestress or connect structural elements. p. 83

A single or group of pre-stressing elements and their anchorage assemblies, which impart pre-stress to a structural member or the ground. Also included are ducts, grouting attachments and grout. The main pre-stressing element is usually a high strength steel member made up of a number of strands, wires or bars.