PRESTRESSED

CONCRETE
(LECTURE 1)

q BASIC CONCEPTS
q MATERIALS
q ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS
q PRESTRESSING METHODS
q FLEXURAL ANALYSIS
BASIC CONCEPTS
1.1 INTRODUCTION

PRESTRESSING – can be defined as in general terms as the

preloading of a structure, before application of the service loads, so as to
improve its performance in specific ways.

PRESTRESSING OF CONCRETE – involves application of a

compressive loading, prior to applying the anticipated service loads, so
that tensile stresses that otherwise would occur are reduced or
eliminated.

???Why do we need prestressing for concrete???

BASIC CONCEPTS
Ø Concrete’s tensile strength is only 8-15% of its compressive strength.
• Cracks develop at early stages of loading in flexural member (beams,
slabs)
Ø To prevent such crack, compressive forces can be suitably applied in
the longitudinal direction, either concentrically or eccentrically (linear
prestressing).
Ø The prestressing enhances not only the bending capacity, but it also
enhances the shear and the torsional capacities of the flexural
members.
BASIC CONCEPTS
PRESTRESSING OF CONCRETE
MATERIALS
q CONCRETE - a composite material composed of gravels which
are the coarse aggregates, sand which is the fine aggregates and
hydrated cement which is the binder

q PROPERTIES of HARDENED CONCRETE

The concrete in prestressed applications has to be of good quality. It
requires the following properties:
1) high strength with low water-to-cement ratio
2) durability with low permeability, proper mixing, compaction and curing
3) minimum shrinkage and creep, by limiting the cement content
MATERIALS
q STRENGTH of CONCRETE
For prestressed concrete applications, high strength concrete is required for
the following reasons.
1) to sustain high stresses at anchorage regions
2) to have high resistance in compression, tension, shear and bond
3) to have higher stiffness for reduced deflection
4) to have reduced shrinkage crack
q PROPERTIES OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE
1) High strength
2) Minimum shrinkage and creep
3) High durability
4) Easy to cast
5) Cost effective
MATERIALS

Typical compressive stress-strain curves for Typical compressive stress-strain curves for
normal density concrete with wc= 145 pcf lightweight concrete with wc= 100 pcf
MATERIALS
q TIME DEPENDENT DEFORMATION OF CONCRETE
1) CREEP - defined as the increase in deformation with time under
constant load. Due to the creep of concrete, the prestress in the
tendon is reduced with time. The rate of strain increase is rapid at
first, but decreases with time, until after many months, a constant
value is approached assymptotically.

2) SHRINKAGE of CONCRETE - defined as the contraction due

to loss of moisture. The study of shrinkage is also important in
prestressed concrete to calculate the loss in prestress. Just like
creep, the shrinkage is also a phenomenon which varies with time. It
has also the same effect, i.e. it will have a reduction in the
prestressing force with time, and also it will lead to an increased
deflection.
Hence, the study of creep and shrinkage is important in prestressed
concrete to calculate the loss in prestress.
MATERIALS
q PRESTRESSING STEEL
The development of prestressed concrete was influenced by the invention
of high strength steel. It is an alloy of iron, carbon, manganese and
optional materials.
During the early stages of prestressing concrete, it was noticed that the
effective prestress reduced with time, and the reason was the creep and
shrinkage of concrete. In order to overcome this problem, high strength
steel was developed. Restressing of concrete became successful only
after the development of the high strength steel.
MATERIALS
q TYPES of PRESTRESSING STEEL
1) Round Wires
MATERIALS
2) Stranded Cable
MATERIALS
3) Alloy Steel Bars
MATERIALS
MATERIALS
qPROPERTIES of PRESTRESSING STEEL
1) High Strength
2) Adequate ductility
3) Bendability, required at harping points at ends
4) High-bond, required for prestressed member
5) Low relaxation to reduce losses
6) Minimum corrosion
MATERIALS
q STRESS-STRAIN PROPERTIES OF STEEL
MATERIALS
MATERIALS
q RELAXATION OF STEEL - defined as the decrease in stress
with time under constant strain. Due to the relaxation of steel, the
prestress in the tendon is reduced with time. Hence, the study of
relaxation is important in prestressed concrete to calculate the loss in
prestress.

The relaxation of steel depends on the type of steel, the amount of

initial prestress, and the temperature to which the steel is subjected.
ADVANTAGES OF USING PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
1) Section remains uncracked under service loads
• Reduction of steel corrosion
Ø Increase in durability
• Full section is utilized
Ø Higher moment of inertia (higher stiffness)
Ø Less deformation (improved serviceability)
• Increase in shear capacity
• Suitable to be used in pressure vessels and in liquid retaining
structures
• Improved performance due to resilience under dynamic and fatigue
loading.
ADVANTAGES OF USING PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
2) High span-to-depth ratios
• Larger spans possible with prestressing (Bridges, building with large
column-free spaces)
Typical values of span to depth ratios in slabs are given below:
Ø Non-prestressed slab: 28:1
Ø Prestressed slab: 45:1
3) Suitable for precast construction
The advantages of precast constructions are as follows:
• Rapid construction
• Better quality control
• Reduced maintenance
• Suitable for repetitive construction
• Multiple use of formwork
• Availability of standard shapes
LIMITATIONS OF PRESTRESSING
Although prestressing has advantages, some aspects need to be carefully
addressed.
• Skilled technology(hence, not as common as reinforced concrete)
• Use of high-strength materials is costly
• There is additional cost in auxiliary equipment
• Need for quality control and inspection
PRESTRESSING METHODS
1) PRETENSIONING - stretching the tendons between external
anchorages before the concrete is placed. As the fresh concrete
hardens, it bonds to the steel. When the concrete has reached the
required strength, the jacking force is released, and the force is
transferred by bond from steel to concrete.

2) POST-TENSIONING – the tendons are stressed after the

concrete has hardened and achieved sufficient strength, by jacking
against the concrete member itself.
- usually hollow conduits containing the tendons are placed in the
beam forms, to the desired profile, before pouring the concrete.
PRESTRESSING METHODS (PRETENSIONING)
PRESTRESSING METHODS (POSTTENSIONING)
AGAS-AGAS BRIDGE (LEYTE)
CHACO CORRIENTES BRIDGE
(ARGENTINA)
WISCASSET BRIDGE
(MAINE)
FLEXURAL ANALYSIS
q FLEXURAL ANALYSIS – the process by which a given
prestressed beam with known concrete dimensions, as well as
the magnitude and line of action of the prestressed force are
already known.
q FLEXURAL DESIGN – material properties are known and
specified, the designer must determine concrete and steel
dimensions as well as the magnitude and the line of action of
the prestressing force.
PARTIAL LOSS OF PRESTRESS
The jacking tension, Pj, initially applied to the tendon is reduced at once to
what is termed the initial prestress force Pi. A part of this loss in jacking
tension that due to friction between a post-tensioned tendon and its
encasing duct, usually occurs before the transfer of prestress force to the
concrete. The remainder due to elastic shortening of the concrete and
due to slip at post-tensioning anchorages as the wedges take hold,
occurs immediately upon transfer.
Additional losses occur over an extended period, because of concrete
shrinkage and creep, and because of relaxation of stress in the steel
tendon. As a result the prestressed force is reduced from Pi to its final or
effective value, Pe after all significant time-dependent losses have taken
place.

P Pi−Pe
The effectiveness ratio, R= e or 1−R=
Pi Pi
NOTE:
Pi = fpi x Aps
Pe = fpe x Aps

Where:
Pi = initial prestressing force
fpi = initial prestress before losses
Aps = area of prestressing tendons
Pe = effective prestressing force
fpe = effective prestress after losses
FLEXURAL ANALYSIS
Both analysis and design of prestressed concrete
may require the consideration of several load stages
as follows:
1) Initial prestress immediately after transfer, when Pi alone may
act on the concrete
2) Initial prestress plus self-weight of the member
4) Effective prestress, Pe, plus service loads consisting of full dead
and expected live loads
5) Ultimate load, when the expected service loads are increased
by load factors, and the member is at incipient failure
ELASTIC STRESSES (UNCRACKED
BEAMS)
1. INITIAL CONDITION
Initial Prestressing force plus Self-weight

−P# P# ec' M+c'

1
+ -
A I I

c1

CL

e c2

2 −P# P# ec) M+c)

- +
A I I
ELASTIC STRESSES (UNCRACKED
BEAMS)
2. FINAL CONDITION
Final Prestressing force and full Service Load

−P# P# ec' M+c' M,-.c'

1
+ - -
A I I I

c1

CL

e c2

2 −P# P# ec) M+c) M,-.c)

- + +
A I I I
PERMISSIBLE STRESSES IN CONCRETE IN
PRESTRESSED FLEXURAL MEMBERS
(NSCP 2010)
1. Stresses in concrete immediately after prestress transfer before
time-dependent prestress losses):

fci=
fci=

fti=
fti=
2. Stresses in concrete at service loads (based on uncracked section
properties, and after allowance for all prestress losses) shall not exceed
the following:

fcs =

Concrete tensile stress limits at service loads:

Load Condition Concrete tensile stress limit

Prestress plus total load fts = fc’

Where:
f 'c = compressive strength of concrete at 28 days (MPa)
f 'ci = compressive strength of concrete at time of initial prestress (MPa)
Example 1:
For the floor plan shown, consider the highlighted beam that is made up of
normal weight concrete having unit weight of 24 kN/m3.
Listed below are the superimposed loads:

Light Storage - 6 kPa

The beam will be pre-tensioned using multiple seven-wire strands;
eccentricity is constant and equal to 175 mm. The initial prestress force
Pi immediately after transfer is 750 kN. Time dependent losses due to creep
and some other factors total to 15% of the initial prestress force. Assuming
simple support, find the concrete flexural stresses at midspan and support
sections under initial and final condition.
 500 mm

200

12 m
200
5m

1000
A

300
5m

A
250

SECTION A-A
Example 2:
A rectangular concrete beam of width 275mm & depth h = 700mm is post
tensioned using parabolic tendon having eccentricity e = 195mm at
midspan & zero at the supports. The initial prestress force is 1485.6 kN &
the effectiveness ratio is 0.80. (Assume ɣc = 24 kN/m3 and fixed supports)
Check if the stresses exceed the ACI stress limits.
Loads: WD+L = 4.38 KN/m +14.59 KN/m
L= 12.20m
Example 3:
A pretensioned beam has rectangular section of 200 mm and 500 mm
depth. It is built using normal weight concrete (Ɣc = 24 KN/m3).
Stress limits are as follows:
fti = 1.139 Mpa
fci = -12.42 Mpa
fts = 2.62 Mpa
fcs = -12.42 MPa
The effectiveness ratio, R is equal to 0.80. For these conditions, find the
initial prestress, Pi and eccentricity, e to maximize the superimposed
dead and live load moment, MD+L that can be carried without exceeding
stress limits. What uniformly distributed load can be carried on a 9 m
span? What tendon profile would you recommend?
Example 4:
A post tensioned bonded with a prestress transfer force of 1560 kN is being
wrongly picked up at its mid-point. The parabolic tendons used is placed at a
distance of 175mm from the bottom at the midspan and at the center of the
beam at its ends. The beam has a span of 12m. Modulus of rupture
fr=0.62√f’c. Dimension of the beam is 300 mm x 600mm, f’c = 34 Mpa, unit
weight of concrete = 24 kN/m3.
a) Compute the stress at the top fibers at its midspan.
b) Compute the eccentricity at the midspan so that the stress of concrete
will not crack.
c) Determine the distance from both ends where the beam should be
picked up to avoid any possibility of damage to the beam during
handling.
Example 5:
The flooring of a warehouse is made up of double-tee joists (DT) as shown. The joists
are simply supported on a span of 7.5 m and are pre-tensioned with one tendon in
each stem with an initial force of 745 kN each, located at 75 mm from the bottom of the
fiber, loss of stress at service load is 18%.
Load imposed on the joists are:
Dead Load = 2.3 kPa
Live Load = 6 kPa
Properties of DT:
A = 200, 000 mm2
I = 1880 x 106 mm4
yt = 88 mm
yb = 267 mm
a = 2.4 m
a) Compute the stress at the bottom fibers of the DT at mid-span due to the initial
pre-stressing force alone.
b) Compute the resulting stress at the bottom fibers of the DT at midspan due to the
service loads and prestress force.
c) What additional super imposed load can the DT carry such that the resulting stress
at the bottom fibers at midspan is zero.