18-03-19

Prestressed
concrete
 Concrete

Richard P, and cheyrey (1995) achieved the

maximum compressive strength 810 MPa in
reactive powder concrete,

Highest compressive strength of concrete actually

used in construction has…
design compressive strength of 300 N/m2 ,which
has been developed and used by
Taisei Corporation in Japan
Steel

ASTM A416 / A416M - 18 Standard

Specification for Low-Relaxation, Seven-
Wire Steel Strand for Prestressed Concrete.
minimum tensile strengths of 250 ksi [1725
MPa] and 270 ksi [1860 MPa], respectively
High strength materials
Advantages
Less cross-sectional area
Reduction in weight resulting economical designs
Reduction in depth of members allow reduced building heights and savings
in utilities pipes and wires etc
Limitation
Cracking and deflections at service loads
Width and number of cracks are proportional to strain and stress in steel
Slender members may permit deflection
Prestressed concrete
A prestressed concrete member is one in which there have been introduced internal
stresses of such magnitude and distribution that the stresses resulting from given external
loading are counteracted to a described degree
Prestressing applies a precompression to the member that reduces or eliminates tensile
stresses.

This technique
Allows cracking to be avoided or eliminated
Even deflection can be reduced to zero
Effect of prestressing
a. Method of achieving concrete stress control
b. As a mean of introducing equivalent loads
c. As a special variation of reinforced concrete by using High strength materials
Concrete stress control by prestressing
a. Concrete stress control by prestressing
Conclusions
1. Prestressing can control or eliminate concrete tensile stresses
2. Eccentric pressure is much more efficient than concentric pressure
3. Variable eccentricity is preferable to constant eccentricity from the
view points of bott stress control and deflection control.
b. Equivalent Loads
The change in vertical alignment of a prestressing tendon will produce
a vertical force on the concrete beam.
This force together with prestressing force acting at the ends of the
beam through the tendon anchorages can be looked upon as a system
of external loads

How?????
c. Prestress concrete as variation of
Reinforced concrete
• In the previous discussion concrete response was elastic and
there is no cracking. These conditions can prevail up to
service load level.
• As load is increased depending on prestressing effort
section may be uncracked, minor or fully cracked like
ordinary beams. Level of prestress can control level of
cracking.
• At inelastic stage under factored loading concrete wil be in
cracked stage as shown in figure
• At factored loads cracks develop and external moments are
resisted by the internal forces couples Cz=Tz, just like
ordinary RC beams at overloads
• What is difference than????????? As steel is high strength
will elongate??
• High strength steel must be pre-strained before application
of loads to prevent excessive cracking and large beam
deflections
• Use High strength concrete to ensure high Cz.
Analysis and design of prestress
Not all three approached are not comprehensive

Concrete Stress Control analysis Equivalent loads analysis Reinforced concrete using Pre-
strained Steel
Strength Safety margins are not Strength Safety margins are not Strength analysis helps calculating
sure sure safety against collapse

Extent of cracking can be predicted Helpful in calculating deflection Cracking and deflection under
service loads can not be predicted
 Sources of
Per stressing Sources of Prestress force

1-post tensioning by Jackets reacting

against abutments
If abutments fail???
2-Jacks reacting against beams
tied to cables or wires
3-Pre tensioning by use of massive
fixed abutments in casting yards
4- Thermal prestressing of steel
5- Expanding cement

Which method will you prefer: Pre-stressing or post-tensioning??

Low strength versus High strength steel
low strength steel prestress is lost due to
shrinkage and creep effects.
Δ𝐿 𝑓𝑠 24000
• ε𝑠 = = = = 8.0𝑋10−4
𝐿 𝐸𝑠 29𝑋10−4
• Long term strain in concrete???
High strength steel stressed to 150000psi
would strain 51.7𝑋10−4
• Net strain would be =43.7𝑋10−4
• Stress after losses=127000psi, only 15%
stress loss.
• Amount of stress lost is independent of
original steel stress.
Prestressing steel
ASTM A 416/A416M-18 (Standard Specification for Low-Relaxation, Seven-Wire Steel Strand for Prestressed Concrete)
ASTM A722/A722M-18 (Standard Specification for High-Strength Steel Bars for Prestressed Concrete)

How stress strain relation of Prestressing steel is different from

ordinary Steel???
yield point, E, Spread of curve b/w tensile strength and yield strength
Round wires
0.192-0.276inΦ, Cold drawing high carbon steel
Stress relieved by heat treatment
Up to 50 Wires are bundled to produce prestressing tendons
E=290000

Standard Cables
0.25-0.6Φ
Six wires are wound around a main wire at a pitch of 12-16 times dia of
strand.
Unbonded strand, E=260000psi, Bonded strand , E=270000psi

Alloy steel bars

Plain bars 0.75-1.375Φ deformed 0.625-2.5inΦ
E=270000psi
Permitted Tensile stress

Why allowable stress limits are higher during stretching procedure

1 Steel stresses an steel strains are known precisely?
2 Acts as performance test ?
Advantages of using high strength Concrete

1. Higher “E” to ensure reduced loss of prestress , reduced initial

elastic strain, reduction in creep,
2. High strength concrete compensates Higher bearing stresses that
redevelop at the ends of beam.
3. Use of high strength concrete permit the development of higher
bond stress in pretensioned construction
4. Higher strength can be easily obtained in controlled environment
Classification of prestressed flexure members

ft=Extreme fiber stress in tension in the pre compressed tension zone

at service load considering section as uncracked.
How much concrete can be stressed??

Elastic Flexural Analysis
Class C
• Design is based on strength
• These have no service level stress
requirements
• These must satisfy strength and
serviceability requirements
• Service load stress calculations are
computed on the bases of cracked
section
• Prestressing is required primarily
for deflection control
Design philosophy
• Permissible stresses
• Strength is sufficient
• Deflection at service loads
• Cracking at service loads
Class U and T
• Proportioned to limit stresses in
concrete and steel within
permissible limits
• This is to improve the performance
of members at service loads
• Elastic behavior of both steel and
concrete is considered
• Service load stress calculations are
computed on the bases of
uncracked section
Prestressing force

Pe Concrete creep under sustained prestress force,

Concrete shrinkage, Relaxation of stress in the steel
Effective Prestress force
Till we reach the stage of service load

Pi Elastic shortening of concrete, slip of tendons,

Loss due to friction between tendon and concrete
in post-tensioning, friction between cable and
Initial Prestress force tendon alignment devices in pre-tensioning

Pj
Jacking force
 Prestressing forces on Post-tensioned beam
Stress development
• Prestressing force
• Self weight moment
• Dead load moment
• Live load moments
Concrete Stress
Distribution,
a. Effect of prestress
b. Effect of prestress +Self weight
C. Effect of prestress +Self weight+
Dead +live service loads

Effect of Holes on AC and Ic,

Effect on Ac and Ic in Pretensioner
beams

Concrete Stress Distribution,

a. Pi+SelfWeight
b. Pe+Service Loads
fci, fti=permissible stresses immediately after transfer
Fcs,fts= permissible stresses at service load
 Kern of a section
Limiting points on cross section inside which the prestress force
resultant may be applied without causing tension anywhere in the
cross-section
Prestressed I Beam with constant Eccentricity
Prestressed I Beam with constant Eccentricity
Prestressed I Beam with constant Eccentricity
Prestressed I Beam with constant Eccentricity
Flexural strength

normal Prestess
Stresses in steel and concrete increases Increased moments is resisted by the
in proportion to applied force up to or proportionate increased distance
beyond service load between the compressive and tensile
Distance between the stress resultants force resultants.
remains constant. Compressive moments resultant shifts
upward with the increase in load
Strength prediction Magnitude of internal forces remain
Account for…..
constant up to/somewhat beyond
1.different shape of stress strain curve for prestressing steel
service load
2.Tensile strain is already present before actual loading
Strain compatibility analysis accounts for these in rational and explicit way After flexural tensile cracking steel
ACI318-Chapter 18 stress increases. Now beam behave like
ordinary beam.
Stresses in the Prestress steel.
ACI 318-08 chapter 18
Nominal flexural strength and design strength
Stress block depth greater than flange

what is solution
If non prestressed
steel is used along
with prestressed
steel
Why non prestressed
reinforcement is
provided
What stress level
should be considered
in NP steel
 Limits for reinforcement
• Tensioned controlled member: net tensile
strain>0.005
• Compression controlled member: net
tensile strain<0.002
• For compression controlled prestressed
beam c/dt<=.375 use upper figure.
• If c/dt>-.60 beam is over reinforced us
alternative equations for determining
flexural strength.
• Minimum tensile reinforcement is
required to support 1.2 times cracking
load of the beam. Use modulus of
rupture=7.5(fc’)^.5
How to control cracking in beam and slabs with unbonded
tendons??
Minimum bonded reinforcement
As=.004 A
(A=area between flexural tension face and centroid of gross
concrete cross section)
Calculation of flexural strength of a beam
Calculation of flexural strength of a beam
Calculation of flexural strength of a beam
Calculation of flexural strength of a beam
Partial prestressing
Flexural tensile stresses and cracking is permitted at service load
Flexural reinforcement includes both prestresses and non prestressed reinforcement.

Disadvantages of Full prestressing Advantages of Partial Prestressing

Full prestressing=>ft=0 1. Below service load no cracking and ft=0
1. Large upward deflections/camber 2. At service load cracks form and close when load
is removed
2. Concrete creep enhances camber
3. Axial shortening and camber may be avoided
3. Beams suffer longitudinal shortening causing
further creep and elastic deformations 4. Ample warning at overload.
4. Heavy beam if overload fail in brittle mode. 5. Prestress steel area is decreased and some Non
prestressed steel is provided why??

ACI code no specific guidelines

1. Class T, service level stresses to be
below allowable stresses
2. Class C require crack control checks
Partial prestress economy versus requirement

Is partial prestressing is economical How much to prestress

Labor cost for placing rebars or
prestressed bars
Cost comparison Cost of
Tendons= 2xrebar cost
Strength of Tendons= 3xrebar
1. Nature of loading, bridges or
warehouses
2. Ratio of live load to dead load
3. Frequency of occurrence of
full service load
4. Corrosive environment
Shape selection
1. I T and Box section are economical
2. TT 4 -12’ wide up to 60ft long suitable for roof
3. T suitable for 120ft and heavier loads
4. I and bulb T suitable for bridges and roof girders up to
140ft
5. Channel slab is suitable for floors up to 20ft
6. Box girder is suitable for bridges
7. Inverted T to provide bearing edges to other beams and
slabs

PCI handbook contains standard shapes and their properties

Why Unsymmetrical sections??

• Different stresses
• Flat surface is required
• Composite construction
• Support for other members
Tendon Profile

• First Unloaded stage Tensile

stresses at the top of the fibers
must not exceed fti.
• At the bottom of the unload beam
stresses must not exceed the
limiting initial compression, fci

• Fully loaded stage fcs.

• Fully loaded stage fts
Loss of prestress
Why does we loss prestress force
1. Elastic shortening of the concrete
2. Slip at the anchorage
3. Frictional losses along the tendon
4. Long term factors
5. Shrinakge
6. Creep
7. Relaxation of steel
Effective ratio=R=Pe/Pi
Why we determine losses
Losses have no effect on nominal
strength of members with bonded
tendons
BUT
Under/over estimation of losses
effect service conditions camber,
deflection, cracking
1. Lumpsum bases
2. Separate losses
Lump-Sum Estimate of losses
Estimate of Separate losses

• Slip at the Anchorage Loss estimation by time step

• Elastic Shortening of Concrete method
• Frictional losses Step by step method developed by
the committee on prestress losses
• Creep of the concrete of the prestressed concrete institute
• Shrinkage of the concrete
• Relaxation of the steel
Creep+shrinkage +relaxation losses
are 10 %of Pi
Further reading

Shear: Flexural shear cracks and

web-shear cracks
Diagonal tension
Bond stress transfer length and
development length
Anchorage zone design
Deflection
Crack control for Class C Flexural
Members