UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

SPRING QUARTER 2015

DEPT. OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

INSTRUCTOR: S. MEGALLY

SE 151B Design of Structural Concrete

Homework # 3
(Due April 28)
Problem 1
Solve Problem 4.6 in the book. Ignore the note regarding USD criteria at the end of the problem
statement.

Problem 2
Redesign the beam in Problem 3 of HW2 (Problem 4.5 in the textbook) with the load balancing
method but allow variable eccentricity along the beam. Assume that the live load is distributed
over the entire length of the beam (no concentrated loads on the cantilevers). The distance of the
centroid of the tendon from the nearest surface has to be not less than 2.5 in. The load to be
balanced by the effective prestressing force F consists of the self-weight plus 20% of the live
load. Assume that the loss factor = 0.80. Only need to determine the eccentricities at the
midspan, supports, and free ends. Do the design as follows: (1) Determine the tendon profile. (2)
Determine the tendon eccentricity for the most critical section and the effective prestressing
force F required to balance the load. (3) Determine the eccentricities at other locations and sketch
the tendon profile showing where the slope should be zero. (4) Check if the stresses under
service condition are within the allowable limits given in the problem statement in the book.

Problem 3
The beam shown below has a 28-day compressive strength of 5,000 psi. In adition to its own
weight, the beam supports live load of 0.5 kip/ft, which is distributed along the entire beam. The
unit weight of concrete is 150 pcf. The centroid of the prestressing tendon should not be less than
3 inches away from the nearest beam surface and be not less than 3.75 in. from the bottom face
of the beam at the midspan. (a) Use the load balancing method to determine the effective
prestressing force F, and the tendon profile including the tendon eccentricities at supports A and
B, the lowest point of the tendon (location of the maximum bending moment), and the free end
C, which will result in the most efficient design. The prestressing force should be the same along
the entire beam and is to balance 100% of the self-weight of the beam. (b) With the design from
Part (a), find the primary moment due to prestressing (the prestressing force multiplied by tendon
eccentricity) at Supports A, B, lowest point of the tendon and at Point C. (c) Find the stress at the
top of the concrete beam at Support B and at location of the lowest point of the tendon under the
full service loads.

20
6

24

C.A.

A
60 ft

15 ft

Problem 4
A simply supported beam has a span of 40 feet and a rectangular section with b = 12 and h =
24. The minimum required concrete cover measured from the centroid of the prestressing
tendons is 3 inches. The initial prestressing force is 340 kips and the effective prestressing force
is 288 kips. In addition to its own weight (unit weight of concrete is 150 pcf), the beam has to
carry a superimposed dead load of 1,000 lb/ft. The concrete has a compressive strength of 5,000
psi and strength of 4,000 psi at prestress transfer. The allowable stresses are -189 psi and 2,400
psi for tensile and compressive stresses, respectively, at initial conditions. At service condition,
the allowable compressive stress is 2,250 psi. The beam is Class U according to the ACI318
Code classification (i.e. allowable tensile stress under service load is the same as the modulus of
rupture. (a) Based on the given allowable stresses, determine the maximum and minimum
eccentricities that can be used at mid-span. (b) If the maximum eccentricity of prestressing steel
from Part (a) is used along the entire length of the beam, what would be the concrete stresses at
the supports? (note that the ACI318 allowable tensile stress for initial condition at the end
supports of simply-supported beams is twice the allowable tensile stresses away from the end
support) (c) If the concrete stresses at the support section are higher than allowable limits,
determine the maximum and minimum eccentricities of prestressing steel at the support and
propose a tendon layout based on the midspan and support sections and assuming the beam is
pre-tensioned.