PRESTRESS CONCRETE

Prestressing - the application of a predetermined force or moment to reduce

stresses within specific limits.
Methods of Prestressing
1. Pre-tensioning the application of the predetermined force or
moment before concrete hardens.
2. Post-tensioning the application of the predetermined force
or moment after concrete hardens.

Effective Prestressing Force:

P = kAsfs
P =kPi
Where :
As = cross sectional area of the prestressing tendons
fs = allowable stress in the prestressing tendons.
k = coeffecient of prestress losses
Pi = initial prestressing force at transfer

Pretensioning
The prestress reinforcement is initially pulled
and concrete is poured until it hardens then reinforcement
is released to transfer the stress to concrete

Post tensioning

Ducts for future

introduction of prestressing
reinforcement

Sources of Prestress Losses:

Creep of concrete change in strain when a member is held at
constant stress
Relaxation of steel loss of stress in a material placed under
stress and held at constant strain
Friction or Anchorage losses
Note : Combined losses ranges from 10 to 30%
Permissible Stresses in Concrete Flexural Members
Allowable Stress in concrete after prestress transfer ( before timedependent prestress losses) shall not exceed the following :
a) Extreme fiber stress in compression
0.6 fc
1 / 4 fc'
b) Extreme fiber stress in tension

Allowable Stress in concrete at service loads (after allowances for

prestress transfer ) shall not exceed the following :
a) Extreme fiber stress in compression
0.45 fc
1 / 2 fc'
b) Extreme fiber stress in precompressed tension zone

Elastic Analysis of Prestressed Beams

Method of Analysis
Superposition of stress blocks: Stresses due to dead loads, live loads,
prestressing force and moment are added or subtracted to obtain the net
stress in the concrete fiber.

fDt

c.g

fLt

fp

- fmt

fct

e
- fDb

- fLb

Note :
Convention of
signs of stress

D
E
A
D

L
I
V
E

+ compressive
- tensile

L
O
A
D

L
O
A
D

S
T
R
E
S
S

S
T
R
E
S
S

fp

fmb

fcb

S
T
R
E
S
S

S
T
R
E
S
S

D
U
E

D
U
E

T
O

T
O

C
O
M
B
I
N
E
D
S
T
R
E
S
S

Where :
fDt = dead load stress at the topmost fiber
fLt = live load stress at the topmost fiber
fDb = dead load stress at the bottom fiber
fLb = live load stress at the bottom fiber
fp = stress due to prestressing force P
fmt = stress due to prestressing moment at the topmost fiber
fmb = stress due to prestressing moment at the bottom fiber
P = Prestressing force
M = Prestressing moment = Pe
e = eccentricity

Basic Formulas:
Flexure Formula

Mc
f
I

Any section
Rectangular section

6M
bd 2

Axial stress

P
A

P
bd

Combined stress due to P and M : Rectangular Sections

top fibers:
bottom fibers:

ft

P
6e
(1 )
bd
d

fb

P
6e
(1
)
bd
d

CE Board May 1997

A simply supported beam 400 mm by 800mm of 10.0 m span is loaded with
a uniform load of 40 kN/m including its own weight. The center of gravity of the
prestressing tendons is 200 mm above the bottom of the beam and produces
an effective prestressing force of 1200 KN. Compute the fiber stress at the
midspan section and show the resulting stress distribution.
1
8

400

c.g

40kN/m
400

10 m

e =200
P=1200 kN
200

Dead load moment at midspan

WD L2 40(10) 2
MD

500kN .m
8
8
Dead load stress at midspan
top

6M D 6(500)(10) 6
f Dt

11.72MPa(C )
2
2
bd
400(800)

bottom

f Db

6M D
11.72MPa(T )
2
bd

Stress due to P and M

top

P
6e
ft
(1 )
bd
d

ft

1200(1000)
6[200]
(1
) 1.88MPa(T )
400(800)
800

bottom

P
6e
fb
(1 )
bd
d
fb

1200(1000)
6[200]
(1
) 9.38MPa(C )
400(800)
800

Net stress
top

f ct f Dt f t 11.72 1.88 9.84 MPa(C )

bottom

f cb f Db f b 11.72 9.38 2.34 MPa(T )

STRESS DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM

DL stress Stress due

to P & M
11.72 -1.88

400

c.g

400

Net stress
9.84
=

e =200
P=1200 kN
200
-11.72

9.38

-2.34

CE Board May 1996

A 200 mm by 400 mm concrete beam is prestressed
with a final prestressing force of 500 kN at an
eccentricity of 100 mm below the neutral axis.
Determine the maximum moment that will produce no
tension in the bottom fibers. Neglect the weight of the
beam.
stress
Stress due
due to
to P and M
Unknown Moment

200

c.g

200

Net stress

e =100
P=500 kN
100
fDb

fb

P
6e
fb
(1 )
bd
d
500(1000)
6[100]
fb
(1
) 15.63MPa(C )
200(400)
400
So that the tensile stress in the bottom fiber is zero

f b f Db
6M
fb 2
bd
6M
15.63
200(400) 2

15.63(200)(400) 2
M
6(10) 6
M 83.36kN .m

600 mm

CE Board Nov 1984

A simple beam 10 m long 400 mm by 600 mm in cross section is post
tensioned with tendons 500 sq.mm in area and stretched to a stress of
660 KN. The tendons passed through a hole 60 mm by 70 mm. The center
of the hole is 75 mm from the bottom of the beam. Find the maximum
fiber stress in the concrete immediately after prestressing. Loss of
prestressing at anchoring is 6%. Concrete weighs 23.50 KN/m3.
400 mm
Member
a
y
ay
400x600
240000
300 72000000
1
60x70
- 4200
75
- 315000
A = 235800
71685000
c.g
60
70 2

e
75 mm

A y ay

235800 y 71685000
y 304mm
y e 75
e 229mm

400 mm
Effective prestressing force
P =kPi
P =0.94(660) = 620.4kN

1
600 mm

c.g
60
70 2

d1
e=d2

y=304

Weight of beam
WD =WcA
300

wD

75 mm

23.5(235800)
kN

5
.
54
(1000) 2
m

I ( I Ad 2 )
b1h13
b2 h23
2
I
A1d1 (
A2 d 22 )
12
12
3

60(70)
400(600) 3
2
I
(400)600(4 ) (
60(70)[229]2 )
12
12
I 6981.9 x10 6 mm 4

400 mm

5.54kN/m

10 m
Maximum dead load Moment 600 mm

WD L2 5.54(10) 2
MD

69.25kN .m
8
8
Maximum dead load stress
top fiber

M D c1
f Dt
I
69.25(10) 6 296
f Dt
6981.8(10) 6

f Dt 2.94 MPa(C )

C1=296

c.g
60
70 2

bottom fiber

M D c2
f Db
I
69.25(10) 6 304
f Db
6981.8(10) 6

f Db 3.02 MPa(T )

C2=304

Stress due to Prestressing force P

P
P
A
620.4(1000)
P
2.63MPa(C )
235800
Prestessing Moment

M Pe 620.4(229) 142071.6kN .mm

stress due to M
top fiber

Mc1
f mt
I
142071.6(10)3 296
f mt
6981.8(10) 6
f mt 6.02 MPa(T )

bottom fiber

Mc2
f mb
I
142071.6(10)3 304
f mb
6981.8(10) 6
f mb 6.19 MPa(C )

DL stress stress
stress due Net stress
due to P to M
400 mm

2.94

-6.02

-0.45

1
c.g

600 mm

60
70 2
-3.02

2.63

6.19

Maximum stress at midspan

f ct 2.94 2.63 6.02 0.45MPa(T )

bottom fiber f cb 3.02 2.63 6.19 5.8MPa (C )

Top fiber

5.8

The prestressed concrete T beam shown is to span 9.0 m and to be

prestressed with tendons located 100 mm from the bottom of the beam
at the midspan.
500 mm

150
mm

350
mm

150 mm

100
mm

a) Find the ratio of the effective prestressing force P to a total uniform load
if the resulting moment at the midspan is zero,
b) if the steel tendons having an area of 1500 sq. mm has an effective
stress of 1050 MPa, what will be the uniform load that it can support to
meet the condition in a.

500 mm
150

mm

350

mm

150 mm

100
mm

ay

500x150

75000

525

150x450

67500

225

A = 142500

39375000
15187500
ay = 54562500

A y ay 142500 y 54562500
Eccentricity

y e 100

y 383mm

e 283mm 0.283m

W kN/m

L= 9m
Moment at the midspan due to W

WL2
MD
()
8
Moment at the midspan due to Prestressing force P
c.g

e P
100

M Pe()
For the moment at the midspan to be zero

MD M

WL2
Pe
8
2

P L

W 8e

P
92

W 8(0.283)

P
35.78 (a )
W
P As f s 1500(1050) 1575000 N 1575kN
1575
35.78
W
W 44

kN
(b)
m

Deflection of Prestress Beams:

Deflection due to prestressing moment at midspan of simple
beams

ML

8 EI

If P is applied below the center of gravity

Problem :
A rectangular concrete beam 7 m long, is 200 mm wide and 300 mm
overall depth is reinforced with straight post tensioned cable placed
centrally 75 mm above the bottom of the beam. Determine the amount
by which the midpoint of the beam lift off the forms when a tension of 214
KN is applied to the cable. Assume that concrete does not crack in
tension. Ec = 13800 MPa Wc = 23.5 KN/cu.m

200

c.g

WD kN/m
150
e =75
P =214kN
75

7m
Weight of the beam

kN
wD 23.5(0.2)(0.3) 1.41
m

Midspan Deflection of the beam due to its weight

5wD L4
D
384 EI
N
mm 4
D mm
mm
N
4
mm
mm 2

5(1.41)(7000) 4
D
200(300) 3
384(13800)
12

D 7.1mm

M=Pe
M =214(75)1000=16050000 N.mm
Midspan Deflection of the beam due to Prestress
2
N
.
mm
(
mm
)
ML
P
mm
P
N
4
8EI
mm
mm 2
16050000(7000) 2
p
200(300) 3
8(13800)
12
2

P 15.83mm
Amount by which the forms is lifted at the midspan

N P D 15.83 7.1 8.73mm

Load Balancing Method:

The beam will not be subjected to any transverse load. At the end the supports
take care of the vertical components while the horizontal components produces
uniform compression along the entire beam thus producing no eccentricity.
Psin

Psin

Pcos

Pcos

R = Psin

R = Psin

Stress at the midspan due to prestress:

PCos

A
Problem :
A prestressed concrete beam has a cross section of 400 mm by
800 mm and a simple span of 24 m. The beam is designed to carry
a concentrated load of 196 kN at the midspan. Concrete covering
is 80 mm.
a) Compute the effective prestress required by load balancing method
and compute the stress at the midspan section of the beam.
b) Compute the stress at the section if an additional load of 78.5 kN is
applied at the midspan.

PRESTRESS CONCRETE (USD)

BONDED TENDONS

YpPpfpu
fps fpu (1
)
1 fc '
fse > 0.5 fpu
Yp = 0.40

if

Yp = 0.28

if

fpy
0.85
fpu

fpy
0.90
fpu

UNBONDED TENDONS

a)

L
35
d
fc'
fps fse 70
100 Pp
fps < fpy nor fse + 400

b)

L
35
d

fc'
fps fse 70
300 Pp
fps < fpy nor fse + 200

where :
fpu = specified tensile strength of prestressing tendons
fpy = specified yeild strength of prestressing tendons
fps = stress of prestressing tendons at nominal length
fse =effective stress in the prestressed reinforcement
after allowance for prestress losses
Steel ratio :

Aps
Pp
bd

Aps = area of prestress reinforcement at tension zone

Parameter Wp:

Wp

Pp fps
fc'

Depth of concrete stress block:

Wp 0.36 1

Apsfps
a
0.85 fc ' b

Wp 0.36 1

a 0.4231d

Problem:
Find the safe liveload that the prestressed section shown could carry if it has a
simple span of 6m. fpu = 1300 MPa , fse = 750 MPa, fc = 35 MPa. Aps = 1000
sq.mm. The beam is not grouted after the application of the prestress. Beam is
rectangular with b =250 mm , d = 420 mm, center cover = 80 mm

250 mm

420 mm

80 mm

Problem :
Determine the ultimate moment capacity of the beam described in the
preceding problem if the tendons are bonded with fpy = 1160 MPa. All other
data remain unchanged.

A simple beam 10 m long 450 mm by 700 mm in cross section is post

tensioned with tendons 800 sq.mm in area and stretched to a stress of
100 MPa. The tendons passed through a hole 70 mm by 80 mm. The
center of the hole is 80 mm from the bottom of the beam. Find the
maximum fiber stress in the concrete immediately after prestressing. Loss
of prestressing at anchoring is 5%. Concrete weighs 23.50 KN/m3.
450 mm
Member
a
450x700
315000
70x80
- 5600
A =309400

1
700 mm

c.g
70
80 2

e
80 mm

A y ay

y
ay
350 110250000
80
- 448000
109802000

309400 y 109802000
y 354.9mm
y e 80
e 274.9mm

450 mm
Effective prestressing force
P =kAsfs
P =0.95(800)1000 = 760kN

1
700 mm

c.g
70
80 2

d1
e=d2

y=354.9

Weight of beam
WD =WcA
350

wD

80 mm

23.5(309400)
kN

7
.
27
(1000) 2
m

I ( I Ad 2 )
b1h13
b2 h23
2
I
A1d1 (
A2 d 22 )
12
12
3

70(80)
450(700) 3
2
I
( 450)700(4.9 ) (
70(80)[274.9]2 )
12
12
I 12443.82 x10 6 mm 4

450 mm

7.27kN/m

10 m
Maximum dead load Moment 700 mm

WD L2 7.27(10) 2
MD

90.875kN .m
8
8
Maximum dead load stress
top fiber

M D c1
f Dt
I
90.875(10) 6 345.1
f Dt
12443.82(10) 6
f Dt 2.52 MPa(C )

C1=345.1

c.g
70
80 2

bottom fiber

M D c2
f Db
I
90.875(10) 6 354.9
f Db
12443.82(10) 6

f Db 2.59 MPa(T )

C2=354.9

Stress due to Prestressing force P

P
P
A
760(1000)
P
2.46 MPa(C )
309400
Prestessing Moment

M Pe 760(274.9) 208924kN .mm

stress due to M
top fiber

Mc1
f mt
I
208924(10)3 345.1
f mt
12443.82(10) 6
f mt 5.79 MPa(T )

bottom fiber

Mc2
f mb
I
208924(10)3 354.9
f mb
12443.82(10) 6
f mb 5.96 MPa(C )

DL stress stress
stress due Net stress
due to P to M
450 mm

2.52

-5.79

-0.81

1
c.g

700 mm

70

274.9

80 2
-2.59

2.46

5.96

Maximum stress at midspan

f ct 2.52 2.46 5.79 0.81MPa(T )

bottom fiberf cb 2.59 2.46 5.96 5.83MPa (C )

Top fiber

5.83