MATERIALS AND

SYSTEMS FOR
PRESTRESSINGP R E S E N TE D B Y :
B A R C E L O N , C H R I S TI N E JO Y
C A R AI G , R U Z ZE L JA M E S
G A B IN , K A T H R E N M AE
T A YO , P A T R I CI A JE A N
CONCRETE

• Concrete, particularly high-strength concrete, is a major constituent of all prestressed

concrete elements. Hence, its strength and long term endurance have to be achieved through
proper quality control and quality assurance at the production stage.
PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE
QUALITY OF CONCRETE
• Strength and endurance are two major qualities that are particularly important in prestressed
concrete structures. Long-term detrimental effects can rapidly reduce the pre-stressing forces
and could result in unexpected failure. Hence measures have to be taken to ensure strict
quality assurance at the various stages of production and construction as well as maintenance.
PROPERTIES OF HARDENED
CONCRETE
• The mechanical properties of hardened concrete can be classified into two categories: Short-
term or instantaneous properties, and long-term properties.The following subsections present
some details on these properties:
 Compressive strength
 Tensile Strength
 Shear Strength
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

• Depending on the type of mix, the properties of aggregate, and the time and quality of the
curing, compressive strengths of concrete can be obtained up to 20,000 psi or more.
Commercial production of concrete with ordinary aggregate is usually in the range 4,000 to
12,000 psi, with the most common concrete strength being in the 6,000 psi level.
TENSILE STRENGTH

• The tensile strength of concrete is relatively low.A good approximation for the tensile strength
fct is 0.10f’c < fct < 0.20f’c. it is more difficult to measure tensile strength than compressive
strength because of the gripping problems with testing machines.
SHEAR STRENGTH

• Shear strength is more difficult to determine experimentally than the tests discussed
previously because of the difficulty in isolating shear from other stresses.
STRESS-STRAIN OF CONCRETE
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY AND CHANGE IN
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH WITH TIME
• The ACI building code gives the following expressions for calculating the secant modulus of
elasticity of concrete, Ec

Ec=33w1.5
c f′c for 90< wc<155lb/ft3

Where 𝑤𝑐 is the density of concrete in pounds per cubic foot and f’c is the compressive cylinder
strength in psi.
For normal weight concrete,

Ec=57,000 f′cpsi 4,700 f′cMPA

Or
Ec=0.043w1.5 f′cMPA
HIGH-STRENGTH CONCRETE
• High-strength concrete is termed as such by the ACI 318 Code when the cylinder compressive
strength exceeds 6,000 psi (41.4 Mpa). For concrete having compressive strengths 6,000 to
12,000 Psi (42-48 Mpa), the expressions for the modulus of concrete

′ 6 wc 1.5
Ec psi =[40,000 f c+10 ]( )
145
Where f’c = Psi and wc = lb/ft3

Or

w
Ec MPa =[3.32 f′c+6,895]( c )1.5
2320
Where f’c = Mpa and wc = kg/m2
INITIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
AND MODULUS
• Since pre-stressing is performed in most cases prior to concrete’s achieving it’s 28 days strength,
it is important to determine the concrete compressive strength f’ci at the pre-stressing stage as
well as the concrete modulus Ec at the various stages in the loading history of the element.The
general expression strength as a function of time is
t
f′ci= f′
∝+βt c
Where:
f′c = 28 days compressive strength
t = time in days
∝ = factor depending on type of element and curing conditions
= 4.00 for moist-cured type-I cement and 2.30 for moist-cured type-III cement
= 1.00 for steam-cured type-I cement and 0.70 for steam-cured type-III cement
𝛽 = factor depending on the same parameters for ∝ for giving corresponding values of 0.85, 0.92,
and 0.98, respectively
CREEP
• Creep, or lateral material flow, is the increase in strain with time due to a sustained load.The
initial deformation due to load is elastic strain, while the additional strain due to the same
sustained load is creep strain.This practical assumption is quite acceptable, since the initial
recorded deformation includes few time-dependent effects.
SHRINKAGE
• Basically, there are two types of shrinkage: plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage. Plastic shrinkage
occurs during the first few hours after placing fresh concrete in the forms. Drying shrinkage, on the
other hand, occurs after the concrete has already attained its final set and a good portion of the
chemical hydration process in the cement gel has been accomplished.
• Several factors affect the magnitude of drying shrinkage:
1. Aggregate
2. Water/cement ratio
3. Size of the concrete cement
4. Medium ambient conditions
5. Amount of reinforcement
6. Admixtures
7. Type of cement
8. Carbonation
• Branson recommends the following relationships for the shrinkage strain as a function of time for
standard conditions of humidity (H = 40 percent)
a. For moist-cured concrete any time t after 7 days
t
∈SH,t = ∈
35+t SH,u
Where ∈SH,u= 800 x 10−6 in/in. if local data are not available

b. For steam-cured concrete after the age of 1 to 3 days

t
∈SH,t = ∈
55+t SH,u

For other than standard humidity, a correction factor has to be applied

a.For 40 < H ≤ 80 percent,
KSH=1.40−0.010H
b.For 80 < H ≤ 100 percent,
KSH=3.00−0.030H
NONPRESTRESSING REINFORCEMENT
• Steel reinforcement for concrete consists of bars, wires, and welded wire fabric, all of which
are manufactured in accordance with ASTM standards.The most important properties of
reinforcing steel are:
1. Young’s modulus, Es
2. Yields strength, fy
3. Ultimate strength, fu
4. Steel grade designation
5. Size or diameter of the bar or wire
PRESTRESSING REINFORCEMENT
Types of reinforcement
• Due to the high creep and shrinkage losses in concrete, effective prestressing can be achieved
by using very high-strength steels in the range of 270,000 psi or more.
• Prestressing reinforcement can be in the form of single wires, strands composed of sevreal
wires twisted to form a single element, and high-strength bars.Three types commonly used in
the United States are:
• Uncoated stress-relieved or low-relaxation wires
• Uncoated stress-relieved strands and low-relaxation strands
• Uncoated high-strength steel bars
STRESS-RELIEVED AND LOW-
RELAXATION WIRES AND STRANDS
• Stress-relieved wires are cold-drawn single wires conforming to ASTM standard A421;stress-
relieved strands conform to ASTM standard A416. the strands are made from seven wires by
twisting six of them on a pitch of 12-to 16 wire diameter round a slightly larger, straight
control wire. Stress-relieving is done after the wires are woven into the strand.
HIGH-TENSILE-STRENGTH
PRESTRESSING BARS
• High-tensile-strength alloy steel bars for prestressing are either smooth or deformed, and
available in nominal diameter from ¾ in. to 1 3/8 in. they must conform to ASTM standard A
722. Cold drawn in order to raise their yield strength, these bars are stress relieved as well to
increase their ductility. Stress relieving is achieved by heating the bar to an appropriate
temperature, generally below 500’C
STEEL RELAXATION
• Stress relaxation in prestressing steel is the loss of prestress when the wires or strands are
subjected to essentially constant strain. It is identical to creep except that creep is a change in
strain whereas steel relation is a loss in steel stress.
• The expression for stress relaxation in low-relaxation prestressing steel is
CORROSION AND DETERIORATION OF
STRANDS
• Protection against corrosion of prestressing steel is more critical than in the case of non-
prestressed steel. Such precaution is necessary since the strength of the prestressed concrete
element is a function of the prestressing force, which in turn is a function of the prestressing
tendon area.
• Another form of wire or strand deterioration is stress corrosion, which is characterized by the
formation of microscopic cracks in the steel which lead to brittleness and failure.This type of
reduction in strength can occur only under very high stress and, though infrequent, is difficult
to prevent.
ACI MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE
STRESSES IN CONCRETE AND
REINFORCEMENT
AASHTO MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE
STRESSES IN CONCRETE AND
REINFORCEMENT
PRESTRESSING SYSTEM AND
ANCHORAGES
1. Pretensioning
- Prestressing steel is pretensioned against independent anchorages prior to the placement of
concrete around it. Such anchorages are supported by large and stable bulkheads to support the
exceedingly high concentrated forces applied to the individual tendons.The term pretensioning
means pretensioning of the prestressing steel, not the beam it serves.
2. POST-TENSIONING
• In post-tensioning, the strands, wires, or bars are tensioned after hardening ofthe
concrete.The strands are placed in the longitudinal ducts within the precast
concrete element.The prestressing force is transferred through end anchorages
such as the supreme products chucks shown in fig. 2.24. the tendons of strands
should not be bonded or grouted prior to full prestressing.
2. POST-TENSIONING

Post-Tension Tendons on ConcreteSlab

3. JACKING SYSTEMS
• One of the fundamental components of a prestressing operation is the jacking system applied,
i.e., the manner in which the prestressing force is transferred to the steel tendons.
4. GROUTING OF POST-TENSIONED
TENDONS
• In order to provide permanent protection for the post-tensioned steel and to develop a bond
between the prestressing and the surrounding concrete, the prestressing ducts have to be filled
under pressure with the appropriate cement grout in an injection process.
4. GROUTING OF POST-TENSIONED
TENDONS
GROUTING MATERIALS

1.Portland cement
2.Water
3.Admixtures
DUCTS
1.Forming
a.formed ducts
b.cored ducts
2.Group or opening or vents
3.Duct size
4.Placement of ducts
GROUTING PROCESS
CIRCULAR PRESTRESSING
• Circular prestressing involves the development of hoop or hugging compressive stresses on
circular or cylindrical containment vessels, including prestressed water tanks and pipes.
TEN PRINCIPLES
THANK YOU!