Prestressed Concrete

Structures
Module 2

Losses in Prestress
Prepared
P
d by:
b
Amlan K Sengupta
Devdas Menon
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Module 2-c (3rd Hour)

Losses of Prestress
Due to Creep of Concrete
Due to Shrinkage of Concrete
Due to Relaxation of Steel
Total Loss
Refined Time-dependent
p
Loss

Losses of Prestress
Introduction
The long-term time-dependent losses of prestress are
affected by material phenomena, such as creep and
shrinkage of concrete, and relaxation of steel.
The details of the material phenomena were explained
in the Module Introduction,, Prestressing
g Systems
y
and
Material Properties.

Loss of Prestress due to

Creep of Concrete

Creep of Concrete
Introduction
Creep of concrete is defined as the increase in
d f
deformation
i with
i h time
i
under
d constant load.
l d Due
D to the
h
creep of concrete, the prestress in the tendon is
reduced with time.

strain

cc, ult = ultimate creep strain

ci = initial elastic strain
t0

Time (linear scale)

Creep of Concrete
Introduction
The following considerations are applicable for
calculating the loss of prestress due to creep.
1) The creep is due to the sustained (permanently
applied) loads only. Temporary loads are not
considered in the calculation of creep.
2) Since the prestress and the eccentricity vary along the
length of the member, the stress in concrete can be
calculated either at the critical section, or an average
value can be considered.

Creep of Concrete
Loss of Prestress
Due to ultimate creep strain, under sustained loads (SL).
fp = Ep cc, ult
= Ep 0 ci,SL
= Ep 0 (fc,SL/Ec)
fp = m 0 fc,SL

(2 1)
(2c-1)

Ep = modulus of the prestressing steel

fc,SL = stress in concrete at the level of CGS, under SL.

Creep of Concrete
Loss of Prestress
For a flexural member, at the critical section

fc, SL

Pe Pee2 MSLe

A
I
I

Pe = effective prestressing force

MSL = moment due to sustained load

Creep of Concrete
Loss of Prestress
For calculating the stress in concrete (fc, SL) the value of
effective prestress (fpe) is required. However, the value is
not known before calculating the losses.
As a simplification, the prestress after short-term losses
can be used. This will give an upper bound estimate of
the loss due to creep.
p
Else, an estimate of fpe can be used. The calculations for
the loss can be revised based on updated value of fpe.
1. fpe 0.7 to 0.6 fpk
2. fpe 0.9 fpi (for pre-tensioned)
(for post-tensioned)
fpe fp0

Loss of Prestress due to

Shrinkage of Concrete

Shrinkage of Concrete
Introduction

Shrinkage sttrains

Shrinkage of concrete is defined as the contraction due

to loss
l
off moisture.
i
D to the
Due
h shrinkage
hi k
off concrete,
the prestress in the tendon is reduced with time.

cd

ca
ts

Time (linear scale)

Shrinkage of Concrete
Loss of Prestress
Due to ultimate shrinkage strain
fp = Ep cs

(2c-2)

Here, Ep is the modulus of the prestressing steel.

Loss of Prestress due to

Relaxation of Steel

Relaxation of Steel
Introduction
Relaxation of steel is 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.

Stres
ss

fp

Time (log scale)

Total Loss of Prestress

Total Loss of Prestress

Sum total
The following is an approximate method to calculate lump
sum estimate of the total loss
loss.
For pre-tensioned,
fp = fpES + fpC + fpS + fpR

(2c-3)

For p
post-tensioned,,
fp = fpES* + fpF + fpC + fpS + fpR
* If

(2c-4)

present due to sequential stretching

Total Loss of Prestress

Sum total
fpES = Loss due to elastic shortening (for pre-tensioned)
fpF = Loss due to the effects of friction and anchorage
slip at the critical section
fpC = Loss due to creep
fpS = Loss
L
due
d to
t shrinkage
hi k
fpR = Loss due to relaxation

Example 2c-1
A precast concrete joist of dimension 100 mm 300 mm is
post-tensioned with 5 straight wires of 7mm diameter. The
average prestress after short-term losses is 0.7fpk = 1200
N/mm2 and the age of loading is given as 28 days. Given
that Ep = 200 103 MPa,, Ec = 35000 MPa,, find out the
losses of prestress due to creep, shrinkage and relaxation.
Consider RH = 80% and h0 = 600mm. Neglect the weight of
the joist in the computation of the stresses.
100

300
50

CGS
Section at midspan

Solution
Area of concrete

A = 100 300
= 30000 mm2

Moment of inertia of beam section

I = 100 3003 / 12
= 225 106 mm4

Solution
Area of prestressing wires Ap = 5 (/4) 72
= 192.42 mm2
Prestressing force after short-term losses
P0 = Ap.fp0
= 192.4 1200
= 230880 N

10

Solution
Modular ratio

Stress in concrete
at the level of CGS

m = Ep / Ec
= 2 105 / 35 103
= 5.71
P0 P0 e

e
A
I
230880
230880

50 2
4
6
3 10
225 10

fc

= 7.69 2.56
= 10.25 N/mm2

Solution
Loss of prestress due to creep
fpC = m 0 fc
= 5.71 1.6 10.25
= 93.64 N / mm2
From table in IS 1343: 2012, 0 = 1.6 for loading at 28 days,
RH = 80% and h0 = 600mm.

11

Solution
From table in IS 1343: 2012, consider only drying
shrinkage strain for M50 grade of concrete, at RH = 80%.
cs = kh cdd
= 0.7 240 10-6
= 168 10-6
Loss of p
prestress due to shrinkage
g
fpS = Epcs
= 2 105 168 10-6
= 33.60 N/mm2

Solution
From Table 6, IS 1343: 2012, for regular steel
Loss of prestress due to relaxation
fpR = 3 5% of 1200 N/mm2
= 180.0 N/mm2

12

Solution
Loss of prestressing force = fp Ap
Therefore,
Loss of prestressing force due to creep = 93.64 192.42
= 18018.2 N
Loss of prestressing force due to shrinkage
= 33.60 192.42
= 6465.3 N
Loss of prestressing force due to relaxation
= 180 192.42
= 34635.6 N

Solution
Total long-term loss of prestressing force (neglecting the
interaction of the losses and prestressing force)
= 18018.2
18018 2 + 6465
6465.3
3 + 64635
64635.6
6
= 89119.1 N
Percentage loss of prestress = 89119.1 / 230880 100%
= 38.6 %

13

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Introduction
The losses of prestress due to creep and shrinkage of
concrete and the relaxation of the steel are all timedependent and inter-related to each other. If the losses are
calculated separately and added, the calculated total timedependent loss is over-estimated.

14

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Introduction
To consider the inter
inter-relationship
relationship of the cause and effect,
effect
the calculation can be done for discrete time steps. The
results at the end of each time step are used for the next
time step. This step-by-step procedure was suggested by
the Precast / Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
committee and is called the General method.
Reference:
PCI Committee, Recommendations for Estimating
Prestress Losses, PCI Journal, PCI, Vol. 20, No. 4, JulyAugust 1975, pp. 43-75.

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Procedure
In the PCI step-by-step procedure, a minimum of four
time steps are considered in the service life of a
prestressed member. The following table provides the
definitions of the time steps.
IIn each
h step,
t
the
th governing
i stress
t
is
i considered
id d to
t be
b
constant to calculate the increment of creep of
concrete. Similarly, the governing strain is considered
to be constant to calculate the increment of relaxation
of steel.

15

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Table 2c-1 Time steps in the step-by-step procedure
Step

Beginning

End

1.

Age of prestressing

2.

Pre-tensioned: Anchorage of
steel
Post-tensioned: End of curing
End of Step 1

3.

End of Step 2

30 days after
prestressing or
when subjected to
superimposed load
1 year of service

4.

End of Step 3

End of service life

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Variation of Stress in Steel
fp
fpi

fp

Elastic Shortening (Pre-tensioned)

fp0

Creep, shrinkage, relaxation

fpe

t0
t1

t2

t3

t4

Time (linear scale)

16

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Variation of Stress in Steel (discretised)
fp
fpi

fp

fp0
fpe

t0

t2

t1

t3

t4

Time (linear scale)

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Procedure
The step-by-step procedure can be implemented by a
computer program, where the number of time steps
can be increased.
This refined procedure is preferred in segmental
construction of bridges, where the segments are cast
and stressed at different stages.

17

Refined Time-dependent Loss

Concluding Remark
Engineering judgement should be exercised in the
calculation of loss of prestress. Refined calculations are
warranted only with appropriate information of the
variables involved. Following are the sources of
uncertainties in the calculations.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Variability
V
i bilit in
i the
th instantaneous
i t t
strengths
t
th off concrete
t
cast in different batches, in a single member.
Parameters are based on laboratory specimens.
Effect of conventional reinforcement in a member.
Restraints from supports and adjacent members.

Summary
Losses of Prestress
Due to Creep of Concrete
Due to Shrinkage of Concrete
Due to Relaxation of Steel
Total Loss
Refined Time-dependent
p
Loss

18