1

Prestressed Concrete
Structures
Module 2
Losses in Prestress
P d b Prepared by:
Amlan K Sengupta
Devdas Menon
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Module 2-c (3
rd
Hour)
Losses of Prestress
Due to Creep of Concrete Due to Creep of Concrete
Due to Shrinkage of Concrete
Due to Relaxation of Steel
Total Loss
Refined Time-dependent Loss p
2
Introduction
Losses of Prestress
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 Systems and , g y
Material Properties.
Loss of Prestress due to
Creep of Concrete
3
Introduction
Creep of concrete is defined as the increase in
d f i i h i d l d D h
Creep of Concrete
deformation with time under constant load. Due to the
creep of concrete, the prestress in the tendon is
reduced with time.
= ultimate creep strain
s
t
r
a
i
n
Time (linear scale)

cc, ult
= ultimate creep strain

ci
= initial elastic strain
t
0
Introduction
The following considerations are applicable for
Creep of Concrete
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.
4
Loss of Prestress
Due to ultimate creep strain, under sustained loads (SL).
Creep of Concrete
f
p
= E
p

cc, ult
= E
p

0

ci,SL
= E
p

0
(f
c,SL
/E
c
)
f f
(2 1)
f
p
= m
0
f
c,SL
E
p
= modulus of the prestressing steel
f
c,SL
= stress in concrete at the level of CGS, under SL.
(2c-1)
Loss of Prestress
For a flexural member, at the critical section
Creep of Concrete

e e SL
c, SL
P Pe M e
f
A I I
2
P
e
= effective prestressing force
M
SL
= moment due to sustained load
5
Loss of Prestress
For calculating the stress in concrete (f
c, SL
) the value of
Creep of Concrete
c, SL
effective prestress (f
pe
) 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 f
pe
can be used. The calculations for
the loss can be revised based on updated value of f
pe
.
1. f
pe
0.7 to 0.6 f
pk
2. f
pe
0.9 f
pi
(for pre-tensioned)
f
pe
f
p0
(for post-tensioned)
Loss of Prestress due to
Shrinkage of Concrete
6
Shrinkage of Concrete
Introduction
Shrinkage of concrete is defined as the contraction due
l f i D h h i k f to loss of moisture. Due to the shrinkage of concrete,
the prestress in the tendon is reduced with time.
t
r
a
i
n
s

cd
S
h
r
i
n
k
a
g
e

s
t
t
s
Time (linear scale)

ca
Shrinkage of Concrete
Loss of Prestress
Due to ultimate shrinkage strain Due to ultimate shrinkage strain
f
p
= E
p

cs
Here, E
p
is the modulus of the prestressing steel.
(2c-2)
7
Loss of Prestress due to
Relaxation of Steel
Relaxation of Steel
Introduction
Relaxation of steel is defined as the decrease in stress 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.
s
s
f
p
Time (log scale)
S
t
r
e
s
8
Total Loss of Prestress
Sum total
The following is an approximate method to calculate lump
sum estimate of the total loss
Total Loss of Prestress
sum estimate of the total loss.
For pre-tensioned,
f
p
= f
pES
+ f
pC
+ f
pS
+f
pR
For post-tensioned,
(2c-3)
p ,
f
p
= f
pES
*
+ f
pF
+ f
pC
+ f
pS
+f
pR
* If present due to sequential stretching
(2c-4)
9
Sum total
f
pES
= Loss due to elastic shortening (for pre-tensioned)
Total Loss of Prestress
pES
f
pF
= Loss due to the effects of friction and anchorage
slip at the critical section
f
pC
= Loss due to creep
f L d t h i k f
pS
= Loss due to shrinkage
f
pR
= 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 0.7f
pk
= 1200
N/mm
2
and the age of loading is given as 28 days. Given
that E
p
= 200 10
3
MPa, E
c
= 35000 MPa, find out the
p
,
c
,
losses of prestress due to creep, shrinkage and relaxation.
Consider RH = 80% and h
0
= 600mm. Neglect the weight of
the joist in the computation of the stresses.
100
300
50
CGS
Section at midspan
10
Solution
Area of concrete A = 100 300
= 30000 mm
2
Moment of inertia of beam section
I = 100 300
3
/ 12
= 225 10
6
mm
4
Solution
Area of prestressing wires A
p
= 5 (/4) 7
2
= 192.42 mm
2
Prestressing force after short-term losses
P
0
= A
p
.f
p0
= 192.4 1200
= 230880 N
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Modular ratio m = E
p
/ E
c
= 2 10
5
/ 35 10
3
= 5.71
Solution
5.71
Stress in concrete
at the level of CGS
2
6 4
0 0
50
10 225
230880
10 3
230880

e
I
e P
A
P
f
c
= 7.69 2.56
= 10.25 N/mm
2
Loss of prestress due to creep
f
pC
= m
0
f
c
Solution
= 5.71 1.6 10.25
= 93.64 N / mm
2
From table in IS 1343: 2012,
0
= 1.6 for loading at 28 days,
RH = 80% and h
0
= 600mm.
12
From table in IS 1343: 2012, consider only drying
shrinkage strain for M50 grade of concrete, at RH = 80%.
= k
h

d
Solution

cs
k
h

cd
= 0.7 240 10
-6
= 168 10
-6
Loss of prestress due to shrinkage p g
f
pS
= E
p

cs
= 2 10
5
168 10
-6
= 33.60 N/mm
2
From Table 6, IS 1343: 2012, for regular steel
Loss of prestress due to relaxation
2
Solution
f
pR
= 3 5% of 1200 N/mm
2
= 180.0 N/mm
2
13
Loss of prestressing force = f
p
A
p
Therefore,
Solution
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 6465.3 N
Loss of prestressing force due to relaxation
= 180 192.42
= 34635.6 N
Total long-term loss of prestressing force (neglecting the
interaction of the losses and prestressing force)
= 18018 2 + 6465 3 + 64635 6
Solution
18018.2 + 6465.3 + 64635.6
= 89119.1 N
Percentage loss of prestress = 89119.1 / 230880 100%
= 38.6 %
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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 time-
dependent and inter-related to each other. If the losses are
calculated separately and added, the calculated total time-
dependent loss is over-estimated.
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Refined Time-dependent Loss
Introduction
To consider the inter relationship of the cause and effect To consider the inter-relationship of the cause and 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, July-
August 1975, pp. 43-75.
Procedure
Refined Time-dependent Loss
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.
I h t th i t i id d t b In each step, the governing stress is considered to be
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.
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Step Beginning End
Refined Time-dependent Loss
Table 2c-1 Time steps in the step-by-step procedure
1. Pre-tensioned: Anchorage of
steel
Post-tensioned: End of curing
Age of prestressing
2. End of Step 1 30 days after
prestressing or
when subjected to when subjected to
superimposed load
3. End of Step 2 1 year of service
4. End of Step 3 End of service life
Refined Time-dependent Loss
Variation of Stress in Steel
f
p
Creep, shrinkage, relaxation
f
p0
f
pe
Elastic Shortening (Pre-tensioned)
f
pi
f
p
Time (linear scale)
t
0
t
1
t
2
t
3
t
4
17
Refined Time-dependent Loss
Variation of Stress in Steel (discretised)
f
p
f
p0
f
pe
f
pi
f
p
Time (linear scale)
t
0
t
1
t
2
t
3
t
4
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.
18
Refined Time-dependent Loss
Concluding Remark
Engineering judgement should be exercised in the 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.
V i bilit i th i t t t th f t 1. Variability in the instantaneous strengths of concrete
cast in different batches, in a single member.
2. Parameters are based on laboratory specimens.
3. Effect of conventional reinforcement in a member.
4. Restraints from supports and adjacent members.
Summary
Losses of Prestress
Due to Creep of Concrete Due to Creep of Concrete
Due to Shrinkage of Concrete
Due to Relaxation of Steel
Total Loss
Refined Time-dependent Loss p