ESTIMATING PRESTRESS LOSSES by Paul Zia, H. Kent Preston, Norman L. Scott, and Edwin B, Workman Equations for estimating prestress losses due to various eauses are presented for pretensioned and post tensioned members with bonded and unbonded tendons. ‘The equations are intended for practical design applica tions under normal design conditions as discussed in the commentary. Using the equations, sample computations Sre carried out for typical prestressed concrete beams Selected from. the literature. The comparison of the results shows fairly good agreement. Keywords: beams (supports, creep properties: triton: pos {eioning, prestressed conrees presiretsing. sees; preiress hoes; prelensonngs shrinkage: sires) relaxation, unbonded preseeasing Introduction ‘The prestressing force in a prestressed concrete member continuously decreases with time. The fac- tors which contribute to the loss of prestress are well known and they are clearly specified in the current Code.' The Code provisions for prestress losses (ACI 818-77, Section 18.6) are written both in performance language and in specific how-todo-it procedures for losses due to friction. Without de tailed analyses, design engineers are permitted to use lump sum loss values as suggested by the Code Commentary.’ These lump sum loss values were originally proposed by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads* and by the ACI-ASCE Committee 828.> Bx- periences have shown, however, that these lump sum values may not be adequate for some design conditions. More recently, design recommendations have been developed by others*7*%°" to implement the performance requirements of Section 18.6. Most procedures are relatively complex and convey the impression of an exactness that may not actually exist, The authors, members of ACI-ASCE Commit: tee 423, prepared this report as a means of obtain- Eo ing reasonably accurate values for the various code- defined sources of loss. A similar procedure was developed and adopted for use in bridge design."' It should be noted that the procedures described below are not intended for special structures such as water tanks, Computation of Losses Elastic Shortening of Conerete (ES) For members with bonded tendons, fp kop fe a S = KB ) in which K,, = 1.0 for pretensioned members K,, = 0.5 for post-tensioned members when tendons are tensioned in sequential order to the same ten- sion, With other post-tensioning procedures, the value for K., may vary from 0 to 0.9. fon = Keokge~ fy @ in which Ky. = 1.0 for post-tensioned members K.q. = 0.9 for pretensioned members. For members with unbonded tendons, k ES = KE, aay By in which fig = average compressive stress in the conerete along the member length at the center of gravity of the tendons immediately after the prestress has been applied to the conerete. Creep of Concrete (CR) For members with bonded tendons, E, = Kg EE fag~ fa 3) OR = Kp lar el é CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL/JUNE 1979 | |in whieh K, = 2.0 for pretensioned members K, = 1.6 for post-tensioned members For members made of sand lightweight concrete the foregoing values of K., should be reduced by 20 percent. For members with unbonded tendons, OR = K, lok ay Shrinkage of Concrete (SH) &, v SH » 82% 10° KyE, (1 ~ 0.06 -5)(100~ RH) (d) in which K, = 1.0 for pretensioned members Ky is taken from Table 1 for post-tensioned members. TABLE 1 — Values of K,., for post-tensioned members Time alter end of moist curing to application of restress, days 1 a Ka 0.82 0.85 Relaxation of Tendons (RE) RE = |K,~ J(SH+ GR + ESNC 6 in which the values of K,,, J and Care taken from ‘Tables 2 and 3. 5 0. ~_ TABLE 2 — i Kee and J ‘Type of tendon* 210 Grade stress-relieved strand or wire 20,000 0.16 250 Grade stress-relieved strand or wire 18,500 0.14 240 or 285 Grade stress- relieved wire 17,600 0.13 270 Grade _low-relaxation strand - 000,040 _ 250 Grade low-relaxation wire 4,630 _0.037, 240 or 285 Grade low. relaxation wire 4,400 0.035 145 or 160 Grade stress. relieved bar 6,000 0.05 ‘CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL/JUNE 1979 TABLE 3 — Values of © Biressrelieved bar Stress relieved low relaxation fil fp —_strand or wire strand or wire 0.80 1.28 0.79 122 0.18 116 oT Lu 0.76 1.05 015 1.45 1.00 om 1.36 0.95 073 127 0.90 o72 118 0.85 on 1.09 0.80 0.70 1.00 075 0.69 0.94 0.70 0.68 0.89 0.66 067 0.88 0.61 0.66 0.78 ost 0.65 0.73 0.58 0.64 0.68 0.49 0.63 0.63 0.45 0.62 0.58 061 0.53 0.60 0.49 Friction Computation of friction losses is covered in Sec- tion 18.6.2 of ACI 318-77" and its Commentary.’ When the tendon is tensioned, the friction losses computed can be checked with reasonable aecuracy by comparing the measured elongation and the prestressing force applied by the tensioning jack. Commentary Determination of loss of prestress in accordance with Section 18.6.1 of ACI 318-77 usually involves complicated and laborious procedures because the rate of loss due to one factor, such as relaxation of tendons, is continually altered by changes in stress due to other factors such as shrinkage and creep of concrete. Rate of creep is, in turn, altered by the change in tendon stress. Many of these factors are further dependent upon such uncertainties as material properties, time of loading, method of cur- ing of conerete, environmental conditions, and con- struction details, ‘The equations presented are intended for a reasonable estimate of loss of prestress from the various sources. They are applicable for prestressed members of normal designs with an extreme fiber compressive stress in the precompressed tensile zone under the full dead load condition ranging from 350 psi (2.41 MPa) to 1750 psi (12.1 MPa) us: ing a minimum concrete cyelinder strength f.’ of 4000 psi (27.6 MPa) and a unit. weight of conerete of at least 115 pef (1842.8 kg/m). For unusual design conditions, a more detailed procedure should be considered.* ‘Actual losses, greater or smaller than the estimated values, have little effect on the design 3strength of a flexural member with bonded tendons unless the final tendon stress after losses is less than 0.5 fy. However, they affect service load behavior, such as deflection and camber, connec- tions, or cracking load. Over-estimation of prestress losses can be almost as detrimental as under- estimation, since the former can result in excessive camber and horizontal movement. Careful consideration of losses may be required for simply supported, slender members which may be sensitive to small changes in deflections. For ex- ample, shallow beams supporting flat roofs may be subject to ponding if sensitive to deflection. Elastic Shortening of Concrete Prestress loss due to elastic shortening of con- crete is directly proportional to the concrete stra at the center of gravity of prestressing force im mediately after transfer. For example, for members of simple span, fo = Kebegt ~ ty Pret \_ i ‘The different values for the coefficients K,, and K,, account for the difference in the order of transfer, In applying Equation (2), the transformed section of 2 member may be used in lieu of the gross conerete section. : Ko [3 Creep of Concrete Part of the initial compressive strain induced in the concrete immediately after transfer is reduced by the tensile strain resulting from the superim- posed permanent dead load. Loss of prestress due to ereep of concrete is therefore proportional to the net permanent compressive strain in the concrete. For prestressed members made of sand lightweight concrete, there is a significantly larger amount of loss due to elastic shortening of concrete because of its lower modulus of elasticity, resulting in an overall reduction in loss due to ereep. This ef: fect is accounted for by a 20 percent reduction of the creep coefficient. For members made of all lightweight concrete, special consideration should be given to the properties of the particular lightweight aggregate used. ‘Unbonded Tendons Since an unbonded tendon ean slide within its duet, for most flexural members it does not undergo the same stress induced strain changes as the conerete surrounding it. For this reason, the average compressive stress, fi, in the concrete is suggested for use in evaluating prestress losses due to elastic shortening and creep of concrete. This pro- cedure relates the elastic shortening and creep of concrete prestress losses for unbonded tendons to the average member strain, rather than the strain at the point of maximum moment. The somewhat higher residual tensile stress in an unbonded tendon logically results in somewhat higher loss due to steel relaxation. Shrinkage of Conerete ‘Shrinkage strain developed in a concrete member is influenced, among ather factors, by its volume/surface ratio and the ambient relative humidity. This, the effective shrinkage strain cs is obtained by multiplying the basic ultimate shrinkage strain ¢ of concrete, taken as 850% 10, bythe factors U~ 0.06 V/S) and (1.5 ~ 0.015RH). Thus ee : aa s500 10 [1-008 fs-ensn] = 82x10" {10.08 4} [100 ~ xx) ‘The loss of prestress duo to shrinkage is therefore the product of the effective shrinkage cy and the modulus of elasticity of prestressing steel. The fac- tor_K, accounts for the reduction in shrinkage due tg Increased curing Period. SPEER be noted That for some lightweight con crete, the basic ultimate shrinkage strain cy may be greater than the value used here. In addition, ‘the following tabulated correction factors for the ef fect of the ambient relative humidity may be used in liew of the expression (1.5 ~ 0.015 RH}: Ave. Ambient RH (6) Correction Factor 40 50 60 0 80 90 100 Relaxation of Tendons Relaxation of @ prestressing tendon depends upon the stress level_in_the tendon. Basie relaxation values K,, for the different kinds of steel are shown in Table 2, However, because of other prestress losses, there is a continual reduction of the tendon stress, thus causing a reduction in relax- ation. The reduction in tendon stress due to elastic shortening of concrete occurs instantaneously. UR the Shee band [ the reduction ue to creep and shrinkage a place in a prolonged period of time. ‘The factot Equation (6) is specified to approx- imate these effects, Maximum Loss The total amount of prestress loss due to elastic shortening, creep, shrinkage, and relaxation need CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL /JUNE 1979 | | | \ |not be more than the values given below if the ten- don stress immediately after anchoring does not ex- coed 0.88 1, Maximum Loss psi (MPa) Normal Lightweight ‘Type of strand Conerete ___Coneret Stress relieved strand 50,000 (345) 65,000 (380), Low-relaxation strand 40,000 (276) 45,000 (311), Seating Loss at Anchorage Many types of anchorage require that the anchor: ing device “set” from 1/8 in, (3.2 mm) to % in. (6.4 mm) in order to transfer force irom the tendon to TABLE 4 — Ream data from reference 6 the concrete. The actual seating loss varies with field technique and anchor type. As the seating loss is small, it is not practicable to measure it with ac- curacy; therefore it is important to recognize the ef- fects of maximum and minimum values of seating loss. Usually long tendons with curvature will be unaffected by seating loss, since the required ten- don elongation generally necessitates stressing to the maximum initial value to overcome friction, For short tendons, however, the elongation correspond- ing to the range of stress of 70 percent to 80 per- cent of the ultimate is too small to nullify seating loss, and attempts to obtain the necessary elonga- tion would require exceeding the 80 percent limit with possible rupture of the tendon. Thus, the TT Deck width Transfer Cast «No, of Initial Beam Beam x thickness at deck strands stress fw fan, REE No, seetion weight (days) days) % in, Stk) (psi) (psi) % HG1 — AASHTOJI =~ No Deck 2 = 20 oie onl HG2 AASHTO —_96x8.800 1 %0 2 189162276580 HG3 AASHTO =—_60x5-310, 2M 90 2 189159829750 HG4 — AASHTOJ ~—_96x8-800 7 0 24 18972176180 HGS 811 Single Tee _98x2.200 2% 9% 2 389112569580 HGS 8 ft Double Tee 962.200 2M 90 24 189160069580 HGT —S4in. FBeam ——60x5.310 2% 9% 30 389155430980 HG8 8 It Single Tee 986x220 2% 90 12 205" 14696958 HG) = AASHTOJIT. 968-800, 2 90 24 205" 202076180 G10 54in.TBeam 968.800 2% 90 30 205" 1646 79880 “Low relaxation strand 28% 10" psi, E,, = 8.5 x10" psi and B, 2x 10° psi ‘TABLE 5 — Comparison of loss values based on proposed procedure with theoretical results obtained by Hernandez and Gamble (H & 6) Beam ES oR SH RE Total No. Method (psi _ (psi (psi psi) (psi Het Proposed 11288 18813 3473 14964 48598, HeG 9057 17656 3836 18699 49219 Hae Proposed 12976 1427 3473 15819 43695 HeG 10364 15827 3836 18085 47614 G3 Proposed 12768 17320 3683, 148s 52055 HaG 10202 25840 7195, 16743 59981 HG4 Proposed 13768 12800 3aT3 15494 5 Hee 10965 11793 3836 19370 45966 HOS Proposed ‘3000 5793 4022 1187 35042 HeG 8170 oat 5348 13949 41842 Hos Proposed 12800 12058 sort 15661 44591 HeG 11284 16069 5348 16840 49622 G7 Proposed 12492 16600 3600 15105 amm3t HeG 9984 17285 3128 18414 49408 Hos Proposed 11752 10820 4022 4154 0248 HeG 10295 16182 5348 4558 36993 G9 Proposed 16160 16787 3473 3720 40140 HeG 12816 19780 3835 4504 40996 HCO Proposed 13168 11933 3600 4070 san H&G 10552 15154 3895 4968 39910 CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL/JUNE 1979seating loss in short tendons should be deducted from the prestress that is applied to the tendon by the tensioning jack. Restraining Effect of Adjoining Elements Loss of prestress to adjoining elements of the structure must be properly evaluated. If a member is in contact with or attached to another member during the post-tensioning operation, there can be a transfer of prestressing force from one member to the other. After the structure is complete, there will be volume changes due to ereep and shrinkage of con- crete and to variations of temperature. If the member can not move freely to accommodate these volume changes, there will be a transfer of prestressing force from the prestressed member to the restraining member and a resultant. loss of prestress in the prestressed member. Sample Com) In order to assess whether the proposed equa- were found to be comparable to the field data ob- tained in their study. It can be seen that the com- parisons show fairly good agreement. ‘Additional sample computations have been car- ried out on selected double T beams listed in the PCI Design Handbook. The double T beam proper- ties are summarized in Table 6. The results are shown in Table 7. It is interesting to note that for those slender beams lie., 22 and S2) with very ‘small superimposed permanent load and under fair- ly low humidity, the total loss of prestress would be quite significant. With more superimposed per- manent load and/or higher humidity, the total prestress loss value is reduced. (Compare Sia and Sib with S1, or S2a and S2b with $2, or S3a with §3.] Comparison of S3a with S4 also shows that the total prestress loss value is somewhat increased for the beam made of lightweight concrete. TABLE 7 — Results of sample computations for pretensioned beams from PCI Design Handbook tions are appropriate for estimating prestress Beam 55 tg SH ee reel losses, the following sample computations have been N____(psil__ipsi]_(usl]_{psi)_ipsi) prepared for typical prestressed beams selected 21 6896 ©5698-6268 ITITL (86028 from the test program reported by Hernandez and 221606419618 1065918051 69881 Gamble.' The pertinent data regarding the beams 23 sige 5400 S40, 1781 22M are summarized in Table 4. With the procedures St SS described herein, the computed prestress loss S12 «(#9624680 0681 17H Na ete Sib 4852 4880941788887, values are compared with the theoretical values ob- S$)" yggsy)o7i83—«0d47~—«11921.——«65TBL tained by Hernandez and Gamble as shown in Table §mq_-—=—«y280«18083.=«=«10447=«13161— 58811 5. It should be noted that the theoretical predic- $2 16280»«18033«=« 524180844371 ions made by Hernandez and Gamble were based 83 2616 = 4093«=«524 «1800090829 on their revised rate of creep method treated as @ © S3a_—=«2816-—«=«9061_« 224188350496 step-by-step numerical integration procedure with St 56225486 «622417550 89882 short time intervals. The unit creep and shrinkage strains versus time relationships were | F-#. mi Bede based on the 1970 CEB recommendations which fer byte once Peer TABLE 6 — Beam data from PCI Desiga Handbook for sample computations —_—_— eee ‘Superimposed Initial Initial assumed Beam Beam Span prestress—stress_« «Bee. ©D.L.——permanent «= fy, fu, RH W/S No. See. tt) Py tkips) —_ftksi)__eGin.)__ibs/ft) load (ibs/ft)__(psi)_(psi)_(%)_(in.) zi BDT24 22808, ISB. 12 2 8500S a ) 173.9 189734188 56 20s TD 23 « sDTI2. ROBT feo) aii) | 20) 40 13-6878 1G si BOT? 28ST 19413298 0 ad 10 0) 16 Sia 8DTI2, 26 118.7 189418290 120 544178016 Sib sDT2 6 m8 9418209 120 Bu 7851.18 s2 sDT 724048. 9 «1365418 0 2035 40 0S Sta SDT 2 5048 91865418 120 2035 6155018 Se = DTA 2 4048 1891885418, 120 2085 «615151 83 SDT a2 115.7 1890123548 0 ea Ot 1) Sta DTA 21ST 19258 80 a2 2475S St SLDT 42 5 1891215820 80 502 17519 +e SSS % CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL/JUNE 1979Conelusions Simple equations for estimating losses of prestress have been proposed which would enable the designer to estimate the various types of prestress loss rather than a lump sum value. It is believed that these equations, intended for practical design applications, would provide fairly realistic values for normal design conditions. For unusual = stress loss due to clastic shortening of con- crete = stress in concrete at center of gravity of tendons due to all superimposed permanent dead loads that are applied to the member after it has been prestressed = net compressive stress in concrete at. center of gravity of tendons immediately after the prestress has been applied to the concrete. See Eq. (2) fox = average compressive stress in the concrete along The member longth at the center of gravity of the tendons immediately after the prestress has been applied to the concrete fy: = Stress in concrete at center of gravity of tendons due to P, design situations and special structures, more detailed and complex numerical analysis should be used. tion A, = area of gross conerete section at the cross section considered f, = stress in conerete at center of gravity of total area of prestressing tendons tendons due to weight of structure at time stress loss due to ereep of concrete prestress is applied a factor used in Eg, (5), see Table 8 fy, = stress in tendon due to Py, fy = Py:/Aye © = cecentricity of center of gravity of tendons if, = ultimate strength of prestressing tendon, psi with respect to center of gravity of concrete = moment of inertia of gross concrete section at the cross section considered at the cross section considered E, = modulus of elasticity of concrete at time J_ = a factor used in Bq. (5), See Table 2 prestress is applied Ku = a factor used in Eq, (2) E, = modulus of elasticity of concrete at 28 days “Ky = a factor used in Eq. (3) E, = modulus of elasticity of prestressing ten- Ky, = a factor used in Bq, (1) dons. Usually 28,000,000 psi K,, = a factor used in Eq, (5). See Table 2. Annual average ambient relative humidity (CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL /JUNE 1979 stMz = bending moment due to dead weight of member being prestressed and to any other permanent loads in place at time of prestressing Py © prestressing force in tendons at critical loca- tion on span after reduetion for losses due to friction and seating loss at anchorages but before reduction for ES, CR, SH, and RE, stress loss due to relaxation of tendons average relative humidity surrounding the conerete member. See annual average am- bient relative humidity map appended. stress loss due to shrinkage of concrete volume to surface ratio. Usually taken as gross cross-sectional area of conerete member divided by its perimeter. SH vs Lin, = 25.4 mm 1 ft = 3048 m 1 psi = .0069 MPa 1 ksi = 70.31 kgi/em? References 1. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-77,” American Concrete Institute, Detroit, 1977, 102 pp. 2, ACI Committee 818, “Commentary on Building Code Requirements for Reinforeed Conerete (ACI 318-77),” American Conerete Institute, Detroit, 1977, 192 pp. 3, ACLASCE Committee $23, “Tentative Recommenda tions for Prestressed Conerete,” ACI JOURNAL, Proceedings V. 54, No. 7, Jan. 1958, pp. 545.578, 4."Criteria for’ Prestressed Concrete Bridges,” U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of Public Roads, Washington, D.C., 1954, 25 pp. 5. Glodowski, R. J., and Lorenzetti, J. J., "A Method for Predicting Prestress Losses in a Prestressed Concrete Structures," Journal, Prestressed Concrete Institute, V. 17, No. 2, Mar-Apr. 1972, pp. 17-31 PACT Paul Zia is professor and head of the Department of Cl Engineer lng. North Carolina Stato University at Raleigh. He has boon an active ‘member and chairman of many ACT ‘committees including TAC and ACL SCH Conmitice 23," Prestressed Concrete, and ie curovity an AGT Adirctor and chains of ACEASCE Committee 445, Shear ‘and Torsion. ie has ‘authored ‘numerous papers tnd received many awards. ACI member H. Kent Preston is a Senior consultant with Wiss, Janney, Elstner and Associates, Ine, and 1s consultant to Florida Wire and Cable Company. He is a member of ACI ASCE Committee 428, Prestressed Conerete. Since 1950 he has authored and coauthored numerous publica tions in various professional journals and three textbooks on the sibject of prestressed concrete. 6, Hernandez, H. D., and Gamble, W. L., “Time. Dependent Prestress Losses in Protensioned Concrete Construetion,” Structural Research Series No. 411, Civil Engineering ‘Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana, May 1995, 171 pp. 7. Huang, T., “Prestross Losses in Pretensioned Con: erete Structural Members,” Report No. 339.9, Fritz Engineering Laboratory, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., Aug. 1973, 100 pp. 8. PCI Committee on Prestress Losses, “Recommenda- tions for Estimating Prestress Losses,” Journal, Prestressed Concrete Institute, V. 20, No. 4, July-Aug. 1915, pp. 43-75, 9.Sinno, Raouf, and Furr, Howard L. Functions of Prestress Loss and Camber.” ASCE, V. 96, ST4, Apr. 1970, pp. 603-821 10. Tadros, Maher K.; Ghali, Amin; and Dilger, Walter H,, “Time-Dependent Prestress Loss and Deflection in Prestressed Concrete Members,” Journal, Prestressed Conerete Institute, V. 20, No. 3, May-June 1975, pp. 86- 98 11. Standard Specifiestions for Highway Bridges, 12th Edition, American Association of State Highway and ‘Transportation Officials, Washington. D.C., 1977, 496 pp. 12. Grouni, H. N., “Loss of Prestress Due to Relaxation After Transfer,” ACI JouRNaL, Proceedings V. 15, No. 2, Feb. 1978, pp. 64-66. 18. “International Recommendations for the Design and Construction of Concrete Structures: Principles and Recommendations,” Comite Buropeen du Beton/Federa- tion Internationale de la Precontrainte. English Edition, Cement and Conerete Association, London, June 1970, 80 pp. 14, Branson, D. E., and Kripanarayanan, K. M., “Loss of Prestress, Camber and Deflection of Non-Camposite and Composite Prestressed Conerete Structures,” Journal, Prestressed Concrete Institute, V. 16, No. 5, Sept-Oct. 1971, pp. 22:52. “Hyperbolic Proceedings, Aecrved January 25, 1979, and reviewed under Inset publication FACI Norman L. Scott is president of the Consulting Engineers Group, Ine, Glenview, Il. He is currently chairman of the ACI Institute and Industry ‘Committee and is past chairman of ACFASCE Committee 423, Prestressed Gonerete, Edwin B. Workman is owner of Ed- workman, S. B. Structural Engineer, Ine., Canoga Park, Calif. He has been an ACI member since 1970 and is a member of ACEASCE Committee 423, Prestressed Concrete. (CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL/JUNE 1979