PRESTR"ES$ED

CONCRTTE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

into a structurethat
of internalstresses
Prestressingcan be definedas the imposition
to thosethatwill be causedby the serviceor workingloads.
character
areof opposite

A rathercommonmethodusedto describe prestressing is shownin Figure1.1,wherea

row of bookshas beensqueezed togetherby a person's hands.The resulting"beam"
cancarrya downwardloadas longas the compressive stressdue to squeezing at the
bottomof the "beam"is greaterthanthe tensiletheredueto the moment produced by
the weightof the booksand the superimposed loads.Such a beam has no tensile
strengthandthusno momentresistance untilit is squeezed togetheror prestressed.

This ideacan be logically

expanded of a row of concreteblocks
to a beamconsisting
squeezed togetherandthento a plainconcrete tensilestrength
beamwith its negligible
similarlyprestressed.

force
Squeezing

of Prestressing
Figure/./ BasicPrinciple

L.2 HISTORICAL OF PRESTRESSING

DEVELOPMENT

of prestress
the concepts
formulated

concrete

E. Hoyer,G. Magnel,
E. Freysinnet,
F, Dischinger, andF'
Y. Guyon,P' Abeles,
Leonhardt
1.3 ADVANTAGES
OF PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE

1. relatively crackfreeunderserviceloads(prevents of steel,greater

corrosion
stiffness)
2. morepredictable thanordinaryreinforced
behavior concrete
3. efficientuseof highstrengthmaterials
4. increase shearstrength
5, highabilityto absorbenergy(Impactresistance)
6. highfatigueresistance dueto lowsteelstressvariation
7. highliveloadcapacity
B. permitspartialtestingof bothsteelandconcrete of prestress
duringapplication
9. requirelessconcrete thanstandarddesign
10,require lesssteelthanstandard design
11.longspans, shallow depths,lessdeflections
1 2 . l i g hdte a dl o a d s

PRE;TTLES6ED
L.4 PRESTRESSED
DISADVADDNTAGES CONCRETE
OFPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPRET}CONCRETE

1, stronger materials usedhavea higherunitcost

2. morecomplicated formworks maybe necessary
3. end anchorages and bHJKHGJGHearing platesarerequired
4. laborcostsaregreater
5. morecondition to be checkedin design
6. closercontrolin everyphaseof construction
is required
in securing
7. difficulty continuity
B. lackadaptabilityto in stress
reversal
9. effectof largemovingloads
10.carefuldemolition procedures

1.5 WITH REINFORCED

COMPARISON CONCRETE

In ordinaryreinforcedconcrete,it is assumed thatthe tensilestrengthof the concreteis

negligible
and discarded. Thisis because the tensileforcesresultingfromthe bending
momentsare resistedby the bondcreatedin the reinforcement process.Cracking and
deflectionare thereforeessentially irrecoverablein ordinaryreinforced concrete once
the memberhas reachedits limit stateat service load.With prestressed structural
member,permanent stressesarecreatedbeforethe full deadand liveloadsareapplied
in orderto eliminateor considerably reducethe net tensilestresses causedby these
loads.
Contrary to the actionof prestressing steel,the reinforcementin the reinforced
concretememberdoes not exert any force of its own on the member. The steel
requiredto producethe prestressing forcein the plestressed memberactivelypreloads
the member,permitting a relatively
highcontrolled recovery of crackinganddeflection,
Oncethe flexuraltensilestrengthof the concrete is exceeded, the prestressed
member
startsto act likea reinforcedconcrete element.
A structuralsystemcan be madeeitherflexibleor rigidwithoutinfluencing its
strengthby controlling the amountof prestress. In reinforced concrete,suchflexibility
in behavior is considerably of economy
moredifficultto achieveif considerations areto
in
be observed the design.Structures designed to withstand heavy vibrations,
such as
machinefoundations, can easilybe made rigid throughthe contribution of the
prestressing forceto the reductionof theirotherwise flexibledeformationbehavior.

1.6 ECONOMY
OF PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE

Prestressed members are shallower in depththantheirreinforced concreteounterpafts

for the samespanand loading conditions (usually65% to B0% of the depthof the
equivalent reinforcedconcretemember).Hence,the prestressed memberrequiresless
concrete, and about20 to 35 percentof the amountof reinforcement. Unfoftunately,
this saving in materialweight is balanced by the higher cost of the higherquality
materialsneededin prestressing. Also,regardless of the systemused,prestressing
operations themselves resultin an addedcost.Formworkis morecomplex,sincethe
geometryof prestressed sectionsis usuallycomposed of flangedsectionswith thin
webs.
In spiteof theseadditional costs,if a largeenoughnumberof precastunitsare
manufactured, the differencebetweenat leastthe initialcostsof prestressed and
reinforced concrete systems is usuallynotverylarge.Andthe indirectlong-term savings
are quite substantial,because lessmaintenance is needed,a longerworkinglife is
possibledue to betterqualitycontrolof the concrete,and lighterfoundations are
achieved dueto the smaller cumulative weightof the structure.
Oncethe beamspanof reinforced concreteexceeds20m to 27m, the dead
weight of the beam becomesexcessive,resultingin heavier membersand,
consequently, greater ling-termdeflectionand cracking.Thus, for larger spans,
prestressed concretebecomes mandatory, Verylargespanssuchas segmental bridges
or cable-stayed bridgescanonlybe constructed throughthe useof prestressing.

I.7 METHODS
TWOGENERAL OF PRESTRESSING

I. Pretensioning - the prestresstendonswere tensionedbeforethe concretewas

placed.After the concretehad hardenedsufficiently, the tendonswere cut and the
prestress forcetransmitted to the concreteby bond. This methodis particularly
well
suitedfor massproduction because the castingbedscan be conctructed for quitelong.
The tendonscan be run for the entirebed lengthsand usedfor castingseveralbeams
i n a l i n ea t t h es a m et i m e ,a ss h o w ni n F i g u r e
1.2,
 Figure/.2 Casting
Beds

Fora moredetailed of pretensioning,

illustration is madeto Figure1.3.It is
reference
assumedthatthefollowingstepshavebeentakenwithregardto thisbeam:

Cablestretchedand concreteolaced

Cablescut after concrete

gains sufficientstrength

Negativemomentproduced

Flgure/.-7 Pretensioning

1. Steelstrands(represented by the dottedlines)wereplacedin the lowerpartof

the beamform.
2. Thestrandsweretensioned to a veryhighstress.
3. The concretewas placedin the form and allowedto gainsufficientstrengthfor
the prestressed
strandsto be cut.
4. Thestrandswerecut.

Thecut strandstendto resumetheiroriginallength,thuscompressing the lowerpartof

the beamandcausinga negative bendingmoment,The positive momentcausedby the
beamweightand any superimposed gravity loads is opposed
directly by the negative
moment.Anotherway of explaining this is to saythat a compression stresshasbeen
produced in the bottomof the beamoppositein character to the tensilestressthat is
causedthereby the workingloads.
2. Postensioning- the tendonsare stressedafter the concreteis placedand has
gainedthe desiredstrength.Plasticor metaltubesor conduitsor sleeves or similar
deviceswith unstressedtendonsinside(or laterinserted)are locatedin the form and
the concreteplaced.After the concretehas sufficientlyhardened,the tendonsare
stretchedand mechanicallyattachedto end anchorage devicesto keepthe tendonsin
theirstretched Thusin posttensioning,
positions. the prestress
forcesaretransferred to
the concrete (See
by end bearing. Figure1.4)

Cablestretchedafter concrete

Cablesmechanically
attached
devices
to end anchorage

Figure /. 4 Posttensioning

It is actuallypossible in posttensioning
to haveeitherbondedor unbonded. If
bonded, the conduits are oftenmadeof aluminum, steel,or othermetalsheathing. In
addition, to usesteeltubingor rodsor rubbercoresthat are castin the
it is possible
concreteand removeda few hoursafter the concreteis placed.After the steelis
tensioned, cementgroutis injectedintothe ductfor bonding.If the tendonsareto be
bonded,they shouldbe greasedto facilitatetensioningand to protectthem from
corrosion.

Advantagesof Posttensioning:
1. concrete membercanbe usedto resistendreactions
2. lossof prestress dueto shrinkage eliminated
is largely
3, lesshighlystressed steelcanbe employed
4. magnitude of tensioncanbe controlledwithoutbeinginfluenced by shrinkage
5. largetensileforcescanbe usedwithoutdangerof slippage at or neartheends
of the reinforcement
6. the steelcanbe curvedor inclined

lng:
Disadvantagesof Posttension
1, coatingof reinforcementmaycauseslippage
2. formsare neededif steelareinseftedlater(cardboard tubes,
ducts,thin metallic
rubber"bars",hoses)
of endanchorage
3. details studied
shouldbe carefully
1.8 MATERIALS CONCRETE
USEDFORPRESTRESSED

The materials ordinarilyusedfor prestresed concreteare concreteand high-strength

steels,The concreteusedis probably of a higherstrength(4000psi to 8000psi)than
that usedfor reinforcedconcretemembersfor severalreasons,Theseincludethe
following:
1. The modulusof elasticity of suchconcretes is higher,with the resultthat the
elasticstrainsin the concretes are smallerwhenthe tendonsare cut, Thusthe
relaxationsor lossesin the tendonstresses aresmaller.
2. In prestressed concrete the entiremembers are keptin compression andthusall
the concreteis effectivein resistingforces.Henceit is reasonable to payfor a
moreexpensive but stronger concrete if all of it is goingto be used.(In ordinary
reinforcedconcrete members, morethanhalfof the crosssections are in tension
andthusassumed to be cracked. As a result,morethanhalfof a higher-strength
concrete usedtherewouldbe wasted.)
3. Higher-strength concretes permitthe use of higherbondstresses betweenthe
cablesandthe concrete.

Higher-strength steelsare necessary to produceand keepsatisfactory pre-stress

forcesin members. The strainsthat occurin thesesteelsduringstressing are much
greaterthan thosethat can be obtainedwith ordinaryreinforcing steels.As a result,
whenthe concreteelastically shortensin compression and alsoshortensdue to creep
and shrinkage, the lossesin strainin the steel(andthus stress)represent a smaller
percentageof the total stress.Anotherreasonfor usinghigh-strength steelsis that a
largeprestressforcecanbe developed in a smallarea.

Threeformsof prestressing steelare used:slnglewlres,wlre strands,and bars.

Thegreaterthe diameter of the wires,the smallerbecome theirstrengthsandbondto
the concrete. As a result,wiresare manufactured with diameters from 5mm up to a
maximumof 7mm. In postensioning work largenumbersof wiresare groupedin
parallelinto tendons.Strandsthat are madeby twistingwirestogetherare usedfor
mostpretensioned work.Theyareof the seven-wire type,wherea centerwireis tightly
surrounded aroundit. Strandsare manufactured
by twistingthe othersixwireshelically
with diameters frm 6mm to 12mm.Sometimes large-size, heat-treated
high-strength,
alloysteelbarsare usedfor posttensioned sections.Theyare availablewith diameters
running from20mmto 35mm,

AppropriateMaterlalsfor use ln PrestressConstructlon

1. Highstrengthbarswithfy = 517to 550MPa
2. Colddrawnwireswithfy = 1100to 1850MPa
3, Concrete withfc' = 28 to 55 MPa
1.9 PLR I N C I P L E S
FUNDAMENTA

at sectionof +M with P appliedat the centroid.

1. Stressanalysis
Conditlon
loads
Superimposed

f62)f11

a) stressdueto b) stressdue c) combinedstress

appliedloads to axialforceP
with P appliedat the centroid
Figure/.5Analysis

2. Stressanalysis
Condltion "e" belowthe
at sectionof +M with P appliedat distance
centroid.
loads
Superimposed

f.z >ftr
a) stressdueto b) stressdueto stress
c) combined
appliedloads forceP
eccentric
"e" bleowthe centroid
with P appliedat distance
Figure1.6 Analysis

2 is moredesirable
Note: Condition 1l
thanCondition
 OF CABLETO ACCOMPLISH
1.10 ARRANGEMENT PRESSURE
ECCENTRIC

P anda momentPeis developed

a) Directcompression the entirebeam
throughout

is constant
Flgurel,TEccentricity the beam
throughout

to zeroat the supports.Cablecurvein the formof a parabola

b) MomentPedecreases

Cableprofile(variableeccentricity)
Flgure1.8 Parabolic

is straightandpartis bentup abovethe centroidso as to

c) Partof the reinforcement
whenlarge
obtainpartof eachof the effectsshownin (a) and(b). Thisis suitable
movingliveloadsareapplied

Figurel.BParl is straightandpartis bentup

2.L STRESSCALCULATIONS

Fora consideration of stressesin a prestressedrectangular beam,reference is madeto

Figure2.1.Forthisexample the prestress
tendons areassumed to be straight,
although
it will later be shownthat a curvedshapeis more practicalfor most beams.The
tendonsare assumed to be locatedan eccentricdistance "e" belowthe centroidal axis
of the beam(denotedby a symbol "cgc").As a result,the beam is subjectedto a
combination of direct compression and a momentdue to the eccentricity of the
prestress, In addition, therewill be a momentdue to the externalloadincluding the
beam'sown weight. The resultingstressat any point in the beam caused by these
threefactorscan be wriftenas

.l =P- - P e c M c
AII

In Figure2.1a stressdiagram is drawnfor eachof thesethreeitemsandallthreeare

combined to givethe finalstressdiagram.

loads
Superimposed

P Pec Mc
+Pec/I AIi

-Pec/l P Pec Mc
AII
a) stressdueto P b) stressdueto Pe c) stressdueto d) resultantstress
appliedloads
Figure2./ StressCalculations

The usualpracticeis to basethe stresscalculationsin the elasticrangeon the

of the grossconcrete
properties Thismethodis considered
section. to givesatisfactory
resultsbecausethe changesin stressesobtainedif net or transformed propefties
are
usedareusuallynot significant.
Example 7. (Stress Calculations)
the stresses
Calculate in the top and bottomfibersat the centerlineand endsof the
beamshownin Figure2.2.
44 kN/m

il
._l]j.-l I
P=9B0kN
"=22;Fl'

Flgure2.2 ExampleI

Solution:

SectionPropefties:
300(600)3
I- = 5400x10u mmo
t2
A : 3 0 0 ( 6 0 0=
) 1 8 0 0 0 0m m 2

at Midspan:
Stresses
*u - 44(6)'=
M= 198kN.m
BB
fL, U^ P^A=I I- P * P e c - M c

f'to'_
- _eB0(10)3+
980(10)3(22sX300)_ le8(10)6(390)
l8oooo 5400(10)6 5400(10)6
ftop: -5'44 +12'25- 11= -4' 19 MPa

N=
-l-ry.ry
fbono'
AII
= -5'44 -12'25+ 11= -6'69 MPa
fbono'

at BeamEnds:
Stresses
P-Pec
f. r-o p= _
A I
f,^^: -5.44+72.25= 6.81MPa
F _PPec
rboftom__A_
I
= -5'44 -12'25 = -17'69 MPa
fbono'

10
2.2 PERMISSIBLE IN PRESTRESSED
STRESSES (Section418.5
CONCRETE
of NSCP)

418.5.1 Stressesimmediately transferbeforeprestress

afterprestress shallnot
losses,
exceedthe following:
1. Extreme = 0.60f.
fiberstressin compression
2. Extreme
fiberstress = 0.25Jf.,
in tension
3. Extremefiber stressin tensionin endsof simplysupportedmembers=
r=
0,5Jfd
Wherecomputed exceedthesevalues,bondedadditional
tensilestresses reinforcement
in
shall$rovided the tensile zoneto resist
the total force
tensile in concrete
computed
withthe assumotionof an uncrackedsection.

418.5.2 Stressesin concreteat serviceloads,after allowancefor all prestress

shallnot exceedthe following:
losses,
1. Extremefiberstressin comoressiondueto prestressplussustained loads=
0.4s1.
dueto prestress
fiberstressin compression
2. Extreme plustotalload= 0.60f.
tensilezone= 0.5r,4
fiberstressin precompressed
3. Extreme
4. Extreme fiberstressin precompressedtensilezoneof members,excepttwo-
way slabsystems, whereanalysisbasedon transformed crackedsectionand
on bilinearmoment-deflection showthat immediate
relationship and long-
timedeflections statedby the Code= 1.0{f.,
complywith restrictions

418.5.3 Permissible
stressesin concrete 418.5.1and 418.5.2maybe
of Sections
exceeded that
if shownby testor analysis performancewill not be impaired.

2.2 pTRMISSIBLE (Section418.6

TENDONS
IN PRESTRESSING
STRESSES
of NSCP)

stressin prestressing
418.6.1Tensile the following:
shallnotexceed
tendons

1. Dueto tendonjackingforce= 0.94fou

but not greater than the lesseyof 0.B0fo; and the maximumvalue
recommended by manufacturer of prestressing
tendons or anchorage
devices.
2. Immediately transfer= 0.B2fou
afterprestress
but notgreater
than0,74f0,,

11
 3, Post-tensioningtendons,at anchorage immediately
devicesand couplers,
=
afterforcetransfer 0.70f"

strengthof concrete
Note: f.,= cofilpressive at timeof initialprestress,
MPa
f. = specified
compressive strengthof concrete, MPa
fou= specifiedyieldstrengthof prestressingtendons,MPa
fo,= specifiedtensilestrengthof prestressingtendons,MPa

Example 2. (Stress Catcutations and Adeguacy of Beams in terms of the

allowable stresses)
A simplysuppofted rectangular prestressedbeamis 300x 600 mm in cross-section. It
is to carrya uniformlydistributed servicedeadloadof 3.16 kN/m and serviceliveof
8.64kN/min addition to its own weight,overa 12.00meterspan. The beamwill be
pretensioned with 7-wirestrandshavinga parabolic cableprofilewith an eccentricityof
225mm at midspan(SeeFigure2.3). The initialprestress =
forcePi 950 kN,andafter
lossesis reduced to P. = 760kN. Findthe concrete at midspan
flexuralstresses dueto,
a) Initialprestress plusself-weight,and
b) Due to effective prestressplusfull load.
service
Checkalsothe adequacy of the beamin termsof concrete stresses if fc' - 35 MPaand
fci'= 28 MPa'

at
Section
Midspan

[--]

4
lna I
*-ffi_l I
"=rrfi{"
H
300mm
Figure2.3 Example2

Solution:

Permissibleconcrete stresses:
f.' = -0.60f.'
= = -16'80 MPa
-0.60(28)
f , ,= 0 . 2 5 r [ = 0 . 2 5 \ E d =1 . 3 2M P a
= 2.65MPa
atends,[, :0.50fr = 0.50.,88
plussustained
prestress , f,, = -0,45f.= -0.45(35)= -15.75 MPa
loads

t2
 = -21.00MPa
plustotalload,f., = -0.60f.= -0.60(35)
prestress
fo= 0.50fr: o.50\,55
: 2.96MPa

Sectionpropefties:
area, A = 300(600)
Cross-sectional = 180000mm2
Moment : 5400x106
of ineftia,I = #(300X600)3 mma
I 5 4 0 0 1 1 0=61 8 0 0 0 x 1 0 '
S e c t i om S, 0=0 -
n o d u l u' cs3 mm3
At timeof initialprestress
at midspan:
Axialcompressive stressdueto initialprestressing
forceP,
t,=*=ffi:-5.2BMpa
of prestressing
flexuralstressdueto eccentricity force,
r,: !: n,1oJ?3tJt-9'
=111.BBMPa
S 18000x103
flexuralstressdueto self-weight:
w o : 2 3 . 5 ( 0 . 3 0 X 0 .=
604 ). 2 3k N / m
Mo= *wol2: +(4.23)(12.00)2 = 76.r4 kN-m

r,' :5S =19-119-19:

=;4.23
18000x10'
MPa
resultantstresses:
f,o,: -5.28+ 11.88- 4'23= +2.37MPa> 1'32MPaNO
f u o: t - 5 ' 2 8- 1 1 ' B B+ 4 . 2 3 : - l 2 . 9 3 M P a< 1 6 ' 8 0M P aO K

- 5 , 2 8M P a + 1 1 . 8 8M P a -4.23MPa +2.37MPa

+
Pi

-5.28MPa - 1 1 , 8M
8 Pa - 1 2 . 9 3M P a
+ 4 , 2 3M P a

a) stressdue to Pi b) stressdueto Pe c) stressdueto d) resultantstress

colf rnreinhf

Flgure2.4StressDiagrams

1J
 At timeof finalprestress
at midspan:

stressdueto effectiveprestressing
Axialcompressive forceP.
-P"
f,= 7 6 0 x 1 0 3=-4.22
a
MPa
f-: ffiffi
of prestressing
flexuralstressdueto eccentricity force,
f,=I =r9!!??s)2,
=+e50Mpa
18000x103
S
flexuralstressdueto totalserviceloads:
w s = 4 . 2 3+ 3 . 1 6+ 8 . 6 4 : 1 6 . 0 k3 N / m
Ms: iwrl2 : +(16.03x12.00)'z :288.54 kN-m

r,=5='98:?101t-9'
:+16.03
MPa
S 1 8 000x103
resultant
stresses:
f, o p= - 4 . 2 2+ 9 ' 5 0- 1 6 . 0 3: - 1 0 . 7 5 M P a < 2 1 ' 0 0M P a O K
f a o:r - 4 . 2 2- 9 , 5 0+ 1 6 , 0 3= 2 . 3 I M P a< 2 . 9 6M P a O K

-4.22 MPa + 9 . 5 0M P a - 1 6 . 0 3M P a - 1 0 . 7 5M P a

Ms
+(

-4.22MPa - 9 . 5 0M P a + 1 6 . 0 3M P a + 2 . 3 1M P a

a) stressdue to P, b) stressdueto le c) stressdueto d) resultantstress

totalserviceloads
Figure2.5StressDiagrams

Checkalsostresses
at supports:

At timeof initialprestress:
= -5'28 MPa < 16'80 MPa OK!
f,op= foonon.

At timeof finalprestress:
= -4'22 MPa < 16'80MPaOK!
f,oo= fuono.

I4
Prestressed
Concrete

Assignment1

of prestressed
a writtenrepofton the differentshapes
1. Prepare and
sections
discuss theirapplications
briefly

2. Prepare usedin
a writtenreporton the variousdetailsfor endanchorages
post-tensioned
beams anddiscuss theanchoringmechanism of each.
3. Assume a Lintee havingthe dimensions shownin figure.Thereare12 strands(A =
68 mm2each)havingtheir resultant 112.5mm abovethe bottomof the stemor
web. The tees are to be usedin a roof and spaced1.80metercenterto center.
Theyhavea spanof 14.00m andare simplysupported.The liveloadand roofing
are to be 2.4 kPa. Determine the extremefiber stresses at the time of transferof
stress,alsowith total load. Assumethat the strengthof onestrandat transferis B0
kN andthat the effective strenqthis 64 kN afterall losses.