MODULE IN PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN

Overview

Structural Engineering in this modern world tends to progress toward more economic
structures through gradually improved methods of design and the use of higher strength
materials. This results to the following: Reduction of Cross-sectional Dimensions and
consequent weight saving; and the significant savings can be achieved by the use of
High-Strength Concrete and Steel, in conjunction with present-day design methods.

This permit an accurate appraisal of member strength subject to the following

limitations: interrelated problems of cracking and deflection at service loads; the efficient use
of high strength steel is limited by the amount of cracking which is proportional to the strain,
and the stresses in steel. Slender members may permit deflections that are functionally or
visually unacceptable

Purpose of the Module

After a comprehensive readings and solving problems of this module, you will be able to:

1. Understand the behavior of prestressed beams under elastic and ultimate loading
conditions.
2. Calculate stresses due to bending, shear and torsion.
3. Calculate anchorage stresses and deflections of prestressed concrete beams.
4. Analyze the behavior of statically indeterminate prestressed concrete beams.

Module Title and Description

CE 511/CE 514: Elective I/Elective II – Prestressed Concrete Design:

This module is concerned with the elastic and ultimate strength analysis and design
of prestressed concrete structures. The course covers the calculations of stresses due to
bending, shear, torsion and anchorages, losses of prestresses and deflections. Behavior of
statically indeterminate prestressed concrete beams is also studied.

Module Guide

This module presents a discussion of some of the preliminary aspects of

structural elements of Prestressed Concrete and its structural analysis. The phases
of activity necessary to produce a structure are presented first, followed by an
introduction to the fundamental aspect of the basic type of structures, their
components, and supports. Finally a brief explanation is given of the various types of
loads that must be considered for an appropriate design and analysis. Thus,
Deductive Method of Presentation will be made in this module.

Moreover, this module provides you a discussion of the preliminary to other

intricacies, aspects of structural design – timber design and its analysis of structural
members subjected to flexural, compression and tension members, combined
stresses and connections. The phases of activity necessary to introduce the meaning
of the different terms applicable in the learning lesson of this module are presented
first, followed by an introduction to the fundamental aspect of the basic type of

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 structures, their components, and supports. Finally, a case study and the procedural
approach of the different structural elements and the analysis of the structure. Thus,
Deductive Method of Presentation will be made in this module. A Deductive Method
contains the following:
The Introduction
Giving the Concept or principle
The Explanation
Illustrative Problems
Application
Case study

Module Outcomes

In this module, after a comprehensible readings and analysis you will be able to
investigate the condition of the different structural elements of the structure using
prestressed concrete design structures such as bridges, buildings, and among others.

Module Requirement

You should submit all the Examinations and Requirements through online and
offline process of submitting the requirements through an account in e-mail/messenger and
municipal link. And after computing the ratings of the examinations and requirements you
should have obtained an average rating of 75% in all examinations and requirements.

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 Course Pretest

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CE 511/CE 514 (Elective II: Prestressed Concrete)

PRETEST EXAMINATION
1st Sem. 2020-2021
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Student ID No.: Name of Student: ________________________________

Date Received/Given : _______ Course & Year: ___________ Rating: ______________

GENERAL INSTRUCTION: Read and analyze each statement comprehensively.

I. In Multiple Choice, Encircle and Choose only the letter of the best answer. If an answer
is not listed among the choices given, write your answer before the corresponding
number/item. Questions requiring numerical computations must be accompanied by fully
illustrated solutions in order to credit your answer. Write your SOLUTION/S at the back
of the Answer Sheet. Strictly NO ERASURE. Use Only Black Pen.

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

1. In the General Principle of Prestressing, prestressing in its simplest form, can be

illustrated by considering a simple prismatic member which is rectangular in cross
section pre-stressed by a concentric force. Which of the following member is referring
to?
a. Compressive Member
b. Flexural Member
c. Tension Member
2. It is a form of concrete used in construction which is "pre-stressed" by being placed
under compression prior to supporting any loads beyond its own dead weight.?
a. Post Tensioning
b. Pre-Tensioning
c. Prestressed Concrete Design
3. Applies a precompression to the member that reduce or eliminates undesirable tension
tensile stresses.
a. Pretensioning
b. Prestressing
c. Prestressed Concrete
4. The tendons are stressed before the concrete is placed. This system is well suited for
mass production, since casting beds can be made several hundred ft. long, and the
entire length cast at once, and individual beam cut to the desired length from the long
casting.
a. Post-tensioning
b. Prestressing
c. Pre-tensioning
5. It is readily seen that if the flexural tensile stress in the bottom fiber, due to dead and live
load are to be eliminated, the uniform compressive stress due to prestressing must be
equal to the sum of these stresses.
a. Tensile
b. Compressive
c. Load

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6. The effects of prestressing are at least three ways to look at the prestressing of
concrete, except of:
a. Non-Equivalent Loads
b. Concrete Stress Control
c. A Special Variation of Reinforced Concrete
7. In Concrete Stress Control by Prestressing under axially prestressed beam, which of
the following load can be adjusted in magnitude so that when the traverse load is
applied, the superposition of stresses due to longitudinal axial force and transverse load
will result in zero tensile stress on the bottom of the beam.
a. Force
b. Compressive Stress
c. Cross Sectional Area of concrete
8. Refers to the change of in strain for a member held under constant stress.
a. Shrinkage
b. Yield Strength
c. Creep
9. Based on ACI Code 318-95, the permissible stresses in prestressing tendons, the
tensile stress in prestressing tendons shall not exceed post-tensioning tendons at
anchorages and couplers, immediately after tendon anchorage.
a. 0.70 fpu
b. 0.70 fpy
c. 0.70 fps
10. Which of the following is the reason for the immediate reduction of the jacking force to
initial prestress force?
a. Elastic Shortening of Concrete upon transfer
b. Elongation of transfer of Concrete.
c. Shrinkage and Relaxation of stress in the steel
11. The magnitude of the prestresss force, P, is not constant due to this reason:
a. Concrete creep under the sustained prestress force, concrete shrinkage, and
relaxation of the stress in the steel.
b. The jacking force is immediately enlarged to the initial prestress force.
c. Applied with eccentric below the centroid of the cross section area.
12. Refers to the classification of prestressing system in which the tendons are tensioned
after the concrete is placed and has acquired its strength.
a. Pretensioning
b. Prestressing of Concrete
c. Post-tension
13. Which of the following ranges of loss of prestress due to effect of steel relaxation and
shrinkage and creep of concrete?
a. 0 % to 30%
b. 10% to 30%
c. 30% to 50%
14. It is the loss of stress in a material that is placed under stress and held at a constant
strain.
a. Relaxation
b. Shrinkage
c. Creep
15. The occurrence of creep for a member held under constant stress is the change
of________.
a. Yield Strength
b. Stress
c. Strain
16. Wrote that the idea of prestressing which were devoted on the one hand to reinforced
concrete and on the systematic study of spontaneous or provoked deflection in
structures

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 a. Eugene Freyssinet
b. Peter H. Jackson
c. Thomas A. Lee
17. Which of the following forces of prestressing of concrete in which the forces allows
introduced the structure to counter the loadings which will apply in-service?
a. Applied Forces
b. Prestressing Stress Forces
c. Load-Balancing Forces
18. In conventional reinforced concrete beam subjected to an external load produces both
tension and compressive stresses. Which of the following location of concrete can resist
compressive stress?
a. Above the Neutral Axis
b. Below the Neutral Axis
c. Both a and b
19. Rules and requirements for the detailing of reinforcement and prestressing tendons are
specified by individual national codes and Standards, the following are the governing
code for prestressing, except
a. European Standard EN 1992-2:2005 – Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete
Structures,
b. US Standard ACI 318: Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete
c. Australian Standard AS 7200-2017: Structures
20. Permissible Stress in Concrete-Flexural Members, stress in concrete after prestress
transfer (before the time-dependent prestress losses) for extreme fiber stress in
compression shall not exceed
a. 0.60 fc’
b. 1/0.60 fc’
c. 0.60 √fc’
21. What is the maximum permissible stress in prestressing tendons due to tendon jacking
force?
a. 0.94 fpu
b. 0.94 fpy
c. 0.94 fps
22. Prestressed concrete member can be defined as one in which there have been
introduced internal stresses of such magnitude and distribution that the stresses
resulting from the given loading are counteracted to a design degree. Which of the
following load is pertaining to?
a. External Load
b. Internal Load
c. Excess Load
23. In the effect of prestressing, one of the aspect that to look into at the prestessing of
concrete is special variation of reinforced concrete. Which of the following is used?
a. Prestrained High-Strength Steel
b. Prestrained High-Strength Concrete
c. Prestrained High-Strength Reinforced Concrete
24. The equation of axially prestressed beam
𝑃
a. 𝑓𝑐 =
𝐴𝑐
6𝑀
b. 𝑓𝑐 = 𝑏𝑑
𝑃 6𝑒
c. 𝑓𝑐 = 𝐴𝑐 [ 1 − 𝑑 ]
25. Which of the following is the value of axial force for eccentricity prestressed beam?
a. 2fc’
𝑃 𝑃𝑒𝐶𝑧
b. 𝐴𝑐 + 𝐼𝑐 ]
c. Both a and b

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Key Terms

Elective, Prestressed Concrete, Prestressed Concrete Design, Structural Analysis

Activating Student Schemata

Prestressed concrete is a highly versatile construction material as a result of it

being an almost ideal combination of its two main constituents: high-strength steel, pre-
stretched to allow its full strength to be easily realised; and modern concrete, pre-
compressed to minimise cracking under tensile forces. Its wide range of application is
reflected in its incorporation into the major design codes covering most areas of structural
and civil engineering, including buildings, bridges, dams, foundations, pavements, piles,
stadiums, silos, and tanks.

Building Structures:
Building structures are typically required to satisfy a broad range of structural,
aesthetic and economic requirements. Significant among these include:
 a minimum number of (intrusive) supporting walls or columns;
 low structural thickness (depth), allowing space for services, or for additional
floors in high-rise construction;
 fast construction cycles, especially for multi-storey buildings;
 and a low cost-per-unit-area, to maximise the building owner's return on
investment.

The prestressing of concrete allows "load-balancing" forces to be introduced into the

structure to counter the loadings which will apply in-service. This provides many benefits to
building structures:
 Longer spans for the same structural depth
Load-balancing results in lower in-service deflections, which allows spans to
be increased (and the number of supports reduced) without adding to
structural depth.

 Reduced structural thickness

For a given span, lower in-service deflections allows thinner structural
sections to be used, in turn resulting in lower floor-to-floor heights, or more
room for building services.

 Faster stripping time

Prestressed concrete building elements are fully stressed and self-supporting
within five days. At this point they can have their formwork stripped and re-
deployed to the next section of the building, accelerating construction "cycle-
times".

 Reduced material costs

The combination of reduced structural thickness, reduced conventional
reinforcement quantities, and fast construction often results in prestressed
concrete showing significant cost benefits in building structures compared to
alternative structural materials.

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LEARNING PLAN:

In this module, you will learn on how to apply the prestressed concrete design
through deductive method which focuses in the learning lesson for every module.

The Introduction Provides the overview of the topic or the

learning lesson of the module

Giving the concept of Learn the principle on what formula,

Principle equation, and methods to be used

The Explanation Discuss the process of the given sample

problem in response to the given example or
sample problem/s.

Illustrative Problems Show on how to give solution to the given

problem

Application Apply the different approach of solving the

problem to provide application in various
structural members of the structure.

Case Study Learn to provide showcase application to the

structural members of the structure.

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 MODULE 1:

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESTRESSED

AND REINFORCED CONCRETE

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

 Define Prestressed Concrete

 Learn the history of Prestressed Concrete
 Understand the behavior of prestressed beams under elastic and
ultimate loading conditions.
 Determine the sources of Prestressed Concrete

Introduction

1.1 What is Prestressed Concrete ?

A Prestressed Concrete is a highly versatile construction material as a result of it
being an almost ideal combination of its two main constituents: high-strength steel,
pre-stretched to allow its full strength to be easily realised; and modern concrete,
pre-compressed to minimise cracking under tensile forces. Its wide range of application is
reflected in its incorporation into the major design codes covering most areas of structural
and civil engineering, including buildings, bridges, dams, foundations, pavements, piles,
stadiums, silos, and tanks.

Can you define Prestressed Concrete Design?

What are the advantage of using Prestressed Concrete Design?
In your own understanding, what is the general principle of Prestressing in
Prestressed Concrte Design?

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN

 a form of concrete used in construction which is "pre-stressed" by being placed under

compression prior to supporting any loads beyond its own dead weight.

 used in a wide range of building and civil structures where its improved performance
can allow longer spans, reduced structural thicknesses, and material savings
compared to simple reinforced concrete.

 Prestressed concrete member can be defined as one in which there have been
introduced internal stresses of such magnitude and distribution that the stresses
resulting from the given external loading are counteracted to a design degree.

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  Defined as one in which there have been introduced internal stresses of such
magnitude and distribution that the stresses resulting from the given external loading
are counteracted to a desired degree.

Prestressing – applies a pre-compression to the member that reduces or eliminates

undesirable tensile stresses that would otherwise be present.

 Cracking under service loads can be minimized or even avoided entirely.

 Deflections may be limited to an acceptable value, or zero deflection.
 Permit the engineer to make use of efficient and economical high –
strength steels in the form of strands, wires or bars in conjunction with
high – strength concrete.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF PRESTRESSING

Prestressing, in its simpliest form, can be illustrated by considering a simple prismatic

flexural member which is rectangular in cross section pre-stressed by a concentric force. It is
readily seen that if the flexural tensile stress in the bottom fiber, due to dead and live load are to be
eliminated, the uniform compressive stress due to prestressing must be equal in magnitude to the
sum of theses tensile stresses.

Activity # 1

ESSAY. Write your answer in separate sheet of paper

Question:HOW DOES THE PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN
DIFFERS TO CONVENTIONAL REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
IN TERMS OF STRESSES SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL LOAD?

1.2 HISTORY OF PRESTRESS CONCRETE DESIGN

Here are the summary of the Brief History of Pretressed Concrete Design:

HISTORY OF PRESTRESS CONCRETE DESIGN

Brief history of Prestressed Concrete Designs:

Significant Events Person Involved

Period/Date
Twelfth Century -Thousands of years after those early structures were
constructed, another powerful instance of a pre-
stressed structure was achieved: the construction of
the first sailboat (likely Egyptian) in which the mast
was pre-stressed and stabilized by pre-tensioned

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 stays.
-Masonry arches tied with wooden posts( Kairouan
orUqba, Mosque, 9th AD) or iron rods (Lombard
medieval churches, such as Parma Cathedral.
1784 – 1864 FIRST PRE-STRESSED TIMBER STRUCTURES Stephen Harriman
- The first structural engineer of the United Long
States when he participated in the design and
construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Shortly after becoming interested bridge
construction (1827), Long built an indegnious
prestressed truss timber bridge in Baltimore in 1829.
1836 – 1848 PRESTRESSED CAST IRON STRUCTURES IN EUROPE: Robert Stephenson
- The first European prestressed structures George Parker Bidder
designed by engineers appear to have been cast iron Charles Blacker Vignoles
trussed compound girders for bridges designed and Stephenson
built around 1836 to 1839.
- Although those early bridges were not
designed correctly and should be classified as first-
age structures, their development was closely related
to the first European second-age prestressed
structures explained in the following paragraphs.
Those compound trusses were composed of three
cast-iron truss segments joined by bolts and
prestressed externally by flat wrought-iron ties
working as polygonal tendons.
1840 – 1845 FIRST PRESTRESSED CAST IRON STRUCTURES IN THE SQUIRE WHIPPLE
UNITED STATES
- The idea of prestressing cast iron was not
unique to Great Britain. Less than five years after the
first prestressed cast-iron bridges were built in
Europe, Squire Whipple developed his own original
system in the United states. His proposal, first
designed in 1840 and patented soon after.
- Whipple’s bridges (some of them still
standing) are supported by arches trusses with or
without vertical posts and cross braces and ties. The
upper chord is an arch made of cast-iron segment
bolted together, and the lower chord a straight
wrought-iron tendon. One of the most interesting
features of this bridge is that the tendon is tightened
by pre-compressing the vertical posts (or braces if
there are no posts) so that they push away the
tendon to give it a polygonal layout.
1858 – 1888 PETER H. JACKSON’S ADVANCEMENTS PETER H. JACKSON
- Jackson is traditionally cited as the first
engineer to patent prestressed concrete structures,
even though his patents are not those of an engineer,
designed under efficient and rational mechanical
criteria.
- He was likely inspired by metal trusses, and if
he knew about prestressed trusses, those of Whipple

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 were likely to be his mind because they were among
the most popular when he started patenting his
prestressed system.
1890 – 1894 THOMAS A. LEE’S ADVANCEMENTS THOMAS A. LEE
- Lee secured a patent for flat floors made of
prestressed masonry of hollow blocks. The system
was advantageous mainly because of its fireproof
qualitites, similar to Jackson in 1972, which is why the
blocks in his drawings look like tiles.
1903 – 1908 FREYSSINET and an idea of prestress as an asset EUGENE FREYSSINET
- Freysinnet wrote that the idea of prestressing
came to him in 1903 or 1904 as a student during the
lectures of Rabut, which were devoted on the one
hand to reinforced concrete and, on the other hand,
to the systematic study of spontaneous or provoked
deflection in structures.
1889 – 1912 VERIFICATION OF SHRINKAGE AND THE FIRST ARMAND CONSIDERE
ATTEMPT TO CONTROL IT
- The shrinkage of unreinforced cement and
other hydraulic materials began long before
reinforced concrete was invented, the first relevant
report on shrinkage in reinforced concrete
1905 – 1937 THE SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF CREEP FRANCOIS MERCIER
- Although shrinkage was soon accepted by
scientists and engineers, the path to general
acceptance was far more complicated for creep.
- The contractor, whom Freyssinet worked for,
became completely devoted to an audacious project
that the 28-year-old engineer had designed, as only a
fantasy, to replace an old, damaged suspension
bridged over the Allier River in Boutiron.
1928 – 1936 FREYSSINET DEVOTES HIS LIFE EXCLUSIVELY TO EUGENE FREYSSINET
PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
- Once Freyssinet tests for Plougastel were
well advanced and he felt able to control the
consequences of creep, he made a dramatic decision
in October 1928 that would change his career and the
history of construction.
- The recommendation to use high-quality
concrete (one of his very important contributions)
and very high strength steel (wires), a variety of
methods to tension the wires.
1937 – 1940 THE EXPANSION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE IN EWALD HOYER
EUROPE DUE TO THE WAR
- Failed to decade before in his attempts with
prestressed concrete beams at Magdebourg, was
now encouraged by Freyssinet’s successes. That year,
in Austria and Germany, he secured for patents on
precasting prestressed concrete beams and similar
those described in Freyssinet patent.
1940 – 1950 THE 1st WAVE OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

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 ADVANCEMENT IN EUROPE AFTER THE WAR
1950 – 1955 THE 2nd WAVE OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE GUSTAV MAGNEL
EXPANSION IN EUROPE AFTER THE WAR

Civil Structures:
Bridges
Of the wide range of alternative methods and materials that are available for
the construction of bridges, concrete remains the most popular structural material,
and prestressed concrete in particular is frequently adopted.

In short-span bridges (~10-40m spans), prestressing is commonly employed

in the form of precast pre-tensioned girders or planks;[35] for medium-length
structures (~40m-200m spans), precast-segmental, in-situ balanced-cantilever and
incrementally-launched designs are all efficiently constructed using
prestressing;[36] while for the longest bridges, prestressed concrete deck structures
often form an integral part of cable-stayed designs.

Dams
Concrete dams have used prestressing to counter uplift and increase their
overall stability since the mid 1930s. Prestressing is also frequently retro-fitted as part
of dam remediation works, such as for structural strengthening, or when raising crest
or spillway heights.

Most commonly, dam prestressing takes the form of post-tensioned anchors

drilled into the dam's concrete structure and/or the underlying rock strata. Such
anchors typically comprise tendons of high-tensile bundled steel strands or individual
threaded bars. Tendons are grouted to the concrete or rock at their far (internal) end,
and have a significant "de-bonded" free-length at their external end which allows the
tendon to stretch during tensioning. Tendons may be full-length bonded to the
surrounding concrete or rock once tensioned, or (more commonly) have strands
permanently encapsulated in corrosion-inhibiting grease over the free-length to
permit long-term load monitoring and re-stressability.

Silos and tanks:

Circular storage structures such as silos and tanks can use prestressing
forces to directly resist the outward pressures generated by stored liquids or bulk-
solids. Horizontally curved tendons are installed within the concrete wall to form a
series of "hoops" spaced vertically up the structure. When tensioned, these tendons
exert both axial (compressive) and radial (inward) forces onto the structure, which
can be used to directly oppose the subsequent storage loadings. If the magnitude of
the prestress is designed to always exceed the tensile stresses produced by the
loadings, a permanent residual compression will exist in the wall concrete, assisting
in maintaining a watertight, crack-free structure under all storage conditions.

Nuclear and blast-containment structures

Prestressed concrete is long-established as a reliable construction material

for high-pressure containment structures such as nuclear reactor vessels and
containment buildings, and petrochemical tank blast-containment walls. Using
prestressing to place such structures into an initial state of bi-axial or tri-axial
compression increases their resistance to concrete cracking and leakage, while
providing a proof-loaded, redundant and monitorable pressure-containment system.

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 Nuclear reactor and containment vessels will commonly employ separate sets
of post tensioned tendons curved horizontally or vertically to completely envelop the
reactor core, while blast containment walls for LNG tanks and similar will normally
utilise layers of horizontally-curved hoop tendons for containment in combination with
vertically looped tendons for axial wall prestressing.

Hardstands and pavements

Heavily loaded concrete ground-slabs and pavements can be sensitive to

cracking and subsequent traffic-driven deterioration. As a result, prestressed
concrete is regularly used in such structures as its pre-compression provides the
concrete with the ability to resist the crack-inducing tensile stresses generated by in-
service loading. This crack-resistance also allows individual slab sections to be
constructed in larger pours than for conventionally reinforced concrete, resulting in
wider joint spacings, reduced jointing costs and less long-term joint maintenance
issues.

Some notable civil structures constructed using prestressed concrete

include:

Incheon Bridge
South Korea Autobahn A73
Itz Valley,
Gateway Bridge Ostankino Tower CN Tower
Germany
Brisbane, Aust. Moscow, Russia Toronto, Canada

Roseires Dam
Ad Damazin,
Sudan Wanapum Dam
Norcem silos Washington, US Ringhals nuclear
LNG tanks plant
Brevik, Norway
South Hook, Videbergshamn,
Wales Sweden

Activity # 2

ESSAY. Write your answer in separate sheet of paper

Question:
HOW DOES THE PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN DIFFERS
TO CONVENTIONAL REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN IN TERMS OF
STRESSES SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL LOAD?

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1.3 EFFECT OF PRESTRESSING

There are at least three ways to look at the Prestressing of Concrete:

1. As a method of achieving Concrete Stress Control, by which the concrete is

precompressed so that tension normally resulting from the applied loads is reduced
or eliminated.

2. As a means for introducing Equivalents loads on the concrete member so that the
effects of the applied loads are counteracted to the desire degree.

3. As a special variation of reinforced concrete in which prestrained high-strength

steel is used, usually the conjunction with high-strength concrete.

Note: Each of these viewpoints is useful in the analysis and design of prestressed Concrete Structures

Each of these viewpoints is useful to you in the analysis and design of prestressed concrete
structures.

A. CONCRETE STRESS CONTROL BY PRESTRESSING

(a) Unreinforced concrete beam

(plain concrete beam)

 Neglecting ‘self-weight’, and as the load w is gradually applied, longitudinal flexural

stress are induced. If the concrete is stressed only within its elastic range, the flexural
stress distribution at middle span will be linear as shown.

Fr = tensile strength of concrete

as tensile stress reach f r, crack will form and the beam will collapse without further
increase of load.

(b) Axially Prestressed Beam

𝑃
Where: fc = 𝐴
𝑐

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 P = Longitudinal Axial Force
Ac = Cross Sectional area of concrete
fc = Compressive Stress
Q = Transverse Load
 The force P can be adjusted in magnitude so that, when the transverse load Q is
applied, the superposition of stresses due to P and Q will result in ZERO tensile
stress at the bottom of the beam as shown.
 Tensile stress in the concrete be eliminated in this way or reduced to a specified
amount.

(c) Eccentrically Prestressed Beam

 The stress (applied eccentric load) at the bottom will be exactly twice the value
produced before by axial prestressing.

 For a beam with rectangular cross section, the point of application of the prestressing
force should be at the lower third point of the section depth.

e = eccentricity relative to the concrete centroid

Axial Stress = 2fc

𝑃 𝐶2
= 𝐴 + 𝑃𝑒
𝑐 𝐼𝑐

Where: fc = concrete compressive stress

𝐶2 = Distance from concrete centroid to the bottom of the beam
𝐼𝑐 = moment of inertia of the cross section
 Consequently, the beam capacity will also be twice the value produced before in
axial prestressing on 2Q and still cause no tensile stress.

(d) Beam with variable eccentricity

 The load 2Q produces bending moment that varies linearly along the span, from zero
at the supports to maximum at the middle span.

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 (e) Balanced load stage for beam with variable eccentricity

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Prestressing can control or even eliminate concrete tensile stress for specified
loading.
2. Eccentric prestress is usually much more efficient than concentric prestress.
3. Variable eccentricity is usually preferable to constant eccentricity, from the viewpoints
of both stress control and deflection control.

B. EQUIVALENT LOADS

 P sinƟ = vertical component

 P cosƟ = Horizontal ≈ P for usual flat slope angles
 Sin Ɵ = tan Ɵ (for flat slope)

 A tendon with a parabolic profile will produce a uniformly distributed load. In this
case, the moment diagram will be parabolic, as for uniformly loaded simple span.
 The exact distribution of the load depends on the profile of the tendon.

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  There are no vertical forces on the concrete, but the beam is subjected to a moment
Pe at each end, as well as the axial force P, and a diagram of constant moment
results.

 It may be evident that for any arrangement of applied loads, a tendon profile can be
selected so that the equivalent loads acting on the beam from the tendon are just
equal and opposite of the applied loads.
 An advantage of the equivalent load concept is that it leads the designer to select
what is probably the best tendon profile for a particular loading.

C. PRESTRESSED CONCRETE AS A SPECIAL VARIATION OF

REINFORCED CONCRETE

Both concrete stress control and equivalent load methods was implied on the
following conditions:

1. That the concrete responded elastically.

2. No cracking occurred.

 These conditions may prevail up to about the service load level, but if the loads
should be increased much beyond that, flexural tensile stresses will eventually
exceed the modulus of rupture and cracks will form.

 Loads can usually be increased much beyond the cracking load in well-designed
prestressed beams.

(a) Beam with factored load applied

 Eventually both the steel and concrete at the cracked section will be stressed into
their inelastic range.
 The beam undoubtedly would be in a partially cracked state with possible pattern of
flexural cracking as shown in (a) above.

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 (b) Equilibrium of forces on left half of the beam

 At the maximum moment section (midspan), only the concrete in compression is

effective, and all tension is taken by steel.
 External moment from the applied loads is resisted by the internal couple.

Cz = Tz

 The behavior at this stage is almost identical to that of ordinary reinforced concrete
beam at overload.
 The main difference is that the very high – strength steel used must be ‘pre-strained’
before loads are applied to the beam; otherwise high steel stresses would result to
excessive concrete cracking and large beam deflections.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:

1. Each of the 3 viewpoints described are useful in the analysis and design of
prestressed concrete beams.
2. None of the 3 is sufficient in itself.
3. Neither an elastic stress analysis nor an equipment load analysis provides
information about strength or safety margin.
4. Stress analysis is helpful in predicting the extent of cracking.
5. The equivalent load analysis is often the best way to calculate deflections.
6. Strength (ultimate) analysis is essential to evaluate safety against collapse, but tells
nothing about cracking or deflections of the beam under service conditions.

Activity # 3

ESSAY. Write your answer in separate sheet of paper

Question:HOW DOES THE PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN
DIFFERS TO CONVENTIONAL REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
IN TERMS OF STRESSES SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL LOAD?

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1.4 SOURCES OF PRESTRESS FORCE

A. Pre-compressing by the use of jacks reacting against abutments

Post – tensioning by jacking against abutments

B. Post-tensioning by jacking reacting against beam

C. Pre-tensioning with tendon stressed between fixed external anchorages

 It is essential that in all three cases mentioned, that the beam be supported in such a
way as to permit the member to shorten axially without restraint, in order for the
prestressing force to be transferred to the concrete.

 Other means for introducing the desired prestressing force have been attempted on
an experimental basis.
E.G. Thermal Prestressing

 In general, classification of prestressing systems are:

1. Pretensioning system
2. Post-tensioning system

PRETENSIONING – the tendons are stressed before the concrete is placed. This system is
well suited for mass production, since casting beds can be made several hundred ft. long,
and the entire length cast at once, and individual beams cut to the desired length from the
long casting.

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POST-TENSIONING – the tendons are tensioned after the concrete is placed and has
acquired its strength. Usually, a hollow conduit or hollow box-section beams are used. The
jacking force is usually applied against the ends of the hardened concrete, eliminating the
need for massive abutments.

Activity # 4

ESSAY. Write your answer in separate sheet of paper

Question:HOW DOES THE PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN
DIFFERS TO CONVENTIONAL REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
IN TERMS OF STRESSES SUBJECTED TO EXTERNAL LOAD?

Summary

A Prestressed Concrete is a highly versatile construction material as a result of it

being an almost ideal combination of its two main constituents: high-strength steel, pre-
stretched to allow its full strength to be easily realised; and modern concrete, pre-
compressed to minimise cracking under tensile forces. Its wide range of application is
reflected in its incorporation into the major design codes covering most areas of structural
and civil engineering, including buildings, bridges, dams, foundations, pavements, piles,
stadiums, silos, and tanks.

It also defined as one in which there have been introduced internal stresses of such
magnitude and distribution that the stresses resulting from the given external loading are
counteracted to a desired degree.

Prestressing applies a pre-compression to the member that reduces or eliminates

undesirable tensile stresses that would otherwise be present.

 Cracking under service loads can be minimized or even avoided entirely.

 Deflections may be limited to an acceptable value, or zero deflection.
 Permit the engineer to make use of efficient and economical high –
strength steels in the form of strands, wires or bars in conjunction with
high – strength concrete.

EFFECT OF PRESTRESSING

There are at least three ways to look at the Prestressing of Concrete:

1. As a method of achieving Concrete Stress Control, by which the concrete is

precompressed so that tension normally resulting from the applied loads is reduced
or eliminated.

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 2. As a means for introducing Equivalents loads on the concrete member so that the
effects of the applied loads are counteracted to the desire degree.

3. As a special variation of reinforced concrete in which prestrained high-strength

steel is used, usually the conjunction with high-strength concrete.

Note: Each of these viewpoints is useful in the analysis and design of prestressed Concrete Structures

Each of these viewpoints is useful in the analysis and design of prestressed concrete
structures.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:

1. Each of the 3 viewpoints described are useful in the analysis and design of
prestressed concrete beams.
2. None of the 3 is sufficient in itself.
3. Neither an elastic stress analysis nor an equipment load analysis provides
information about strength or safety margin.
4. Stress analysis is helpful in predicting the extent of cracking.
5. The equivalent load analysis is often the best way to calculate deflections.
6. Strength (ultimate) analysis is essential to evaluate safety against collapse, but tells
nothing about cracking or deflections of the beam under service conditions.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

SELF ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION # 1:

INSTRUCTION: Answer the following:

1. Discuss the history of Prestressed Concrete

2. Give at least five (5) Difference between Reinforced Concrete Design

and Prestressed Concrete Design

Reinforced Concrete Design Prestressed Concrete Design

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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 3. How the Prestressing affect the Prestressed Concrete Design?

4. Distinguish the Post Tensioning to Pre-Tensioning

Assigned Readings and/or enrichment

Grote, Jupp and Marrey, Bernard. 2000. Fressinet, ISBN 2-910342-13--1

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259312538_An_Overview_of_Reinforce
d_and_Prestressed_Concrete_Research.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330534588_Comparison_of_Continuou
s_RCC_Prestressed_Concrete_Beams_by_Using_Limit_State_Method

https://www.slideshare.net/SpiceShuvo/comparison-of-reinforced-concrete-and-
prestressed-concrete

Feedback

Are you overwhelmed?!?!… Don’t turn to the next page until you familiarize
the terms needed to the next lesson. You may review your answer. Good luck to
the next Lesson

SUGGESTED READINGS

A.H. Nilson, Design of Prestressed Concrete, 2nd Ed. John Wiley, New York, 1987

Nilson and Winter, Design of Concrete Structures, 12th Ed., Mc Grawhill Companies,
1997

E.G. Nawy, Prestressed Concrete, 3rd Ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York 1984

Besavilla, V.I., Reinforced Concrete Design, 1981 Cebu City.

ANSWERS KEY!!!!

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