FCE 332: STRENGTH OF MATERIALS IIB

7 INTRODUCTION TO PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

7.1 BASIC PRINCIPLES
In the case of reinforced concrete, steel reinforcement is used to resist nearly all the tension in
an element due to bending and shear, thereby relieving concrete, which is weak in tensile
strength but has relatively good compression resistance. The mechanism through which this
tensile stress transfer is achieved is the bond between the concrete and steel.
In prestressed concrete, a pre-compression is applied on the concrete element such that when
service loads that would otherwise cause tension are introduced, the existing compression
cancels out the anticipated tension, or reduces the magnitude to a value that concrete can
sustain.
Consider the plain concrete beam loaded as shown in figure 1. Assuming linear-elastic
behaviour, the load would result in the bending stress distribution shown. The stresses due to
a moment M at the bottom and top of a given critical cross-section along the beam are:

Where I is the moment of inertia of the cross-section about the neutral axis and Z1 and Z2 are
the elastic section moduli for the bottom and top extreme fibres, respectively. Common
convention is that compression stresses are positive and tensile stresses negative.
b
X
2 2 0
Load
2 2 comp.
zone
N/A (centroid axis) N/A
1 1
tension
zone
cracks in
X 1
bent beam 1 0
Figure 1: Loaded plain concrete beam Section X - X Bending stresses

0 0 0
X

2 2 N/A
N/A (centroid axis)

1 1

0 0 0
X
Direct Bending Total
stresses stresses prestresses
due to P due to Pe
Figure 2: Concrete beam with eccentric pre-compression force P

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Since concrete is weak in tension, the stresses in the bottom zone may result in severe
cracking in the concrete and subsequent failure, even at a relatively low value of load.
In order to eliminate bending tension due to load (or reduce it to a level that concrete can
sustain), a pre-compression force P is applied at an eccentricity e from the centroid (neutral)
axis in the bottom zone of the beam, before loading, as shown in figure 2. This results in a
moment of eccentricity, , about the neutral axis causing the beam to bend in the
direction shown. The net stresses are a high compression in the bottom zone and a low
compression (or acceptably low tension) in the top. For a beam cross-section area A, the total
prestresses at the bottom and top at a given critical cross-section along the beam are:

For a cross-section symmetrical about the neutral axis, .

When the load is applied after prestressing (figure 3), the final service stresses at the bottom
and top at a given critical cross-section along the beam are

0 0 0
X
Load
2 2 N/A
N/A (centroid axis)

1 1

0 0 0
X
Prestresses Stresses Final
due to load stresses
Figure 3: Concrete beam under eccentric pre-compression and loading
In design, the maximum service stress should not exceed a specified compression limit.
The minimum service stress may be a low compression stress or tension stress, in which
case it should not exceed a specified tensile limit, depending on the grade of concrete. The
main design criteria for a prestressed element are the serviceability limit states (SLS), in
which case linear-elastic behaviour is assumed as illustrated in figures 1 to 3. Once SLS
criteria are satisfied, the element is then checked for design ultimate limit states.
The prestress force P and its eccentricity e are selected for desired results for the given
applied service load and chosen concrete grade.

7.2 METHODS OF PRESTRESSING

The prestress force P is applied by means of tendons made of special high-strength alloy
steel which are tensioned to 70-80% of characteristic strength . Some examples are:

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 7-wire strand (wires wound around a central core wire), N/mm2.

 Cold-drawn wire, N/mm2.
 High-tensile alloy bar, N/mm2.
There are two methods employed in the manufacture of prestressed concrete element as
described below.
Rigid abutment Duct
Cast specimen
Tendon in desired position

(a) Tendon laid and pulled against abutments. (a) Specimen cast around duct and cured.

Anchor mechanism Tendon in duct

Cast specimen

(b) Specimen cast around anchored tendon. (b) Tendon placed in duct and pulled.
oned.
Anchor block

Tension in tendon Tension in tendon

(c) Tendon released in hardened specimen. (c) Tendon anchored at specimen ends.
Figure 4: Process of Pre-tensioning Figure 5: Process of Post-tensioning

a) Pre-tensioning
Stage 1
The tendons are first placed in position and in the desired profile within the casting mould for
the specimen, between two immovable supports (abutments) fixed at the ends of the mould.
For example, for a beam intended to support a uniformly distributed load, the tendon profile
may be parabolic to suit the variation of the bending moment diagram. The tendons are then
pulled at the ends against the abutments by means of hydraulic jacks (figure 4(a)).
Stage 2
Once the tendons attain the desired tension, they are anchored to the abutments by means of
mechanical griping devices to prevent them from relaxing and the jacks are then released.
The concrete for the specimen is then cast around the tensioned tendons within the mould and
cured to harden (figure 4(b)) .
Stage 3
Once the concrete specimen has attained the desired hardened strength, the tendons are
carefully released from the fixed abutments. This causes the stretched tendons to exert a
compressive force on the concrete as they tend to elastically contract back to their original
unloaded length (the tendons behave like stretched “elastic bands” which tend to revert to
original length once the tension force is removed) (figure 4(c)).

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In this method, the tension in the tendons is transferred onto the concrete as a compressive
force through the bond resistance at the interface of the tendons and the concrete. For this
reason, adequate transmission length is required at tendon ends to enable safe transfer of the
prestressing force onto the concrete. It is critically important that the tendons are free of dirt,
grease or other surface contamination that may impair development of bond at the interface
with the hardened concrete.
b) Post-tensioning
Stage 1
The concrete specimen is first cast around a duct or sleeve laid to the desired tendon profile
within the mould and allowed to cure and harden (figure 5(a)).
Stage 2
Once the concrete has attained the desired hardened strength, tendons are introduced into the
duct or sleeve and pulled at the ends to the desired tension by means of hydraulic jacks acting
against the end abutments (figure 5(b)).
Stage 3
Once the desired tension in the tendons is attained, they are anchored onto the ends of the
specimen by means of metal block devices previously cast into the specimen ends and then
released from the jacks. As the tendons tend to elastically contract back to their original
unloaded length, the end anchorage blocks exert a compressive force onto the ends of the
concrete specimen (figure 5(c)).
In this case, the transfer of tendon tension force onto the concrete is by means of direct
bearing compression of end anchor blocks against the concrete at specimen ends.
In severe environmental exposure conditions, concrete grout may be injected into the ducts to
protect tendons against corrosion. Alternatively, the tendons may be coated with protective
material or encased in protective sleeves.
Pre-tensioning methods are often used for pre-cast concrete building elements, such as floor
panels or beams. Post-tensioning is commonly applied to bridge deck or beam elements,
especially in segmental construction methods.

7.3 CLASSIFICATION OF PRESTRESSED ELEMENTS

Prestressed elements are classified as follows:
Class 1 (Fully Prestressed): These are elements in which no tensile stresses are allowed under
final service load conditions.
Class 2 (Partially Prestressed): Some tensile stresses are allowed, but resulting cracks should
not be visible.
Class 3 (Partially Prestressed): Some tensile stresses are allowed, but resulting cracks widths
are restricted to 0.1 to 0.2 mm.
Class 3 elements have the following obvious advantages over the others:
 They require a relatively lower prestressing force for the same load and section size.
 A higher load can be sustained for a given section size and prestressing force
 A shallower section size may be used for a given prestressing force and load.

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Class 2 and 3 elements should not be used in severe environmental exposure conditions due
to adverse affects on durability of tendons and reinforcement, unless special protective
measures are taken.

7.4 STRESS CRITERIA AT TRANSFER STAGE

At the stage when the prestress force is transferred to the concrete, the only load acting on the
element is a dead load comprising the self-weight and sometimes part of the permanent load
to be supported by the element.
Consider the beam cross-section shown in figure 6 in which the prestressing tendons with an
initial prestress force P are located at an eccentricity e below the centroid (neutral) axis.

2 0 0 0

N/A

1 0 0 0
SECTION Prestresses Stresses due to Transfer
due to P dead load stresses
moment Md
Figure 6: Prestressed beam at transfer stage

For safe design at transfer stage, the maximum and minimum bending stresses at the extreme
bottom and top fibres of the section must be maintained within the allowable stress limits for
the particular grade of concrete. Referring to figure 6:
At the bottom, , so that

At the top, , so that

Where,
and are the initial prestresses given by eqns. (3) and (4).
is the bending moment acting on the section due to dead load only (assumed positive or
sagging, but may be negative or hogging for sections at supports of continuous beams ).
Note that and may be tensile (negative) stresses, depending on magnitude or
eccentricity of P.

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and are the minimum and maximum allowable stresses at transfer stage,
respectively.
Normally, condition eqns. (7) and (10) are not critical.
BS 8110-1 specifies values of allowable stresses as follows:
For class 1 members: N/mm2
For class 2 and 3 members: (pre-tensioned members)
(post-tensioned members)
For all classes: at extreme fibres
for near-uniform distribution of prestress
Where is the concrete compression strength at transfer stage, which could be less than the
characteristic strength if transfer is before 28-day curing. Generally N/mm2.
BS 8110-1 recommends concrete minimum strength classes C28/35 and C32/40 for post-
tensioned and pre-tensioned concrete, respectively.

7.5 STRESS CRITERIA DURING SERVICE

7.5..1 Losses in Prestress
Under normal working or service conditions, which may be weeks or months after prestress
transfer stage, the effective prestress force P′ is less than the initial prestress force P due to
losses, so that , where is the prestress loss ratio. Losses are due to the following
causes:
(i) Relaxation of tendons - about 5% loss.
(ii) Elastic deformation of concrete - 5 to 10% loss for post-tensioned and 2 to 3% loss for
pre-tensioned elements.
(iii) Shrinkage and creep of concrete - 10 to 20% loss.
(iv) Slippage during anchorage, especially for short tendons.
(v) Friction between tendon and duct in post-tensioned elements - 1 to 2% loss in simply
supported beam tendon profiles and over 10% for profiles in continuous beams (the
more changes in direction of tendon, the higher the frictional losses).
Prestress losses may be estimated using recommendations of BS 8110-1, sections 4.8 and 4.9.
Commonly, a value of is assumed.
7.5..2 Effective Stresses under Service Loads
Consider the section in figure 6 after prestress losses have occurred and the full service load
is applied. The effective prestresses at the bottom and top extreme fibres of the section, after
accounting for losses, are and , respectively. Let the bending moment under service
load (comprising dead and imposed loads) at the critical cross-section be Ms.
For safe design under service conditions, the maximum and minimum final stresses at the
extreme bottom and top fibres of the section must be within the allowable service stress limits
for the particular grade of concrete. Referring to figure 7:

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2 0 0 0

N/A

1 0 0 0
SECTION Effective Stresses due to Final service
prestresses service load stresses
due to P′ moment Ms
Figure 7: Prestressed beam under service load
At the bottom, , so that

At the top, , so that

Where,
and are the initial prestresses given by eqns. (3) and (4).
and are the minimum and maximum allowable stresses at service, respectively.
, where is the bending moment due to imposed (temporary) loads only
(assumed positive or sagging, but may be negative or hogging for sections at supports of
continuous beams).
Note that may be tensile (negative) stress, depending on relative magnitudes of moments
Pe and . Using all the four condition eqns. (11) to (14), will be found to vary within a
range of maximum and minimum values, i.e. .
Normally, condition eqns. (12) and (13) are not critical.
BS 8110-1 specifies values of allowable stresses as follows:
For class 1 members: N/mm2
For class 2 and 3 members: (pre-tensioned members)
(post-tensioned members)
For all classes: at extreme fibres for simply supported beams
at extreme fibres for continuous beams
for direct compression elements (columns)

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Example 1
500
Data

200 150

 ;
150
N/A  ;
600

 ;

250

150

250
BEAM SECTION
(All dimensions in mm)
Figure 8: Example 1 - Prestressed beam

A prestressed beam has a simply supported span of 8 m and has section dimensions and
material properties given in figure 8 above. An initial prestressing force of 1000 kN is applied
through tendons located at 150 mm from the bottom
a) Check the adequacy of the section at transfer stage.
b) Determine the maximum imposed load that the beam can safely support under service
conditions.
Solution
a) Checking transfer stresses
(i) Find the neutral axis position and the eccentricity of the prestressing force
The neutral axis for elastic bending is the centroid axis of the section. This can be found by
taking first moments of area of the section about any convenient axis.
The total area of the section is

Splitting the section into the three rectangle components and taking moments of each area
about the bottom of the section:

Thus

(ii) Find the moment of inertia about the neutral axis and the section moduli
Any convenient approach, such as the use of the parallel-axes theorem for the three rectangle
components, may be used to find I.
Alternatively, the moment of inertia of a rectangle of width b and depth d about its base is
. Thus considering rectangular areas above and below the neutral axis,

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Section moduli for bottom and top extreme fibres are

(iii) Calculate and check transfer stresses

Initial prestresses are obtained from eqns. (3) and (4):
At the bottom,

At the top,

The self-weight of the beam is

The most critical section is at the centre of the beam length, where the maximum moment for
a uniformly distributed dead load is

Therefore the stresses due to the dead load moment are:

At the bottom,

At the top,

Therefore the total stresses at transfer are:

At the top,

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The minimum and maximum allowable stresses are and

.
Therefore both stresses are within allowable limits, i.e.
and .
The stress diagrams for transfer conditions are shown in figure 9.

0
Prestresses Stresses due to Transfer
due to P dead load stresses
moment Md
Figure 9: Distribution of transfer stresses
b) Calculate maximum load for service conditions

Effective Stresses due to Final service

prestresses service moment Ms stresses
Figure 10: Distribution of service stresses
Under service conditions, the effective prestresses at the bottom and top of the section after
losses are:

Let the total service moment at mid-span be Ms. Using critical eqns.(10) and (14):
At the bottom,

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At the top,

Taking the lower of the two values, the maximum moment due to imposed loads is

Now, for a uniformly distributed imposed load,

So that the maximum imposed load the beam can support is

7.6 ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF PRSESTRESSED BEAMS

7.6..1 Strain Compatibility
Consider the rectangular beam section in figure 11 with effective prestresses. Suppose the
strains due to these prestresses at the bottom and top are and , respectively, while
the strain in concrete at the tendon level is (compressive).

0 0

Fc
N/A
Tendon area

Fpb
0 0 0
SECTION
Effective Ultimate strains at stresses / forces
strains failure due to (Hognestad)
due to P′ moment Mu
moment Ms
Figure 11: Prestressed beam at ultimate limit state
If the load is increased until failure occurs, the strain in concrete will be the ultimate failure
strain , while the strain in the tendons will be (tensile). The corresponding tensile
stress in the tendons is , while concrete compression stresses are represented by the
Hognestad stress block (or the idealised parabolic-rectangular stress block in design).
If prior to loading the effective prestress strain in tendons is (tensile) then at failure,
strain in tendons = effective prestress strain + additional strain due to ultimate load moment.
i.e.,

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Where is the additional strain in the tendons due to ultimate moment Mu. For
compatibility, this strain must be the same as the change in strain in the concrete at the level
of the tendons, i.e.

From geometry of the ultimate strain diagram,

In post-tensioned members with unbonded tendons, . Generally

Where
, for pre-tensioned or bonded post-tensioned tendons.
, for unbonded post-tensioned tendons.
Substituting for in eqn.(18),

Thus eqn.(15) becomes

Thus

Inverting each side gives

7.6..2 Equilibrium of Stress Resultants and Moment of Resistance

Equilibrium of stress resultants in concrete and tendons:

Thus

Where , the tendon area ratio.

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equating eqns.(19) and (20),

Thus

In analysis of a given beam section, and are the only unknowns in eqn.(21). Since all
the other terms in eqn.(21) are constants, the relationship between the two unknowns takes
the form , which is a straight line relationship, with A and B as constants.
Eqn.(21) can be solved simultaneously with the actual stress-strain curve for the tendon
material to obtain the two values directly, as shown in figure 12. In design, the idealised
stress-strain curve for tendons in figure 13 is used.

actual curve for

tendon type

Eqn.(21)

0 0 0.005

Figure 12: Simultaneous solution for tendon Figure 13: BS 8110-1 Idealized design
stress and strain. stress-strain curve for tendons.

Alternatively, and may be obtained from table 4.4 of BS8110-1. For unbonded
tendons, see eqns. 52 & 53 of BS8110-1.
Once the tendon stress is known, the ultimate moment of resistance is obtained by taking
moments of stress results about any convenient axis. For instance, taking moments about the
line of action of Fc in figure 11 above, the ultimate moment of resistance.

In using eqns.(21) and (22), and are obtained from Hognestad expressions or curves for
nominal ultimate moment of resistance. For design ultimate moment of resistance, BS
8110-1 values of and are derived from the parabolic-rectangular or simplified-
rectangular stress blocks for concrete in compression.
HOMEWORK
Study example 9.5-1 in Kong & Evans 3rd Ed: Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete.

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