Span-to-height ratio limits for prestressed

concrete members
P. G. Debernardi and M. Taliano

This paper reports the main results of a parametric analysis which was performed to define appropriate limits for
the span-to-height ratio of prestressed concrete beams or slabs that are in compliance with the deflection
control required by international standards (Eurocode 2, Model Code 1990) for concrete buildings structures.
Two deflections were considered: the total deflection and the active deflection that occurs after construction, in
both cases under the quasi-permanent load combination. The active deflection has to be considered when
fragile elements such as partitions or glazing are present on the structure. Four structural systems were
considered: simply supported fully or partially prestressed beams with an I-section and simply supported or fixed-
end slabs with a rectangular cross-section. The load history first included the application of the prestress and the
dead load and then the application of the remaining quasi-permanent load. Taking into account the effects of
imposed deformations the structure was designed to obtain the geometrical properties strictly necessary for the
ultimate limit state (ULS) and for stress limitation in service under quasi-permanent and characteristic load
combinations. The results allow the influence of some of the variables that most affect the deflection to be
evaluated, such as the span and the height of the beams, the concrete strength, the permanent load and the
variable-to-permanent load ratio.
[doi: 10.1680/stco.2010.11.1.035]

Pier Giorgio Ep modulus of elasticity of prestressing Qk characteristic value of variable

Debernardi steel action
Politecnico di Torino, Es modulus of elasticity of ordinary Qk/Gk variable-to-permanent load ratio
Torino, Italy steel t1 initial instant of time in which the
fck characteristic cylinder compressive structure is prestressed and the self-
strength of concrete weight is automatically applied to
Maurizio Taliano
fpk characteristic tensile strength of the structure
Politecnico di Torino,
Torino, Italy prestressing steel t2 instant of time, immediately after t1,
fyk characteristic yield strength of in which the quasi-permanent load
ordinary steel Gk is applied to the structure
Gk characteristic permanent action, t3 final instant of time for the evalua-
which includes the self-weight Gk0 tion of the time-dependent effects
Notation of the structure VEd design value of acting shear
Gk0 characteristic self-weight of the cG partial factor for permanent actions
Ap area of prestressing steel structure cQ partial factor for variable actions
As area of ordinary steel h height of beam or slab Da wedge draw-in of the anchorage
a deflection at mid-span of the beam hc height of the bottom flange of the devices
or slab section ecs total shrinkage strain
a/L deflection-to-span ratio hf height of the top flange of the e(t1) elastic strain of the concrete at time
b width of beam or slab section t1
bc width of the bottom flange of k unintentional angular displacement e(t2, t1) strain of the concrete at time t2, due
section of tendons (per unit length) to loads applied at time t1
bw width of the web of the beam L length of the beam or slab h inclination of the concrete struts at
c concrete cover L/h length-to-height ratio of the beam ultimate limit state
d depth of the beam or slab or slab m coefficient of friction between the
d9 distance of the steel centroids to the (L/h)max maximum length-to-height ratio tendons and their ducts
nearest side of the section consistent with an allowable deflec- r1000 relaxation loss (%) at 1000 h after
Ec modulus of elasticity of concrete tion tensioning, at a mean temperature
Ec,28 secant modulus of elasticity of con- M0 bending moment due to self-weight of 20 ˚C
crete at 28 days load Gk0 sc(t) normal stress on concrete at time t
Ec(t1) secant modulus of elasticity of con- Pm prestressing force, immediately Q creep coefficient of the concrete
crete at time t1 after tensioning x ageing coefficient

1464-4177 g 2010 Thomas Telford and fib

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 36 Debernardi and Taliano
y2 combination factor defining the
quasi-permanent value of variable
actions
1duct diameter of the duct
Introduction
The research activities conducted on materials
over recent decades have allowed very good
products to be put on the market. With respect
to concrete structures, it is possible to find
ordinary and prestressing steels with good
mechanical characteristics, and concretes with
good workability and durability, as well as
strength that is two or three times greater than
what was available only a few years ago.
International standards (CEN, 2004; CEB-FIP,
1993) have taken into account this develop-
ment and extended the field of application of
these materials. For example, Eurocode 2 (CEN,
2004) has extended the concrete compressive
strength to values of 105 MPa, while in the
1989 edition this was limited to 55 MPa. In this
context, even more flexible structures have been
built for which the verifications at the ultimate
limit state (ULS) do not always represent the
most severe condition.
In order to have adequate serviceability of
structures, international standards limit the
deflection to avoid visual sag, impairment of
functionality of the structure and damage to
partitions and finishes according to ISO 4356
(ISO, 1977). Two deflection limits are required
for buildings. These are expressed as a
function of the span of the beams: span/250
under the quasi-permanent load combination
(total deflection), span/500 for the deflection
after construction, which could damage adja-
cent parts of the structure such as partitions
or finishes (active deflection). However, the
calculation of deflections is rather uncertain
because of the high scattering of the variables
of influence (e.g. the variation of the loads in
time and the stages of construction), as well
as the complexity of the physical phenomena
(e.g. cracking and creep) that do not always
allow the principle of superposition of the
effects to be applied.
In order to avoid these difficulties and, at
the same time, to supply simple, although
conservative, indications, most of the design
codes for reinforced concrete (RC) structures
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are used to provide a limiting span-to-depth
ratio as a function of the structural system,
the level of stresses and the concrete grade. In
this way, the designer can assess a funda-
mental parameter, such as the effective
depth, for the dimensioning of RC structures.
The limitation of deflections in prestressed
concrete structures is even more complex as
the prestressing grade, the presence of
ordinary steel and the different amounts of
self-weight, superimposed dead load and live
load are also of great importance. Moreover,
neither Eurocode 2 (CEN, 2004) nor Model
Code 1990 (CEB-FIP, 1993) introduce any
limiting value of the span-to-height ratio. On
the other hand, the values of the span-to-
depth ratio used for RC structures are too
conservative for the design of prestressed
structures.
In this context, a parametric analysis of
prestressed concrete structures was carried
out to discuss the influence of the variables
that affect the phenomena and to analyse the
span-to-height ratios that comply with the
requirements both for total and active deflec-
tions. The analysis took into consideration
fully and partially prestressed beams or slabs
with a constant section along the axis, which
were designed to satisfy ULS verifications and
stress limitations in service, according to
Eurocode 2 (CEN, 2004).
Basic assumptions
The structural systems considered in the
parametric analysis are listed in Table 1. The
following uniformly distributed loads were
taken into account
(a) the self-weight of the structure Gk0,
which represents the minimum load that
permanently acts on the structure from
the time the prestress is introduced. The
Table 1 Characteristics of the considered members
Type of structure Type of prestress
T- or I-section beam Full
T- or I-section beam Partial
One-way solid slab Full
corresponding moment at the mid-span is
indicated as M0
(b) the permanent load Gk that includes the
self-weight of the structure
(c) the variable load Qk.
The load history is considered three times
(a) t1 when the structure is prestressed and
the self-weight is automatically applied to
the structure
(b) t2 when the quasi-permanent load is
applied to the structure
(c) t 3, which is the final time for the
evaluation of the time-dependent effects.
The construction stages until the applica-
tion of the whole quasi-permanent load are in
fact often more complex. An exact analysis of
the long-term effects would be time consum-
ing and require iterative procedures that take
into account the evolution of the state of
stress in time, for each element into which the
section is divided. However, this analysis could
be meaningless because of the high variability
of the possible situations that can occur. For
this reason, considering simplified conditions
is more suitable and safe.
The grouting process of the duct occurred
at time t1, which was equal to 28 days from
the casting of the element, after the prestres-
sing of the structure. This process allowed the
tendon to be bonded to the concrete. As far
as the variation of the strains is concerned, the
hypothesis of plane sections becomes valid
from this point. The remaining part of the load
that was necessary to obtain the total quasi-
permanent load was applied to the structure
at time t2, immediately after t1.
Time t3, which was considered in the
calculations of the total and active deflections,
was assumed for the analysis of the long-term
effects when the creep and shrinkage of the
concrete and relaxation of the reinforcement
were exhausted.
Type of restraints
Simple supports
Simple supports
Simple supports
Fixed ends
Structural Concrete N 2010 N 11 N No 1

Dimensioning of
structural members
The structures were designed according to
Eurocode 2 (CEN, 2004), assuming the
following characteristic strengths: fck 5 30,
40 and 50 N/mm2 for concrete, fyk 5 500 N/
mm2 for ordinary steel, fpk 5 1860 N/mm2 for
prestressing steel. The design was performed
with respect to the following
(a) at the serviceability limit state (SLS), the
stress limitations on concrete to 0?45?fck
under the quasi-permanent load combi-
nation and 0?60?fck under the character-
istic load combination
(b) the stress limitations on prestressing steel
to 0?80 fpk at tensioning and 0?75?fpk in
service conditions under the characteristic
load combination
(c) the ULS verifications for bending MEd at
mid-span and for shear VEd in the zones
close to the supports.
In order to obtain the appropriate values of
the amounts of ordinary and prestressing steel
and the concrete sizes that were strictly
necessary for the ULS and SLS verifications,
an iterative procedure was carried out with
successive corrections of the geometrical data.
The dimensioning was made for various
values of the L/h ratio, considering the most
critical section. The geometry was assumed
constant along the beam. The soundness of
the beam cross-section was verified with
varying degrees of prestress both at the early
stage and for long-term loading, imposing the
condition of an uncracked section under the
quasi-permanent load combination. Cracking
occurs under the frequent load combination.
The profile of the prestressing tendon was
formed by parabolic segments with eccentri-
cities in such a way that tensile stresses on
concrete were avoided at tensioning, when
the dead load acted.
The tendon was tensioned at one end. The
immediate losses of prestress that occurred
during tensioning were determined, consider-
ing a coefficient of friction m 5 0?19, an
unintentional angular displacement k 5 0?01
rad/m and a wedge draw-in of the anchorage
devices Da 5 5 mm.
The calculation of the strains and stresses
was carried out at the SLS on the basis of
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Span-to-height ratio limits for prestressed concrete members
Bernoulli’s hypothesis and the linear elastic
behaviour of materials. After tensioning, the
tendon was bonded to the concrete by means
of duct grouting, then the remaining part of
the quasi-permanent load was applied to the
structure. The time-dependent losses due to
creep and shrinkage of concrete and relaxa-
tion of strands were then taken into account.
A visco-linear elastic behaviour of the concrete
was considered, assuming a creep coefficient
Q 5 2?5 and a shrinkage strain ecs 5 20?35
mm/m. The long-term (final) values of the
relaxation losses were estimated as three
times the relaxation losses at 1000 h, that
means 3r1000.
The strain of the concrete with time was
assessed according to the age-adjusted effec-
tive modulus method (Baz̆ant, 1972; CEB,
1984, 1993) using the following expression
Qðt2 ,t1 Þ
eðt2 ,t1 Þ~eðt1 Þzsc ðt1 Þ
Ec,28
 
1 Qðt2 ,t1 Þ ð1Þ
z½sc ðt2 Þ{sc ðt1 Þ zx
Ec ðt1 Þ Ec,28
zecs ðt2 ,t1 Þ
where x 5 0?8 is the ageing coefficient.
The traditional linearity of creep and
superposition of effects assumptions were
applied. The structure was divided into 20
blocks and the curvatures in the different
stages of the structural life were determined
for these blocks. For this purpose the proce-
dure described by Cosenza and Debernardi
(1997) was applied, as it is more rigorous than
that proposed in Eurocode 2 (CEN, 2004). The
European standard in fact considers only fully
prestressed sections with prestressing steel
located at one level.
The total deflection and the active deflec-
b
d bw
Ap
d'
bc
n Figure 1 Fully prestressed beams: transversal section
37
tion that occurs after construction were
determined under the quasi-permanent load
by integrating the long-term curvatures along
the axis of the structure.
Parametric analysis
The purpose of this analysis was to define
appropriate limits of the span-to-height ratio,
L/h, for prestressed members that comply
with the control of deflection required by
international standards (CEN, 2004; CEB-FIP,
1993).
Many parameters affect the structural beha-
viour at serviceability, but taking into account all
of the possible variables could be very burden-
some and also unnecessary. Therefore, the
influence of the following parameters was
considered
(a) the variable-to-permanent load ratio Qk/Gk
(b) the permanent load Gk
(c) the span L
(d) the concrete strength fck.
Fully prestressed simply
supported T-section beams
The reference values for which the study was
performed were
(a) span-to-height ratios between 18 and 45
with steps equal to 1
(b) spans of the beams: 20 m, 30 m, 40 m
(c) permanent loads: 30 kN/m, 40 kN/m, 50
kN/m
(d) variable-to-permanent load ratios of
0?25, 0?50, 0?75.
Referring to ratios of Qk/Gk equal to 0?25,
hf
h
wduct
hc
c
 38 Debernardi and Taliano

0?50 or 0?75 means referring to quasi-

L = 20 m; Qk/Gk = 0.75
permanent-to-design load ratios equal to 3/500
0?46, 0?52 or 0?61, respectively, that is

Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap
Quasi-permanent load 1zy2 ðQk =Gk Þ
~ :
Design load 1 35z1:5 ðQk =Gk Þ 1/250
ð2Þ Total deflections

where y2 is the factor for the quasi-perma-

nent value of variable actions (here, y2 5 0?2 1/500
Gk = 30 kN/m
was assumed). It is worth noting that the Active deflections Gk = 40 kN/m
parametric analysis, on which the basic ratios Gk = 50 kN/m
of span-to-effective-depth for reinforced con- 0
crete members proposed by Eurocode 2 (CEN, 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
2004) and Model Code 1990 (CEB-FIP, 1993) Span-to-height ratio, L/h
are based, assumes a quasi-permanent load at
50% of the corresponding design load n Figure 2 Fully prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and
(Beeby, 1999; CEN, 2001). active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height ratio
Each beam of this typology was dimen- L/h (data: L 5 20 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?75; Gk 5 30, 40, 50 kN/m (respectively))
sioned with an I-section if a bottom flange
was needed (Figure 1), otherwise a T-section
L = 40 m; Qk/Gk = 0.75
was chosen. In fact, a bottom flange with a 3/500
height of 0?25h and a width bc was intro-
duced in order to avoid a greater concrete
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

compressive stress than 0?6fck at the bottom
of the section during tensioning. The height of
the top flange was assumed to be 0?20h,
while the width b was obtained from the
calculation at the ULS for bending. The width
of the web bw was determined from the ULS
verification for shear, assuming h 5 45 ˚ and
imposing that the maximum shear resistance
VRd,max was equal to the shear VEd acting at
the support. However, a lower value of the
width of the web was assumed equal to 150
mm.
A parabolic profile of the tendon was
considered with null eccentricity, with respect
to the centre-line of the structure, at the ends.
The maximum eccentricity at mid-span was
obtained, considering a distance from the
bottom point of the central core equal to M0/
Pm, where Pm was the value of the prestres-
sing force immediately after tensioning. The
sectional area of the duct was assumed equal
to twice the area of the tendon. In order to be
on the safe side, ordinary steel was not
considered in this analysis.
Influence of the permanent load. The
three values of the permanent load Gk,
associated with the three values of the ratio
Qk/Gk and the three values of the span L led to
very different geometries of the transversal
Ap
1/250
Total deflections
1/500
Gk = 30 kN/m
Gk = 40 kN/m
Active deflections Gk = 50 kN/m
0
18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
Span-to-height ratio, L/h
n Figure 3 Fully prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and
active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height ratio
L/h (data: L 5 40 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?75; Gk 5 30, 40, 50 kN/m (respectively))
section and amounts of the prestressing steel. The study was stopped at a span-to-height
The results of the deflection-to-span ratios ratio of 45.
were quite similar on the same length L and From Figure 2 it appears that the max-
the same variable-to-permanent load ratio Qk/ imum deflection-to-span ratio, (L/h)max, con-
Gk. This means that the permanent load is not sistent with the allowable total deflection (1/
a significant parameter, as shown in 250?L), is 42, whereas with reference to the
Figures 2–4, which contain the diagrams of limit on the active deflection (1/500?L), it is 33.
the total deflection-to-span ratio and the It was possible to obtain the maximum L/h
active deflection-to-span ratio as a function ratios for the other situations in a similar way.
of the span-to-height ratio L/h of the beam. The beams with length L 5 40 m and
Figures 2 and 3 refer to beams with the same ratio Qk/Gk 5 0?75 (Figure 3) presented
variable-to-permanent load ratio, Qk/Gk 5 lower total deflections in the considered
0?75, but different lengths, whereas range of L/h (from 18 to 45), but which still
Figures 3 and 4 refer to beams with the same conformed with the limit on the total
length, L 5 40 m, but different Qk/Gk ratios. deflection. This is owing to the high area of

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 Span-to-height ratio limits for prestressed concrete members 39

span-to-height ratios than 45 which here,

L = 40 m; Qk/Gk = 0.25
3/500 prudentially, were not taken into account. In
Figure 5, this is reflected in the values that
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap Total deflections correspond to the ratio Qk/Gk 5 0?75, which

are reduced to one point (namely, point A).
1/250

Influence of the variable-to-permanent

1/500
0 nent loads has a great influence on the
18
n Figure 4 Fully prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and
active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height ratio
L/h (data: L 5 40 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?25; Gk 5 30, 40, 50 kN/m (respectively))
prestressing steel (Ap) that was calculated
under the design load, in compliance with
the ULS verification for bending. In other
words, this is a case in which the ULS
verification is stricter than the SLS verifica-
tion. This situation changes completely when
the variable load is reduced, as confirmed in
Figure 4, which refers to beams with the
same length but lower variable load.
Influence of the span. In order to study this
effect, the values of the span-to-height ratio
L/h, which corresponded to the attainment of
the limits on the active and total deflections of
1/250?L and 1/500?L, respectively, were
Point A 45
40
Span-to-height ratio, L/h
load ratio (Qk/Gk). The same L/h values used
Active deflections
Gk = 30 kN/m
in Figure 5 are shown in Figure 6 as a function
Gk = 40 kN/m of the ratio Qk/Gk, for various beam spans.
Gk = 50 kN/m The ratio Qk/Gk between variable and perma-
20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 deflections in prestressed structures. In fact,
Span-to-height ratio, L/h on the same permanent load Gk, increasing
the ratio Qk/Gk, and therefore the design load,
increases the dimensions of the beams and
the area of the prestressing steel. On the
other hand, the increase of the variable load
does not affect to any great extent the quasi-
sought. The results are shown in Figure 5 as permanent load, which is the reference load
a function of the length of the beams, for for the calculation of deflection.
various values of the ratio Qk/Gk. A permanent
load Gk 5 30 kN/m was assumed. Because of Influence of the concrete strength. Three
the sub-horizontal trend of the curves, it strength classes of concrete were considered,
appears that the span has little influence on C30/37, C40/50 and C50/60. Figure 7 shows
the span-to-height ratio L/h, for either the the values of the total deflection-to-span and
total or the active deflection. active deflection-to-span ratios as a function
As already mentioned when discussing of the beam span-to-height ratio L/h, for 30 m
Figure 3, the adopted design procedure of length beams. The L/h values to which the
the beams subjected to relatively high variable attainment of the limits on the active and total
load, that is with ratio Qk/Gk 5 0?75, led to deflections corresponded, decrease as the
small total deflections. For beams with lengths concrete strength increases. This unexpected
of 30 and 40 m, the limit on the total result is a consequence of the hypotheses
deflection could be achieved for greater assumed to optimise the design. In fact, the
design of the width of the sections was
defined at the ULS in such a way that the
Qk/Gk = 0.75 compressive resultant on concrete balanced
the tension resultant. Because of the constant
Qk/Gk = 0.50
values of the tension resultant, smaller widths

of the section and, therefore, smaller stiff-

30 nesses, corresponded to higher strengths of
Qk/Gk = 0.25
concrete.

20
Partially prestressed simply
Ap
supported T-section beams
10
The reference values for which the study was
20 30 40
Length: m performed are

(a) span-to-height L/h ratios between 18 and

n Figure 5 Fully prestressed beams: allowable span-to-height ratios (L/h)max referred 28 with steps equal to 1
to the total (continuous lines) and active (dashed lines) deflections as a function of the (b) spans of the beams: 15 m, 20 m and 25
span L (data: Gk 5 30 kN/m) m

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 40 Debernardi and Taliano

(c) permanent loads: 30 kN/m, 40 kN/m and

45
L = 40 m 50 kN/m
L = 30 m L = 20 m Total deflection
40 (d) variable-to-permanent load ratios of
L = 40 m
Span-to-height ratio, L/h

0?25, 0?50 and 0?75.

L = 30 m Active deflection
L = 20 m
30 The geometrical properties of the flanges
and web (Figure 8) fulfilled the proportions
used for fully prestressed beams. The bottom
20 L = 20 m flange was often unnecessary because of the
L = 30 m lower prestressing force. The tendon, which
Ap
L = 40 m again had a parabolic profile, presented
10 relatively large eccentricity at the mid-span in
0.25 0.5 0.75 1.00
comparison to the fully prestressed beams as
Variable-to-permanent load ratio, Qk/Gk
the ratio M0/Pm was greater on the same
permanent load, because the prestressing
n Figure 6 Fully prestressed beams: allowable span-to-height ratios (L/h )max referred force Pm was lower.
to the total (continuous lines) and active (dashed lines) deflections as a function of the In the design of the beams, it was assumed
variable-to-permanent load ratio Qk/Gk (data: Gk 5 30 kN/m) that the sections remained entirely com-
pressed under the quasi-permanent load
combination, and in particular the concrete
stress at the bottom was null when the time-
L = 30 m; Qk/Gk = 0.50
related phenomena were exhausted. This
3/500
condition allowed the area and position of
C30
the prestressing steel to be determined. The
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap
C40
ordinary reinforcement was situated on the
1/250
C50 bottom side of the beams, at a distance equal
to 0?1h from the edge of the section; its area
was calculated in order to satisfy the ULS
1/500 verification for bending. An iterative proce-
C30
dure was able to fulfil all of these conditions.
C40
C50
The values of the deflection-to-span ratio
0 are shown in Figures 9 and 10 as functions of
18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 the L/h ratio, for beams with 15 and 25 m
Span-to-height ratio, L/h lengths, respectively, a ratio Qk/Gk 5 0?50 and
three values of the permanent load. The
n Figure 7 Fully prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and influence of the permanent load Gk on the
active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the concrete strength deflections is once again considered
(data: L 5 30 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?50; Gk 5 30 kN/m) negligible.
A slight influence on the deflections is also
given by the variable-to-permanent load ratio
Qk/Gk, for a fixed value of Gk. The allowable
b
span-to-height ratios (L/h)max in Figure 11 are
hf in fact basically the same for the same Qk/Gk
ratio, remain constant as the span changes
and are on average equal to 27?5 for the case
bw
d of total deflection and 23 for the active
h
deflection. This result is different from fully
Ap
prestressed beams because of the hypotheses
wduct
As hc assumed for the optimisation of the design.
d' c
bc
To this regard, some points need to be
discussed. First, partially prestressed beams
and fully prestressed beams with the same L/h
n Figure 8 Partially prestressed beams: transversal section ratio present similar values of the top width of

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 Span-to-height ratio limits for prestressed concrete members 41

the section, therefore this parameter is not

L = 15 m; Qk/Gk = 0.50
3/500 responsible for the different behaviour.
Moreover, both typologies show similar values
of the resulting force in the tensile zone at the
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap
As ULS for bending moment. For fully prestressed
1/250
beams, this resultant is directly connected to
Total deflections
the area Ap of the prestressing steel.
For partially prestressed beams, the design
1/500 of the area of prestressing steel is not
Gk = 30 kN/m
Active deflections
Gk = 40 kN/m performed at ULS, but at SLS under the
Gk = 50 kN/m quasi-permanent load. The quasi-permanent
0 load does not depend to any great extent on
18 20 22 24 26 28
the variable load because of the combination
Span-to-height ratio, L/h factor y2 in the term y2?Qk. As a conse-
quence, for the same Gk, when the Qk/Gk
n Figure 9 Partially prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and ratio varies, the area of prestressing steel and
active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height ratio therefore the deflections do not vary to any
L/h (data: L 5 15 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?50; Gk 5 30, 40, 50 kN/m (respectively)) great extent.

L = 25 m; Qk/Gk = 0.50
3/500 One-way slabs
One-way slabs are bidimensional members
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap
As with small thickness, supported on beams or
1/250
walls, subjected to load effects that mainly act
Total deflections on a plane perpendicular to their mid-plane.
For the sake of simplicity and to be on the safe
1/500 side, they can be considered as spanning one
Gk = 30 kN/m
Active deflections way. Here, the study concerned fully pre-
Gk = 40 kN/m
Gk = 50 kN/m stressed 1?0 m wide one-way solid slabs
0 without any additional ordinary reinforce-
18 20 22 24 26 28 ment. Two restraining conditions, that is,
Span-to-height ratio, L/h simply supported slab and fixed-end slab,
were considered.

n Figure 10 Partially prestressed beams: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines)

Simply supported solid slabs. The reference
and active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height
values for which the analysis was performed
ratio L/h (data: L 5 25 m; Qk/Gk 5 0?50; Gk 5 30, 40, 50 kN/m (respectively))
are
Qk/Gk = 0.75
Qk/Gk = 0.50 (a) span-to-height ratio L/h between 18 and
Total deflection Qk/Gk = 0.25 40 with steps equal to 1
Span-to-height ratio, L/h

30
(b) spans of the slabs: 10 m, 15 m and 20 m
(c) permanent loads: dead load + 2?5 kN/m
(d) variable-to-permanent load ratios of
20
Active deflection
0?25, 0?50 and 0?75.

Ap The tendon, which again had a parabolic

As trend, presented, with respect to the centre-
10 line of the structure, null eccentricity at the
15 20 25
ends and maximum eccentricity at the mid-
Length: m
span equal to M0/Pm.
Figure 12 shows the total deflection-to-
n Figure 11 Partially prestressed beams: influence of the length of the beam on the L/h span and active deflection-to-span ratios as
ratios to which the attainment of the limits on the active and total deflections functions of the span-to-height ratio, for
corresponds (data: Qk/Gk 5 0?25, 0?50, 0?75; Gk 5 40 kN/m) beams with a Qk/Gk ratio equal to 0?75,

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 42 Debernardi and Taliano

respecting two conditions: the complete

Qk/Gk = 0.75
4/500 utilisation of the strength of the prestressing
steel and the stress limitation of the
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap concrete at the SLS.

3/500
Total deflections The reference values for which the study
L = 10 m was performed were the same as those
L = 15 m
1/250 considered before
L = 20 m

(a) span-to-height ratio L/h between 18 and

1/500
Active deflections 54 with steps equal to 1
(b) spans of the slabs: 10 m, 15 m and 20 m
0 (c) permanent loads: dead load + 2?5 kN/m
18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 (d) variable-to-permanent load ratios of
Span-to-height ratio, L/h 0?25, 0?50 and 0?75.

The total deflection-to-span and active

n Figure 12 Simply supported solid slabs: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) deflection-to-span ratios are shown in
and active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height
Figure 13 as functions of the span-to-height
ratio L/h (data: Qk/Gk 5 0?75; Gk 5 dead load + 2?5 kN/m)
ratio L/h. From these curves the allowable
span-to-height ratio (L/h)max, corresponding
which is the most critical of the examined beams, whereas for slabs the width was to a total deflection of 1/250?L, is equal to 46,
situations. From these diagrams the limit of 1/ assumed constant. but the limitation on the active deflection is
250 L for the total deflection corresponds to a once again determining with an allowable
ratio L/h of 33?5, whereas the limit of 1/500 L Fixed-end solid slabs. The profile of the span-to-height ratio of 41.
for the active deflection corresponds to a ratio tendon was formed by three parabolic
L/h of 27?5. segments with eccentricities e1 at mid-span
The Qk/Gk ratio did not affect these and e2 at the two ends. The statically Conclusion
allowable limits appreciably. In fact, the highly indeterminate moments due to the prestres-
non-linear trend of the curves, which was not sing and the effects of the loads were A parametric analysis has been performed in
noticed for the T- or I-sections, is attributable calculated elastically and considered con- order to calculate the total and active deflec-
to the fact that the dimensions, and in stant in time. The prestressing steel area tions of prestressed concrete beams and slabs
particular the width of the top flange, were and the eccentricities e1 and e2 were and to determine the span-to-height ratios to
assumed to be strictly necessary for the determined through an iterative procedure which the attainment of the limits on the
deflections corresponds: span/250 under the
quasi-permanent load combination (total
deflection), span/500 for the deflection after
Qk/Gk = 0.75
4/500 construction that could damage adjacent
parts of the structure, such as partitions and
Deflection-to-span ratio, a/L

Ap finishes (active deflection). Two typologies of

3/500
simply supported beams have been consid-
L = 10 m
L = 15 m
ered, fully prestressed and partially pre-
1/250 L = 20 m stressed. Two typologies of fully prestressed
Total deflections
solid slabs have also been taken into account,
namely, simply supported or fixed-end slabs.
1/500
The design of the beams and slabs has been
Active deflections carried out to optimise the dimensions of the
0 sections, with reference to ULS and SLS
18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
verifications.
Span-to-height ratio, L/h
The span-to-height ratios that correspond
to the attainment of the limits for the active
n Figure 13 Fixed-ends solid slabs: total deflection-to-span (continuous lines) and and total deflections are summarised in
active deflection-to-span (dotted lines) ratios as a function of the span-to-height ratio Table 2. Referring to ratios of Qk/Gk equal to
L/h (data: Qk/Gk 5 0?75; Gk 5 dead load + 2?5 kN/m) 0?25, 0?50 and 0?75 means considering quasi-

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Table 2 Allowable span-to-height ratios (L/h)max that comply with the limitations for the total (1/250?L) and the active (1/500?L)
deflections, for various variable-to-permanent load ratios and structural typologies
Simply supported beams
Fully prestressed
Qk/Gk 1/250?L 1/500?L
0?25 32 23
0?50 38 29
0?75 41 33
permanent load-to-design load ratios equal to
0?61, 0?52 and 0?46 (when the combination
factor y2 5 0?2).
The limits on the active deflection give
the most restrictive values of the span-to-
height ratio. In comparison with the values
proposed in Eurocode 2 (CEN, 2004) for RC
simply supported or fixed-end beams and
slabs, these values are obviously higher
because of the favourable effects of pres-
tress. Owing to the adopted design proce-
dures, the ratio Qk/Gk influences the
allowable span-to-height ratios to a great
extent in the case of fully prestressed simply
supported beams, where a linear interpola-
tion for intermediate values may be used,
whereas its influence is rather negligible in
the remaining cases.
When the design is carried out without any
optimisation of the dimensions of the section,
which means the stresses on the materials are
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Span-to-height ratio limits for prestressed concrete members
One-way fully prestressed solid slabs
Partially prestressed Simply supported
1/250?L 1/500?L 1/250?L
28 23 34
lower than the recommended limits, the
maximum span-to-height ratios proposed
can be considered conservative and higher
values could be acceptable.
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