Department of Civil Engineering

Prestressed Concrete
Loss of Prestress (4)
Losses due to Friction and Anchorage

Instructor:
Dr. Sawsan Alkhawaldeh
 Loss due to Friction
 In post-tensioning members , loss of prestressing
occurs due to friction between the tendons and the
surrounding concrete.
 The magnitude of this loss is a function of two
factors:
- The tendon form or alignment, called the curvature
effect. It is predetermined.
- The local deviations in the alignment, called the
wobble effect. It is a result of accidental or
unavoidable misalignment since ducts or sheaths
cannot be perfectly placed.
 The maximum frictional stress loss would be at the
far end of the beam if jacking is from one end, it
varies linearly along the beam span and can be
interpolated for a particular location.
 Loss due to Friction
 The frictional loss of stress is given as:

where
L is in feet,
𝜇 is the curvature coefficient,
K is the wobble coefficient,
𝛼 is the central angle along the curved segment given
as:
Design values of Wobble and Curvature Friction coefficients
Example: Loss due to Friction
Assume that the alignment characteristics of the
tendon in the post-tensioned beam is as shown
below. If the tendon is made of 7-wires uncoated
strands in flexible metal sheathing, compute the
frictional loss of in the stress in the prestressing
wires due to the curvature and wobble effects.
 Anchorage-Seating Loss
 Anchorage-seating loss occur in post-tensioned
members due to seating of wedges in the anchors
when the jacking force is transferred to the
anchorage.
 It also can occur in the casting bed due to the
adjustment expected when the prestressing force is
transferred to the beds.
 The prestress loss due to anchorage slip is given as:

Where
∆𝐴 is the magnitude of slip,
L is the tendon length.
Example: Loss due to Friction
Compute the anchorage-seating loss in the
post-tensioned beam if the estimated slip is ¼
in (6.35 mm).