Solid State Phenomena Submitted: 2015-10-30

ISSN: 1662-9779, Vol. 249, pp 296-300 Revised: 2016-01-06

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.249.296 Accepted: 2016-01-08
© 2016 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Online: 2016-04-25

Effect of Reduced Bond of Prestressed Strands

VÍTEK Jan L.1,a* and ČÍTEK David 2,b

1
Metrostav a.s.,Koželužská 2450/4, 180 00 Prague 8 and CTU in Prague, Czech Republic
2
Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, Šolínova 7, 166 08 Prague 6, Czech Republic
a b
vitek@metrostav.cz, david.citek@klok.cvut.cz

Keywords: bond, concrete, experiment, prestressed strands, pull-out test.

Abstract. Bond of prestressing strands may be reduced by using protective coatings against
corrosion during winter period, when early grouting of ducts may be impossible. It was not verified
if the reduced bond has an influence on the performance of the post-tensioned structures. The
experimental program was prepared, which investigated the bond of prestressing strands without
protection and with two types of protective coatings. The program had two parts, laboratory pull-out
tests and bending tests of large post-tensioned beams. The paper presents the results of this
experimental program.

Introduction
Prestressed strands at post-tensioned structures are in most of cases grouted using a cement mortar.
Since the strands are sensitive to corrosion, they have to be protected against environmental impact.
If possible the best protection is, if they are immediately after prestressing grouted. Immediately is
understood usually within a period of two weeks. It can happen that it is not possible due to the low
temperature in winter period. If there was a danger of frost, and grouting would not become a
reliable and durable protection of the strands. In such cases there is necessary to find another
protection. The strands may be provided with a special coating which can protect the strands for a
period of several months. Then it is possible to wait until the temperatures are above the freezing
point and then to grout the strands. On the other hand such coatings have a negative influence on
bond of strands and concrete or grouting mortar. In order to investigate the effect of reduced bond
on the performance of concrete structures, an experimental program was executed.
The experimental program was composed of the two parts. In the first part the bond of
prestressing strands was directly measured using a pull-out test. The second part of the research was
focused on performance of large prestressed beams subjected to bending. The deflection
development, cracking and finally the ultimate load were measured.

Pull-out tests
Pull-out tests used for testing of the bond of the seven-wire strand of the profile 15.7 mm. The
strands were embedded in the cubes with the edge length 150 mm. The anchorage length is only
140 mm. The strands are lulled out of the cubes; the pulling force is measured and the slip on the
other end of the strand than the force is acting is also measured, in order to receive the dependence
of the force and the slip. Concrete cubes were produced from concrete C40/50. Three types of
specimens were tested. 1. Strands without any protective coating, which represent a reference test,
are the specimens with full bond, which can be achieved. 2. Strands with coating which has been
generally used on sites – here designated as coating E. 3. Strands with coating which is relatively
new and which has not been used on sites in the Czech Republic yet – here designated as coating U.
Three specimens from each alternative were tested. The average values are plotted in Fig. 1. Very
different results were obtained. The highest bond was achieved at the strands without coating, while
coating E reduced the bond of about 50% and U coating even more. However, the pull-out tests
were considered as auxiliary tests, since they may not completely correspond to the actual behaviour

All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans
Tech Publications, www.ttp.net. (ID: 165.215.209.15, ProQuest, USA-19/05/16,20:41:25)
 Solid State Phenomena Vol. 249 297

of the strands in concrete. The strands (with exception of pretensioned structures) are not embedded
in concrete but in the grout which has different mechanical parameters and the loading may be also
different when a crack in a concrete structure is developed.

Fig. 1 Dependence of the average bond stress on the slip of strands with and without protective
coating

Testing of beams
Prestressed concrete beams were produced and their performance was tested during the bending
tests. The beams were loaded by two point loads, which were gradually increased until failure of the
beams.
The beams had a T shape of the cross-section. They were 10.5 m long, 0.5 m deep; the top flange
is 0.4 m wide and 0.1 m deep and they were prestressed by one post-tensioned bonded tendon
composed of 4 strands ∅ 15.7 mm. The beams were also reinforced by ordinary steel bars. At the
bottom part of the web, 2 longitudinal bars of ∅ 8 mm were used with a concrete cover of 50 mm.
Nine beams were produced from concrete C35/45. Prestressing strands were used without the
protective coating (reference beams), with the coating E and with the coating U, always a group of
three beams. The beams were also reinforced by simple reinforcement which is usual at all
structures. At the bottom surface 2 bars profile of 8 mm were used. In order to detect the effect of
the mild reinforcement on the crack pattern, at one beam in each group these two reinforcing bars of
profile 8 were cut off at the midspan area. At those beams no reinforcement with exception of the
prestressed tendon was used in the tensile zone. The strands were stressed at the age of concrete
from 2 to 4 days and grouted after 3 to 7 days. The beams were tested at the age of concrete 32 days.
The beams were produced in the precasting plant of SMP CZ in Brandys n. L. and the tests were
carried out also there in order to avoid the transport of beams.
The tests were arranged at the outside area under the crane. The supports of the beams were
produced from concrete elements and the concrete counterweight was used as a reaction of the
loading forces induced by hydraulic cylinders. The stroke of cylinders was only 150 mm. Since the
expected deflection of the beams was significantly larger, the cylinders had to be usually twice re-
adjusted. The load was gradually increased up to the failure of individual beams. During the loading
process the deflections were measured and the crack development was observed. The crack pattern
was recorded in different load levels. The maximum crack width and the distances of cracks were
plotted. The test was finished by crushing of concrete in the compression zone (usually close to the
298 Proceedings from 22nd Czech Concrete Day 2015

loading point) or when the deflection was large (i.e. when the deflection was similar to that, when
other beams already failed – Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Deflected beam before its failure

Fig. 3 Cracking of the beam and failure in the compression zone

In total nine beams were tested. Seven failed by crushing of concrete in the compression zone
(Fig. 3). The test at the remaining two beams was finished when large deflections were achieved
(approximately 300 mm, which is about 1/34 of the span length). When approaching the ultimate
 Solid State Phenomena Vol. 249 299

load the behaviour of beams was almost plastic. Therefore it is not completely clear to distinguish
which beam failed by crushing from the recorded results. The ultimate load was very similar at all
beams. The load – deflection diagrams of all beams are plotted in Fig. 4. From the diagrams, it
possible to see that the loading cylinders were adjusted in the range of the deflection 50 – 130 mm
and 180 – 250 mm.
When the cylinders were adjusted the stiffness of beams was already reduced due to cracking.
Relaxation of stress may be observed when the deflection was kept constant, during the cylinder
adjustment. All beams had a similar ultimate load capacity in the range 118 to 130 kN (one point
load). Also limit deflections were similar, approximately 300 mm. The overall behaviour of beams
is rather uniform. Similar conclusions were also described in [1]. Some differences may be found in
distribution of cracks and in the crack width. Maximum crack widths were observed at the beams
without the reinforcing bars at the midspan area. At the load level of 70 kN their width was about
0.4 to 0.6 mm, while if the load increased to 80 kN their width grew up to 0.9 mm at the reference
beam and 1.3 mm at the beams with the coating E and U. At the beams with reinforcing bars, the
crack widths were about 0.6 mm at the load level of 80 kN.
The crack spacing at the beams with reinforcing bars was about 200 – 300 mm. Due to the effect
of the protective coating of prestressing strands, the spacing was closer to 300 mm. The crack
spacing at the beams without reinforcing bars increased to 400 – 500 mm when the protective
coating E or U was applied, while at the reference beam the crack spacing increased from about 250
– 300 mm.
Maximum crack width at the load level 110 kN, which is rather close to the failure load was up
to 2.5 mm at the beams with reinforcing bars. At the beams without reinforcing bars, the maximum
crack width was 3 mm at the reference beam and 4 – 5 mm at the beams with protection of the
prestressing strands by coatings E and U.
It is quite evident from the obtained results, that the crack development is preferably influenced
by reinforcing bars. Their influence on both crack width and crack spacing is more significant than
the effect of the protective coating of prestressing strands. The reduction of bond due to protective
coating was clearly observed at the beams without reinforcing bars. At the beams with reinforcing
bars the effect of the protective coating was rather limited. No effect of protective coating on
ultimate load was observed.

Conclusions
Using an experimental program the bond of prestressing without any protection coating, and with
two types of protection coating (E and U) was verified. At the pull-out test, where the strand is
directly pulled out of the concrete cube, large differences in bond were observed. The protective
coating had a very significant effect on bond of prestressing strands.
If the prestressing strands are grouted in the duct as a bonded prestressed reinforcement, the
effect of the reduction of bond due to the protective coating is rather small. If the beams are also
reinforced by some bars, then the effect of bond of prestressing strands on the ultimate load and
ultimate deflection is almost negligible.
If prestressing strands are the only reinforcement in the beam (the mild reinforcement is omitted),
then the crack widths and crack spacing are influenced by the reduced bond of prestressing strands,
but the ultimate load and ultimate deflection were not influenced. It is necessary to note, that the
crack width increased also at the reference beam, where no coating was applied.
It is possible to draw the following conclusions from the experimental results. 1. Although a
significant differences in bond were observed at pull-out tests, the performance of beams was
influenced only very little. 2. Crack width and crack spacing are mainly influenced by the bar
reinforcement, while the effect of bond of prestressing strands has only a minor secondary effect. If
the crack width should be controlled, it is necessary to design appropriate mild reinforcement.
3. Bond of prestressing strands had a negligible effect on the ultimate load carrying capacity.
300 Proceedings from 22nd Czech Concrete Day 2015

Fig. 4 Load deflection diagrams of all beams (* beams with no mild reinforcement at the midspan
area)

Acknowledgement
The support of the experimental program by Technological Agency of the Czech Republic
(Research Centre CESTI, project No. TE01020168) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also
express their thanks to the companies SMP CZ a.s. and Freyssinet CS, a.s., which delivered the
beams and prestressing for the experiments.

References
[1] Laco, J., Borzovič, V., Pažma, P.: Investigation of bond influence of seven wire strands on
behaviour of post-tensioned two span girders. Concrete – Technology, Construction and
Rehabilitation, (Beton TKS), Vol. 15, 2/2015, 55-59.
Proceedings from 22nd Czech Concrete Day 2015
10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.249

Effect of Reduced Bond of Prestressed Strands

10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.249.296
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without
permission.