CE 6510

Prestressed Concrete Design

Loss of Prestress

Sahan Bandara
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Peradeniya 1
Loss of prestress in the concrete

2
Introduction

How much force can you put in a strand when it is tensioned by the jacks?

• These maximum jacking forces can be found in the standards

• Typically for pre-tensioned tendons, maximum jacking force is about 80% of its
breaking load

• For post-tensioned tendons, maximum jacking force is about 85% of its breaking
load

3
Introduction

4
Losses in prestressed concrete

5
Friction

6
Friction

7
 Friction

• α equals the total angle change due to strand curvature between the two points (Ɵ), plus the
angle changes due to wobble (kx), where k is the wobble coefficient, and x is the distance
between the two point.
𝜟𝑷 = 𝑷𝟏 − 𝑷𝟐 = 𝑷𝟏 (𝟏 − 𝒆−µ(Ɵ+𝒌𝒙) )

• k provides the unintentional angular displacement for internal tendons (per unit length)

• The values µ and k are given in the relevant European Technical Approval. The value µ
depends on the surface characteristics of the tendons and the duct, on the presence of rust,
on the elongation of the tendon and on the tendon profile

• The value k for unintentional angular displacement depends on the quality of workmanship,
on the distance between tendon supports, on the type of duct or sheath employed, and on
the degree of vibration used in placing the concrete.

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 Friction

• In the absence of data in a European Technical Approval, values for unintended regular
displacements for internal tendons will generally be in the range 0,005 < k < 0,01 per metre.

• In the absence of data given in a European Technical Approval the values for µ given in Table
5.1(EC 2) may be assumed

• Table 5.1: Coefficients of friction µ of post-tensioned internal tendons and external unbonded
tendons

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Friction

𝜃𝒎𝒊𝒅

𝟒𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝜃= −𝟎
𝑳
plus an angle change due to wobble,
𝒌𝑳
𝒌𝒙 =
𝟐 10
Friction
Even though the equation for the loss of prestressing force 𝜟𝑷 = 𝑷𝟏 − 𝑷𝟐 = 𝑷𝟏 (𝟏 − 𝒆−µ(Ɵ+𝒌𝒙) )
involves an exponential term, for the typical values in a prestressed beam the relationship turns out to
be almost linear along a parabolic profile.

Consider for example a simply supported beam with a parabolic strand profile.
• span, L = 20 m
• jacking force = 1000 kN
• eccentricity, 𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑥 = -0.4 m
• the duct is zinc coated metal sheathing, μ = 0.2
• the duct is circular with a diameter of 100 mm, K = 0.01
Calculate and plot the reduction in prestressing force along the span.

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 Friction
Linear approximation to the prestress loss

From the plot we see that the friction loss in a prestressed beam turns out to be almost linear along a parabolic
profile. So we can calculate the slope of the friction loss line (p) by considering the loss of over one metre:
𝑝 = 𝛥𝑃 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃1 (1 − 𝑒 −µ(Ɵ+𝑘𝑥) )
where Ɵ is the angle change in the strand over 1 metre of length, and 𝑥 = 1 metre.

The angle change in the strand per metre length (the rate of angle change) is the curvature of the parabolic strand,
𝑑Ɵ 𝟖𝒆
so Ɵ over 1 metre of length = 𝐾 = = − 𝒎𝒂𝒙 2
𝑑𝑥 𝐿

𝟖𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒙
−µ − + 𝑘∗1
Therefore, p = 𝑃1 1 − 𝑒 −µ Ɵ+𝑘𝑥 = 𝑃1 1 − 𝑒 𝐿2
𝟖∗(−𝟎.𝟒)
−0.2 − +0.01
So for the example, p = 1000 1 − 𝑒 202 = 3.59 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝒆−𝟎.𝟐 𝑿 (𝟎.𝟏𝟔 + 𝟎.𝟎𝟏 𝑿 𝟐𝟎)

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Friction - example

Ɵ𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
k

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Anchorage draw-in

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Anchorage draw-in

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Anchorage draw-in

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Anchorage draw-in

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Anchorage draw-in - example

Consider EP =195GPa and AP =700 mm2

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Anchorage draw-in - example

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Steel relaxation

• Steel relaxation is a loss of stress in steel when it is held at a constant length. It is a similar phenomenon
to creep in concrete which is an increase in length under constant stress.

• Relaxation in steel is a function of the stress level, temperature and the time. It is significant at the high
stress levels that exist in prestressing steel.

• For low stresses, relaxation is normally negligible. The long term relaxation values are given by tendon
manufacturer or, in the absence approximate values can be found in standard tables.

• When curing of a precast pre-tensioned member is carried out at elevated temperature (to accelerate
concrete strength gain), all of the steel relaxation occurs during the curing cycle (i.e. before transfer of
prestress). The steel relaxation is much greater because of the elevated temperature.

• EC 2, cl:3.3.2.(7) provide equations for estimating steel relaxation

• The relaxation loss is likely to be about 4-10% of the prestress load in tendons after transfer.

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Steel relaxation

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Elastic shortening- pre-tensioned concrete

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Elastic shortening- pre-tensioned concrete

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Elastic shortening- pre-tensioned concrete - example

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Elastic shortening- post-tensioned concrete

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 Shrinkage

• The loss due to shrinkage is independent of the prestress in concrete or steel. Shrinkage loss depends on
environmental conditions such as relative humidity and temperature.

• Concrete members whether subjected to load or not, contracts on drying, undergoing shrinkage.

• Shrinkage of concrete begins as soon as curing of the concrete ends. Shrinkage losses in pre-tensioned
concrete also begin at this time (because the strand is bonded to the concrete), however shrinkage losses in
post-tensioned concrete only commence at transfer.

• Pre-tensioned concrete: Change in strain in strand = final design shrinkage strain in the concrete, ε𝑐𝑠
• Post-tensioned concrete: Change in strain in strand = final design shrinkage strain – design shrinkage strain at
age of transfer

Loss due to shrinkage, ∆𝑷𝒔𝒉 = ε𝑐𝑠 𝑬𝑷 𝑨𝑷

• Total shrinkage strain in the concrete, ε𝑐𝑠 can be calculated as per cl: 3.1.4 in EC 2.

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Shrinkage

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Drying shrinkage strain, ε𝒄𝒅

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Drying shrinkage strain , ε𝒄𝒅

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Autogenous shrinkage strain, ε𝒄𝒂

Loss due to shrinkage, ∆𝑷𝒔𝒉 = ε𝑐𝑠 𝑬𝑷 𝑨𝑷

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 Creep

• Long term continuous compressive stress on concrete causes long term shortening of concrete due to creep.
This shortening reduces the prestressed force causing a prestressing loss.

• The loss due to creep is considered as one of the major losses and is very important when the prestress in the
steel is low while the compression in concrete is high.

• The creep deformation of concrete, ε𝑐𝑐 will be directly affecting the change in strain in the strand.

• Loss due to creep, ∆𝑃𝑐𝑟 = ε𝑐𝑐 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃

• The creep deformation of concrete, ε𝑐𝑐 (∞, t 0 ) at time t = ∞ for a constant compressive stress σ𝑐 applied at the
concrete age t 0 , is given by:
ε𝑐𝑐 (∞, t 0 ) = φ (∞, t 0 ). σ𝒄 /𝐸𝒄
where the creep coefficient, φ is related to 𝐸𝒄 , the tangent modulus, which may be taken as 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎and t 0 is the
age of concrete at the time of loading.

1 𝑒2
Stress in the concrete at the level of steel, 𝜎𝑐 = 𝑃 +
𝐴 𝐼
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Creep
1 𝑒2
Stress in the concrete at the level of steel, 𝜎𝑐 = 𝑃 +
𝐴 𝐼

Therefore, the loss of prestressed force due to creep,

1 𝑒2 φ (∞, t 0 )
∆𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝑃 + 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃
𝐴 𝐼 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎

φ (∞, t 0 )
where, 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎
is the specific creep strain per 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

The creep coefficient φ (∞, t 0 ) can be found using the procedure given in cl:3.1.4 in EC 2.

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Creep coefficient φ (∞, t0 )

Loss of prestressed force due to

creep,

1 𝑒2 φ (∞, t 0 )
∆𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝑃 + 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃
𝐴 𝐼 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎

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 Summary

For pre-tensioned concrete:

1. Specify the strand force at lock-off, P 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘−𝑜𝑓𝑓

2. Steel relaxation loss = 10% of P𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘−𝑜𝑓𝑓 (assuming that the concrete is cured at elevated temperature)

3. The force after elastic shortening (which is the force after transfer) is:
where P𝑏𝑡 is 0.9 P𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘−𝑜𝑓𝑓

4. The shrinkage loss is: ∆𝑃𝑠ℎ = ε𝑐𝑠 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃 where ε𝑐𝑠 is from EC 2.

1 𝑒2 φ (∞, t 0 )
5. The creep loss is: ∆𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝑃 + 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃 where φ (∞, t 0 ) is from EC 2
𝐴 𝐼 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎

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 Summary
For post-tensioned concrete:

1. Specify the jacking force, P 𝑗

2. The friction loss at any location a along the strand is calculated from; 𝑃𝑎 = 𝑃𝑗 (1 − 𝑒 −µ(Ɵ+𝑘𝑥) )
where µ is the friction coefficient, Ɵ is the angle change, 𝑘 is the wobble, and 𝑥 is the distance from the jack

3. The anchor draw-in loss is;

where 𝑝 is the rate of friction loss and Δ𝒅𝒊 is the draw-in, taken as 6 mm

4. The force after elastic shortening must be calculated unless all tendons are stressed simultaneously

5. The prestressing force at this point is P𝑖 the force after transfer

6. EC 2, cl:3.3.2.(7) provide equations for estimating steel relaxation loss

7. The shrinkage loss is: ∆𝑃𝑠ℎ = ε𝑐𝑠 𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃 where ε𝑐𝑠 is from EC 2.

1 𝑒2 φ (∞, t 0 )
8. The creep loss is: ∆𝑃𝑐𝑟 = 𝑃 𝐴
+ 𝐼 1.05 𝐸𝒄𝒎
𝐸𝑃 𝐴𝑃 where φ (∞, t 0 ) is from EC 2.
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Losses in prestressed concrete

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