ANCHORAGE ZONE

STRESSES IN POST-
TENSIONED MEMBERS
 INTRODUCTION

• In the anchorage zone or the end block of a post-tensioned prestressed

element, the state of stress-distribution is complex and three-dimensional
in nature.

• In most post-tensioned members, the prestressing wires are introduced

in cable holes or ducts, pre-formed in the members and then stressed
and anchored at the end faces.

• As a result of this, large forces, concentrated over relatively small areas,

are applied on the end blocks. These highly discontinuous forces which
are applied at the end, while changing progressively to continuous linear
distribution, develop transverse and shear stresses.
In post-tensioned construction, the prestressing force is
transferred to the concrete small anchorage plates behind
the anchorage by bearing. This results in very high concrete
bearing stress behind the anchorage plate.

Failure of anchorage zone is perhaps the most common

cause of problems arising during construction.
Such failures are difficult and expensive to repair and might
require replacement of the entire member
Anchorage zones failure due to uncontrolled cracking or
splitting of the concrete from insufficient transverse
reinforcement.
Bearing failures immediately behind the anchorage plate are
also common and may be caused by inadequate dimensions
of bearing plates or poor quality of concrete
ST. VENANT’S PRINCIPLE

• The stress distribution at a distance far away from the loaded face
(normally at a distance equal to or greater than the depth of the
beam) can be computed from the simple bending theory.

Anchorage Zone or End Block

-the zone between the end of the beam and the section where
only longitudinal stress exists.
 As a result of this, large forces,
concentrated over relatively small areas, are
applied on the end blocks. These highly
discontinuous forces which are applied at the
end, while changing progressively to continuous
linear distribution, develop transverse and shear
stresses.

The transverse stresses developed in the

anchorage zone are tensile in nature over a large
length and since concrete is weak in tension,
adequate reinforcement should be provided to
resist this tension.
Hence, from the point of view
of the designer, it is essential
to have a good knowledge of
the distribution of stresses in
the anchorage zone, so that he
can provide an adequate
amount of steel, properly
distributed to sustain the
transverse tensile stresses.
ANCHORAGE STRESSES
STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN END BLOCK
• The forces on the end of a post-tensioned
prestressed concrete member is shown in Fig.
10.1 (a). A physical concept of the state of stress
in the transverse direction, that is, normal to
planes parallel with the top and bottom surfaces
of the beam, may be obtained by considering
these line of force as individual fibres acting as
curved stuts inserted between end force 2P and
the main body of the beam.
• The curvature of the struts, being convex
towards the center line of the block, induces
compressive stresses in zone A.
• In zone B, the curvature is reversed in direction
and the struts tend to deflect outwards,
separating from each other and consequently
developing transverse tensile stresses.
• In zone C, the struts are straight and parallel so
that no transverse stresses are induced; only
longitudinal stresses develop in this zone.
• In Fig. 10.1 (b) the same end-block is
subjected to the same total load applied
through two zones symmetrically
disposed in the upper and lower halves
of the beam. Since the lines of force
follow the same pattern with half the
radius of curvature, the length of the
anchorage is halved.
• The transverse tension developed is also
proportionately reduced. In a similar
way, the greater the number of points of
application of the prestressing force on
the end block, the more uniform is the
stress distribution.
• The idealized stress distribution in
an end block with the
compressive and tensile stress
paths is shown in Fig. 10.2 (a).
• The effect of transverse tensile
stress is to develop a zone of
bursting tension in a direction
perpendicular to the anchorage
force, resulting in horizontal
cracking as shown in Fig. 10.2 (b).
• Since, concrete is weak in tension,
suitable reinforcements are
generally provided in the
transverse direction to resist the
bursting tension.
• The distribution of transverse stresses in the
anchorage zone subjected to a symmetrically
placed prestressing force, which is distributed
𝑦𝑝𝑜
over a small area for increasing ratio of
𝑦𝑜
varying from zero to 0.5, has been
investigated by Guyon.
• The results are shown in Fig. 10.3. The lines of
equal transverse tensile stress are termed as
“isobars”.
• The figure shows the influence of the height of
the anchor plate on the distribution of
compressive and tensile stresses in the
transverse direction. The ratio of transverse
tensile stress to the average compressive stress
gradually decreases with the increase in the
ratio of the depth of anchor plate to that of the
end block.
MAGNEL’S METHOD
 FORCES ACTING ON THE BLOCK

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FIGURE 1. Forces Acting on the End Block

 FORCES ACTING ON THE BLOCK

Stress Distribution at A

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FIGURE 1. Forces Acting on the End Block

Where:

M = bending moment

H = Direct Force (Vertical)

V = Shear Force Directions shown in the figure are +ve

Fv = Vertical Stress

Fh = Direct Stress At Point A shown in the figure

𝛕 = Shear Stress
15 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX
 𝐌 𝐇
𝐟𝐯 = K1 + K2
𝐛𝐡𝟐 𝐛𝐡

K1 , K2, K3 constants (varying

𝑽
𝝉 = 𝑲𝟑 distance from the end face of the
𝒃𝒉 beam)

𝑷 𝒆𝝉𝟐
𝒇𝒉 = 𝟏 + 𝟏𝟐 𝝉𝟐
16
𝒃𝒉 𝒉
ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX
 Principal Stresses

𝑓𝑣 + 𝑓ℎ 1
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 = ± (𝑓ℎ − 𝑓𝑣)2 +4(𝜏)2
2 2

2𝜏
tan 2𝜃 =
𝑓𝑣 − 𝑓ℎ

17 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

 Table 1. Coefficients for Stresses in End Blocks (Magnel)

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Example 1. The end block of the prestressed concrete beam, rectangular
in section, is
100 mm wide and 200 mm deep. The prestressing force of 100 KN
is transmitted to concrete by a distribution plate, 100mm wide and 50
mm deep, concentrically located at the ends. Calculate the position
and magnitude of the maximum tensile stress on the horizontal
section through the centre and edge of the anchor plate.
Given:
Compute the bursting tension on these horizontal planes.
P = 100 KN Direct Stress
h = 200 mm
b = 100 mm fh =
100𝑥103
= 5 MPa
(200)(100)
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Forces Acting on the End Block

 𝑀
100 100𝑥103 50
= 5 𝑥 100 𝑥 100 −
2 2 4
For Section XX
= 1875x103 N.mm
𝑥
At = 0.5
ℎ
from table 1. V=0 H=0
K1 = -5.00 1875x103
K2 = 2.00 𝑓𝑣 = −5 = −2.35 Mpa
100 x 2002
K3 = 1.25

22 ADD A FOOTER
fh = +5 MPa MM.DD.20XX
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For Section YY (passing through edge of plate)

Stresses at x = 0.5h = 100 mm from the end

𝟕𝟓
𝐌 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐱 𝟕𝟓 𝐱 𝟓 𝐱 = 𝟏𝟒𝐱𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝐍. 𝐦𝐦
𝟐

V = - 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐱 𝟕𝟓 𝐱 𝟓 = 𝟑𝟕𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐍 (acting towards the end of beam)

H=0

𝟏𝟒𝐱𝟏𝟎𝟓
𝐟𝐯 = −𝟓 + 𝟎 = −𝟏. 𝟕𝟓 𝐌𝒑𝐚
𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐱 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟐

−𝟑𝟕𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝛕 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 = −𝟐. 𝟑𝟓 𝐌𝒑𝐚
𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐱 𝟐𝟎𝟎
24 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

fh = + 5 MPa
Principal Tensile Stresses

𝟓 −𝟏.𝟕𝟓 𝟓 −𝟏.𝟕𝟓 𝟐 + 𝟒 −𝟐.𝟑𝟓 𝟐

= − = −𝟐. 𝟒𝟕𝟓 𝑴𝑷𝒂
𝟐 𝟐

Angle of inclination of the plane of principal stress with respect to the vertical plane is,

𝟐𝝉 −𝟐 𝒙 𝟐.𝟑𝟓
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐𝜽 = = = 𝟎. 𝟕
𝒇𝒗 −𝒇𝒉 −𝟏.𝟕𝟓 −𝟓.𝟎

𝟐𝜽 = 𝟑𝟓° 𝜽 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟓°

Therefore, tensile stress component in the vertical direction

= 2.475 x sec 𝟏𝟕. 𝟓° = 2.6 MPa

Busting Section
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𝟐
𝐅𝐛𝐬𝐭 = 𝐱 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐱 𝟐. 𝟔 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟐𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐍 ( on axis YY)
𝟑
 The principal tensile stress (acting at 0.5h =
100 mm from the end) is given by,

5 − 2.35 5 + 2.35 2 +0
fmin = −
2 2
= −2.35 MPa
26 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX
GUYON’S METHOD
 GUYON’S METHOD

• Guyon has developed design tables for the computation of bursting tension in end
blocks which are based on his earlier mathematical investigations concerning the
1 distribution of stresses in end blocks subjected to concentrated loads.

• The concept of symmetrical or equivalent prism for eccentric cables, and the
method of partitioning for the analysis of stresses developed due to multiple cables
2 have been introduced by Guyon.

• There are two categories of which the distribution of forces at the ends are treated:
FORCE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED and FORCE NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
3
 FORCE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
When the forces are arranged such that the resultant of the stress distribution
at a distance equal to the depth of the end block coincides with the line of action of
the force as shown in the figure, then the forces are considered to be evenly
distributed. For eccentric forces and multiple cables, the symmetric prism method
may be used.
FORCE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
 FORCE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED

According to Guyon, the bursting tension is expressed as:

Fbst= 0.3P [l - (ypo/yo)0.58]

Where:
P = anchorage force
ypo/yo= distribution ratio
2 ypo = depth of the anchorage plate
2 yo = depth of the equivalent prism
 FORCE NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED

When it is not possible to arrange the

end forces evenly, Guyon recommends
that transverse tensile stresses be
investigated along successive resultants,
such as:
(a) resultant of all forces
(b) resultant of smaller groups of forces,
and
(c) lines of action of individual forces.
FORCE NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
FORCE NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
FORCE NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
 EXAMPLE 01

Using Guyon’s Method, compute the

position and magnitude of maximum tensile
stress and bursting tension for the end
block with concentric anchor force of 100 kN
as detailed in Example 10.1.
 EXAMPLE 01
Using Guyon’s Method, compute the position and magnitude of maximum tensile stress and bursting
tension for the end block with concentric anchor force of 100 kN as detailed in Example 10.1.
THANK YOU!!!