PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

Pre-stresswing measn the artificial creation of stresses in a structure before loading so

that the stresses which then exist under load are more favourable thean would
otherwisw be the case. It is simply ‘pre-compressed concrete’. A pre-compressive force
is applied to the concrete member before it is put into service. The position and
magnitude of this prestress force can be chosen so as to suppress any tensile stresses
that are expected under working load. The fundermental aim of prestressed concrete
is to limits the tensile stresses, hence flexural cracking in concrete under the working
load.
Forms of Prestressing Steel
• Tendon - A stretched element used in a concrete member to impart prestress to the
concrete
• Wires - Prestressing wire is a single unit made of steel.
• Strands - Two, three or seven wires are wound to form a prestressing strand.
• Cable - A group of strands form a prestressing cable.
• Bars - A tendon can be made up of a single steel bar. The diameter of a bar is much
larger than that of a wire
Method of Prestressing
Pre-tensioning
The tension is applied to the tendons before casting of the concrete. The pre-
compression is transmitted from steel to concrete through bond over the transmission
length near the ends.
In pre-tensioning system, the high-strength steel tendons are pulled between two end
abutments prior to the casting of concrete. The abutments are fixed at the ends of a
Prestressing Systems. The abutments are fixed at the ends of a prestressing bed. Once
the concrete attains the desired strength for prestressing, the tendons are cut loose
from the abutments.
The prestress is transferred to the concrete from the tendons, due to the bond between
them. During the transfer of prestress, the member undergoes elastic shortening.
Prestressing Systems undergoes elastic shortening. If the tendons are located
eccentrically, the member is likely to bend and deflect

Post-tensioning
The tension is applied to the tendons (located in a duct) after hardening of the concrete.
The pre-compression is transmitted from steel to concrete by the anchorage device (at
the end blocks).
In post-tensioning systems, the ducts for the tendons (or strands) are placed along
with the reinforcement before the casting of concrete. The tendons are placed in the
ducts after the casting of concrete. The duct prevents contact between concrete and
the tendons during the tensioning operation. Unlike pre-tensioning, the tendons are
pulled with the reaction acting against the hardened concrete.
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If the ducts are filled with grout, then it is known as bonded post-tensioning. In
unbonded post-tensioning, as the name suggests, the ducts are never grouted and the
Post-tensioning Systems Post-tensioning Systems suggests, the ducts are never
grouted and the tendon is held in tension solely by the end anchorages

Nature of Concrete-Steel Interface

• Bonded tendon - when there is adequate bond between the prestressing tendon and
concrete, it is called a bonded tendon. Pretensioned and grouted post-tensioned
tendons are bonded tendons. tensioned and grouted post-tensioned tendons are
bonded tendons.
• Unbonded tendon - when there is no bond between the prestressing tendon and
concrete, it is called an unbonded tendon. When grout is not applied after post-
tensioning, the tendon is unbonded.

Strength of Materials
Prestressed concrete requires the use of high-strength materials, both concrete and
prestressing steel
Ordinary reinforcing steel is commonly used in prestressed concrete structures as;
– transverse reinforcement
– shear reinforcement (stirrup/links)
– supplementary longitudinal reinforcement for the anchorage of links and in regions
of high local stresses and deformation

Concrete Strength Requirement

BS 8110: Part 1 : 1997 Clause 4.1.8.1
• Minimum characteristic strength of concrete (f cu)
–for pre-tensioned = 40 N/mm2
–for post-tensioned =35 N/mm2
• Minimum concrete strength at transfer (f ci)
–for pre-tensioned & post-tension = 25 N/mm 2
• Concrete Grade = Concrete Strength Class
• Concrete Strength Class – Expressed as Cn1/n2
– Where n1 – cylinders (150x300mm) strength
– n2 – cube (150x150mm) strength
- Example C25/30, C32/40, C40/50

Steel Strength Requirement

BS8110: Part 1: 4.1.8.2 Characteristic strength of steel
The specified characteristic strengths of prestressing tendons are given in the
appropriate British Standards, and those for reinforcement are given in 3.1.7.4.

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Design Considerations
Structural Classification (BS8110 Part1 Clause 2.2.3.4.2)
• Class 1: No tensile stresses permitted anywhere in the structure
• Class 2: Tensile stresses are permitted but no visible cracking is allowed. This is
ensured by limiting the maximum tensile stress of concrete
• Class 3: Cracking permitted but limited to maximum permissible flexural crack
widths (0.1mm or 0.2mm depending on exposure classes.

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Stress Limits at Service (BS8110 Part1 Clause Clause 4.3.4.2, 4.3.4.3)
4.3.4.2 Compressive stresses in concrete
In flexural members, compressive stresses should not exceed 0.33f cu at the extreme
fibre, except in continuous beams and other statically indeterminate structures where
they may be increased to 0.4fcu within the range of support moments. In direct
compression, the stress should not exceed 0.25f cu.

4.3.4.3 Flexural tensile stresses in concrete.

Tension should not be allowed at mortar or concrete joints of members made up of
precast units under the design load. Elsewhere stresses should not exceed the
following for different classes.
a) Class 1 members. No tensile stress.
b) Class 2 members. The design tensile stresses should not exceed the design flexural
tensile strength of the concrete for pre-tensioned members nor 0.8 of the design
flexural tensile strength for post-tensioned members.
The limiting tensile stresses are 0.45(fcu)½ for pre-tensioned members and 0.36(f cu)½ for
post-tensioned members. Values are given in Table 4.1

The design stress given in Table 4.1 may be increased by up to 1.7 N/mm 2 provided
that it is shown by tests that such enhanced stress does not exceed three-quarters of
the tensile stress calculated from the loading in the performance test corresponding to

4
the appearance of the first crack. Where such increase is used, the stress in the
concrete, due to prestress after losses, should be at least 10 N/mm 2

Stress Limits at Transfer (BS8110 Part1 Clause 4.3.5.1, 4.3.5.2)

4.3.5.1 Compressive stresses in concrete
In flexural members, compressive stresses should not exceed 0.5f ci at the extreme fibre,
nor 0.4fci for near uniform distribution of prestress. Where f ci. Is the concrete strength
at transfer.

4.3.5.2 Flexural tensile stresses in concrete.

Design tensile stresses in flexure should not exceed the following for different classes.
a) Class 1 members, 1.0Nmm2.
b) Class 2 members. The limiting tensile stresses are 0.45(f ci)½ for pre-tensioned
members and 0.36(fci) ½ for post-tensioned members.

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 SUMMARY OF PRESTRESS CONCRETE
A. Design for Serviceability- Cracking
B. Check Stresses at Transfer
C. Check Deflection
D. Check Ultimate Limit State- Bending
E. Design Shear Reinforcement for Ultimate Limit State. M/Z
1.0 Axially Prestressed Beam
w
P/A f2
+ + +
P P + =
- +
Bending Pre-stress f1 Total
Stress Distribution With Axial Pre-Stress
At transfer (minimum bending moment due to selfweight only)

𝑓 = − ……………………………………………………. (1)

𝑓 = + ……………………………………………………… (2)

At Service (maximum bending moment under working load)

𝑓 = − ………………………………………………………. (3)

𝑓 = + ……………………………………………………… (4)

Critical condition for no tension in the beam, that is f1 = 0, Eq.3 becomes;

P 𝑀 𝑀 𝐴
− = 0; ∴ P = … . ( 5); 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑
A Z Z
In Eq.5 make Mmax subject of formular and subtitute into Eq.4;

𝑓 = + × ;∴ … … … (6); 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑟

2.0 Member Subjected to Eccentric Prestressed Force

w
M/Z P/A Pe/Z f2
+ - +
+
+ + =
e
P P - + + Total
Bending Pre-stress Eccentricity f1

Stress Distribution With Eccentric Pre-Stress

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At transfer (minimum bending moment due to selfweight only)

𝑓 = − + ……………………………………………………. (7)

𝑓 = + − ……………………………………………………… (8)

At Service (maximum bending moment under working load)

𝑓 = − + ………………………………………………………. (9)

𝑓 = + − ……………………………………………………… (10)

Critical condition for no tension in the beam, that is f1 = 0, Eq.3 becomes;

P 𝑀 𝑃𝑒 𝑀
− + = 0; ∴ P = … . ( 11); 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑
A Z 𝑍 𝑍
−𝑒
𝐴
Example 1.
A rectangular beam 300mm x 150mm simply supported over a span of 4m, and
support a live load of 10kN/m. If a straight tendon is provided at an eccentricity of
65mm below the centroid of the section.
a.Find the minimum prestressing force for no tension under the live load at mid span.
b.Calculate the stresses under the seifweight only at midspan and at the ends of the
member.
Solution
Given: h = 300mm, b = 150mm, span L = 4m; Inposed Load w i = 10kN/m; eccentricity
e = 65mm
Area of beam = bh = 150mm x 300mm = 4.50 x 10 4mm2
Sectional Modulus Z1=Z2= bh2/6 = 2.25 x 106 mm3
Selfwaight of beam wd= 24bh = 24 x .15 x .30 = 1.08kN/m
Total load on Beam ws = wi + wd = 10.00+ 1.08 = 11.08kN/m
. ×
Maximum bending moment at midspan M max = = = 22.16𝑘𝑁𝑚

. ×
Minimum bending moment at midspan M min = = = 2.16𝑘𝑁𝑚

a. Calculate minimum prestressing force under live load

𝑀 22.16 × 10
P= = = 192.70𝑘𝑁
𝑍 2.25 × 10
−𝑒 − −65
𝐴 4.50 × 10

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bi . Stress at midspan under selfweight only
P 𝑀 𝑃𝑒 192.70 × 10 2.16 × 10 192.70 × 10 × (65)
𝑓 = − + = − +
A Z 𝑍 4.50 × 10 2.25 × 10 2.25 × 10
= 4.28 − 0.96 + 5.57 = 8.89𝑁/𝑚𝑚
. × . × . × ×( )
𝑓 = + − = + −
. × . × . ×

= 4.28 + 0.96 − 5.57 = −0.32𝑁/𝑚𝑚

bii . Stress at ends of beam under selfweight only
at ends of beam bending moment is zero.
P 𝑃𝑒 192.70 × 10 192.70 × 10 × (65)
∴𝑓 = + = + = 4.28 + 5.57 = 9.85𝑁/𝑚𝑚
A 𝑍 4.50 × 10 2.25 × 10
P 𝑃𝑒 192.70 × 10 192.70 × 10 × (65)
∴𝑓 = − = − = 4.28 − 5.57 = −1.28𝑁/𝑚𝑚
A 𝑍 4.50 × 10 2.25 × 10
Design for Serviceability Limit State
At the top fibre;

𝑓 = + − ≤𝑓 ………………………………………………… (12)

𝑓 = + − ≥𝑓 ………………………………………………… (13)

At the bottom fibre

𝑓 = − + ≥𝑓 ……………………………………………………. (14)

𝑓 = − + ≤𝑓 …………………………………………………. (15)

Determination of Minimum Section Properties

Eq.13- Eq.12; (Mmax – Mmin) < (fmax - fmin)Z1
If (Mmax – Mmin) =Mv;

∴𝑍 ≥ ………………………………………………………… (16)

For post-tensioned beam, increase Z by 20%

For pre-tensioned beam, increase Z by 35%
Minimum depth of post-tensioned beam

For span≤ 36m, ℎ = + 0.1𝑚; For span≥ 36m, ℎ = 𝑚

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Example 2
Select a rectangular section for a post-tensioned beamcarrying in addition to its
selfweight a udl pf 3kN/m over a simply supported span of 10m. The member is to be
designed as class 1 with grade 40 concrete without lateral support.
Solution
Given, span L =10m; grade of concrete 40 fcu = 40N/mm2; class of concrete= 1; imposed
load wi = 3kN/m.
BS8110 part 1 4.3.4.2; at service, fmax = fcu/3= 40/3 = 13.33N/mm2
BS8110 part 1 4.3.4.3; at service, fmin = 0
×
(Mmax – Mmin) =Mv = = = 37.52𝑘𝑁𝑚
𝑀 37.52 × 10
∴𝑍 =𝑍 ≥ = = 2.86 × 10 𝑚𝑚
𝑓 −𝑓 13.33 − 0
Z required = 1.2 x Z = 1.2 x 2.86 x10 6 = 3.38 x 106 mm3
To prevent lateral buckling; BS8110 part 1 clause 3.4.1.6
L/b > 60; 𝑏 = = 167𝑚𝑚; adopt b= 170mm
× . ×
𝑍= ;ℎ = = = 345𝑚𝑚; Adopt h = 350mm
Z provided = 3.47 x 106mm3

Design Pre-stress Force

Eq.12 + Eq.15
2𝑃 𝑀 𝑀 𝑀 𝑀 2𝑃
+ − ≤ 2𝑓 ; − ≤ 2𝑓 −
𝐴 𝑍 𝑍 𝑍 𝑍 𝐴

If Z1 = Z2 =Z and (Mmax – Mmin) =Mv; − = ∴ ≤ 2𝑓 −

𝑀 ≤ (𝐴𝑓 − P) …………………………………………. (17)

Eq.13 + Eq.14

𝑀 ≤ (𝑃 − 𝐴𝑓 ) …………………………………………. (18)

𝑃 ≥ + 𝐴𝑓 …………………………………………. (19)

If emax is the maximum eccentricity, therefore Eq.12 becomes;

𝑀 ≤𝑓 𝑍 −𝑃 −𝑒 and Eq.14 becomes 𝑀 ≤𝑃 +𝑒 −𝑓 𝑍

𝑍 𝑍
𝑃 +𝑒 −𝑓 𝑍 =𝑓 𝑍 −𝑃 −𝑒
𝐴 𝐴
( )
𝑃≤ ⬚ ………………………………………… (20)

In terms of emax
9
𝑃≥ ……………………………………………………… (21)

Example 3
From example 2, b =170mm, h=350mm, Z1=Z2= 3.47x106mm3, Mv=37.50kNm, fmin=0,
fmax=13.33N/mm2, cover to reinforcement = 50mm
a. Lower Limit of Prestress
. ×
𝑃 ≥ + 𝐴𝑓 ∴𝑃= × . ×
+ (170 × 350)(0) = 321.68𝑘𝑁
×

b. Lower Limit of Prestress base on M max and emax

Selfweight of beam wd = 24bh= 24x0.17x0.35 =1.43kN/m
𝑤 𝐿 1.43 × 10
𝑀 = = = 17.85𝑘𝑁𝑚
8 8
Mmax = Mv + Mmin = 37.52 + 17.85 = 55.37kNm
ℎ 350
𝑒 = − 𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 = − 50 = 125𝑚𝑚
2 2
. × ( ) . ×
𝑃≥ ∴𝑝= . ×
= 302.04𝑘𝑁 < 321.68𝑘𝑁
×

c. Upper Limit of Prestress

( ) ( × ) . × . × × . ×
𝑃≤ ⬚ ∴𝑃= = 396.57𝑘𝑁 > 321.68𝑘𝑁
× . ×

Adopt design prestress force P = 321.68kN

DESIGN OF TENDON PROFILE

Having obtained a value of the prestress force which will permit all stress conditions
to be satisfied at the critical section, it is necessary to determine the eccentricity at
which this force must be provided, both at the critical section and throughout the
length of the member.
At any section along the member, e is the only unknown term in the four expressions
12 to 15 and these will yield two upper and two lower limits which must all be
simultaneously satisfied.
Re-written equations 12 to 15 gives;
At the top fibre;

𝑒≤ + − ………………………………………………… (22)

10
𝑒≥ + − ………………………………………………… (23)

At the bottom fibre

𝑒≤ + − ……………………………………………………. (24)

𝑒≥ + − …………………………………………………. (25)

Example 4
Determine the cable zone limits at the midspan and ends of member designed in
example 3 for a constant prestressing force of 322kN.
(a) Ends of the Beam
Limits to cable eccentricity is given by;
𝑒≥ + − ………………………………………………… (23)

fmin =0 and Mmin =0

.
𝑒 ≥0+ − 0 = 58.32𝑚𝑚
×

𝑒≤ + − ……………………………………………………. (24)

fmin =0 and Mmax =0

3.47 × 10
𝑒 ≤0+ 0− = −58.32
350 × 170

(b) At mispan
fmin =0 and Mmin =17.85𝑘𝑁𝑚
17.85 × 10 3.47x10
𝑒≥ + − 0 = 113.75𝑚𝑚
322 350 × 170

fmin =0 and Mmax =55.37kNm

55.37 × 10 3.47 × 10
𝑒≤ + 0− = 113.64𝑚𝑚
322 350 × 170

DEFLECTION
Limits
A. Final Deflection must be greater than Span/250 measured below the level of the
support.
B. After finishes, final deflection must not be greater than 20mm or span/500
C. Total upward deflection must not be greater than 20mm or span/350
Deflection Checks
At transfer
Under dead load, before the application of finishes
At service under full load

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Formulation
When prestress is applied at the centroid, with a parabolic cabel zone e c
𝑦=− . ………………………………. (26)

But when P is applied above the centroid at e o

𝑦=− . − ………………………………. (27)

At longterm loading , 𝐸 = , where  is the coefficient of creep

Example 5
Estimate transfer and longterm deflection for the 350 x 170mm beam of 10m span. If
its assumed that the midspan eccentricity = -100mm and the end eccentricity =0.
Assume a prestress loss of 25% and creep coefficient =2.0, prestess force =322kN, w min
= 1.43kN/m, wmax = 4.43kN/m, finishes = 2.0kN/m, Ec = 31kN/m 2.
At transfer
Pt = 322/0.75 = 430kN
. ×
Deflection due to selfweight 𝑦 = − . == − . = −9.89𝑚𝑚
× .

×( . )×
Deflection due to prestress 𝑦 = . = . = 23.79𝑚𝑚
× .

Total deflection = -9.98+23.79 = 13.90mm.

At the application of finishes
. ×
Deflection due to finishes 𝑦 = − . = −13.83𝑚𝑚
× .

Total defelction after finishes = -9.89+23.79-13.83 =0.07mm

Longterm deflection
𝐸 31
𝐸 = = = 10.33𝑘𝑁/𝑚
1+𝜑 1+2
Total deflection at minimum loading
5 𝑤 𝐿 5 𝑃𝑒 𝐿 5 (1.43 + 2) × 10 5 322 × (−0.10) × 10
𝑦=− . + . =− . + .
384 𝐸 𝐼 48 𝐸 𝐼 384 10.33 × 0.000607 48 10.33 × 0.000607

= −71.18𝑚𝑚 + 53.45𝑚𝑚 = −17.72𝑚𝑚

Total Deflection under services load
5 𝑤 𝐿 5 𝑃𝑒 𝐿 5 (4.43 + 2) × 10 5 322 × (−0.10) × 10
𝑦=− . + . =− . + .
384 𝐸 𝐼 48 𝐸 𝐼 384 10.33 × 0.000607 48 10.33 × 0.000607

= −81.93𝑚𝑚 + 53.45𝑚𝑚 = −38.47𝑚𝑚

12