Stresses in Prestressed

Concrete
Stresses in Prestressed Concrete
𝒇𝒄𝒕 = 𝒇′𝒕 =Tensile Splitting Strength of the concrete
𝒇𝒓 =Modulus of Rupture
𝒇′𝒄𝒊 =Initial Compressive Strength of the Concrete
𝒇𝒄𝒊 =Maximum Allowable Compressive Strength of the Concrete immediately
after transfer
𝒇𝒄 =Maximum Allowable Compressive Stress of the Concrete after losses
𝒇′𝒄 =Maximum Compressive Strength of the Concrete
𝒇𝒕𝒊 =Maximum allowable tensile stress in concrete immediately after transfer
and prior to losses
𝒇𝒕 =Maximum allowable tensile stress in concrete after losses
𝒇𝒑𝒚 =Specified yield strength of the prestressing tendon
𝒇𝒑𝒖 =Specified tensile strength of the prestressing tendon
𝒇𝒑𝒊 =Initial Prestress before losses
𝒇𝒑𝒆 =Effective Prestress after losses
𝒇𝒄𝒕 = 𝒇′𝒕 =?
The Tensile Splitting Strength of the concrete is
normally in between 10% and 20% of 𝑓 ′ 𝑐

′ ′
𝟎. 𝟏𝒇 𝒄 < 𝒇𝒄𝒕 < 𝟎. 𝟐𝒇 𝒄
𝒇𝒓 =?
ACI provision for normal weight concrete,

𝒇𝒓 = 𝟕. 𝟓 𝒇′ 𝒄

ACI provision for lightweight concrete,

a.) If the splitting tensile strength is given,

𝒇𝒓 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝒇𝒄𝒕 ≤ 𝟕. 𝟓 𝒇′ 𝒄

b.) If 𝑓𝑐𝑡 is not specified, use the factor of 0.75 for all-
lightweight concrete and 0.85 for sand-lightweight concrete
 𝒇′𝒄𝒊 =?
𝒕
𝒇′𝒄𝒊 = 𝒇′ 𝒄
𝜶 + 𝜷𝒕
Where:

𝑓 ′ 𝑐 =28 days compressive strength of the concrete

𝑡 =time in days

𝛼 =factors depending on the cement type and curing conditions; 4.00 for moist-cured type I cement
and 2.3 for moist-cured type III cement; 1.00 for steam-cured type 1 cement and 0.7 for steam-cured
type III cement.

𝛽 =factors depending on the same parameters for𝛼; 0.85 for moist-cured type I cement and 0.92 for
moist-cured type III cement; 0.95 for steam-cured type 1 cement and 0.98 for steam-cured type III
cement.
𝒇𝒄𝒊 =?
𝒇𝒄𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟎𝒇′𝒄𝒊

𝒇𝒄 =?
𝒇𝒄 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟓𝒇′𝒄
(𝑜𝑟 0.60 𝑓 ′ 𝑐 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒)
𝒇𝒕𝒊 =?
𝒇𝒕𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒇′𝒄𝒊
(the value can be increased to 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 𝒇′𝒄𝒊 at the
supports for simply supported members)
𝒇𝒕 =?
𝒇𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 𝒇′𝒄
(the value can be increased to 𝟏. 𝟎 𝒇′𝒄 at the
supports for simply supported members)
Stresses in Prestressed Concrete
𝒇𝒄𝒕 = 𝒇′𝒕 =Tensile Splitting Strength of the concrete
𝒇𝒓 =Modulus of Rupture
𝒇′𝒄𝒊 =Initial Compressive Strength of the Concrete
𝒇𝒄𝒊 =Maximum Allowable Compressive Strength of the Concrete immediately
after transfer
𝒇𝒄 =Maximum Allowable Compressive Stress of the Concrete after losses
𝒇′𝒄 =Maximum Compressive Strength of the Concrete
𝒇𝒕𝒊 =Maximum allowable tensile stress in concrete immediately after transfer
and prior to losses
𝒇𝒕 =Maximum allowable tensile stress in concrete after losses
𝒇𝒑𝒚 =Specified yield strength of the prestressing tendon
𝒇𝒑𝒖 =Specified tensile strength of the prestressing tendon
𝒇𝒑𝒊 =Initial Prestress before losses
𝒇𝒑𝒆 =Effective Prestress after losses
ACI Maximum permissible stresses
in concrete and reinforcement
Concrete Stresses in Flexure
1.) Stresses in concrete immediately after
prestress transfer shall not exceed the following
a.) Extreme fiber stress in compression
𝟎. 𝟔𝟎𝒇′𝒄𝒊
b.) Extreme fiber stress in tension except as permitted in (c)
𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒇′𝒄𝒊
c.) Extreme fiber stress in tension at end of simply supported
members
𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 𝒇′𝒄𝒊

Note:
If tensile stresses exceeded these values, provide bonded
additional reinforcement
2.) Stresses in concrete at service loads, after
allowance for all prestress losses
a.) Extreme fiber stress in compression due to prestress plus
sustained loads, where sustained dead load and live load are
a large part of the service load
𝟎. 𝟒𝟓𝒇′𝒄
b.) Extreme fiber stress in compression due to prestress plus
total loads, if the live load is transient
𝟎. 𝟔𝟎𝒇′𝒄
c.) Extreme fiber stress in tension in precompressed tensile
zone
𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 𝒇′𝒄
d.) Extreme fiber stress in tension in precompressed tensile
zone, (except two-way slab system), where analysis based
on transformed cracked sections and on bilinear moment-
deflection relationships shows that immediate and long-
time deflections comply with restrictions stated elsewhere
in the ACI definition requirements and minimum concrete
cover requirements
𝟏. 𝟎 𝒇′𝒄
Prestressing Steel Stresses
Tensile stress in prestressing tendons shall not exceed the
following:
a.) Due to tendon jacking force

𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝒇𝒑𝒚 ≤ 𝟎. 𝟖𝟎𝒇𝒑𝒖
b.) Immediately after prestress transfer

𝟎. 𝟖𝟐𝒇𝒑𝒚 ≤ 𝟎. 𝟕𝟒𝒇𝒑𝒖
c.) Post-tensioning tendons, at anchorages devices and couplers,
immediately after prestress transfer

𝟎. 𝟕𝟎𝒇𝒑𝒖
Types of Reinforcements
1.) Uncoated Stress-Relieved or Low
Relaxation wires
2.) Uncoated Stress-Relieved and Low
Relaxation Strands
3.) Uncoated High Strength Steel Bars
Stress-Relieved and Low-
Relaxation Wires and Strands
Stress-relieved wires are cold-drawn single
wires conforming to ASTM standard A421;
stress-relieved strands conform to ASTM
standard A416. the strands are made from seven
wires by twisting six of them on a pitch of 12-to
16mm wire diameter around a slightly larger,
straight control wire. Stress-relieving is done
after the wires are woven into the strand.
Uncoated Stress-Relieved or Low
Relaxation wires and Strands
Standard Strand section Compacted Strand section
High-Tensile-Strength
Prestressing Bars
High-tensile –strength alloy steel bars for
prestressing are either smooth or deformed, and
are available in nominal diameters from 19mm
(3/4”) to 35 mm. they must conform to ASTM
standard A722. Cold drawn in order to raise their
yield strength, these bars are stress relieved as
well as to increase their ductility. The tensile
strength of the prestressing bars has to be a
minimum of 1034 Mpa with a minimum yield
strength of 85 percent of the ultimate strength
for smooth bars and 80 percent for deformed
bars.
Uncoated High Strength
Steel Bars
 Basic Method
( Prestressing to transform
concrete into an elastic
materials)
𝒕 𝒕
𝑷 𝑷𝒆 𝒄𝒃 𝑴 𝒄𝒃
𝒇𝒕𝒃 = − ± ∓ ⟶ Total Extreme Fiber Stresses
𝑨 𝑰 𝑰
𝒕 𝒕
𝑷 𝑷𝒆 𝒄 𝑴 𝒄 Extreme Fiber Stress in
𝒇𝒕 = − + − ⟶
𝑨 𝑰 𝑰 Compression

𝑷 𝑷𝒆 𝒄𝒃 𝑴 𝒄𝒃
𝒇𝒃 = − − + ⟶ Extreme Fiber Stress in Tension
𝑨 𝑰 𝑰
Problem 1
A prestressed simply supported rectangular beam has a span of 20m. It is subjected
to a uniform superimposed gravity dead-load intensity 𝑊𝑆𝐷 and live load intensity
𝑊𝐿 summing to 5.75 kN/m. the initial prestress before losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑖 = 0.70𝑓𝑝𝑢 =
1303 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and the effective prestress after losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑒 = 1034 MPa. Compute the
extreme fiber stresses at the midspan due to
a.) the initial full prestress and external gravity load
b.) the final service load conditions when prestress losses have taken place

Allowable stress data as follows:

Assume that ten-1/2 in diameter seven-wire strands (10-12.7 mm diameter

𝒆𝒄 = 𝟐𝟖𝟎 𝒎𝒎
𝒆𝒐 = 𝟎
𝟕𝟔𝟎𝒎𝒎

𝟐𝟎 𝒎
 Second concept-prestressing for
the combination of high-strength
concrete and steel
This concept is to consider prestressed concrete
as a combination of steel and concrete, similar to
reinforced concrete, with steel taking tension and
concrete taking compression so that the two
materials form a resisting couple against the
external moment. This is often an easy concept if
you are familiar with reinforced concrete where
the steel supplies a tensile force and the concrete
supplies a compressive force, the two forces
forming a couple with a lever arm between them.
Few realized that similar behavior exist in
prestressed concrete.
C-Line Method
Problem 2
A prestressed simply supported rectangular beam has a span of 20m. It is subjected
to a uniform superimposed gravity dead-load intensity 𝑊𝑆𝐷 and live load intensity
𝑊𝐿 summing to 5.75 kN/m. the initial prestress before losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑖 = 0.70𝑓𝑝𝑢 =
1303 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and the effective prestress after losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑒 = 1034 MPa. Compute the
extreme fiber stresses at the midspan due to

Allowable stress data as follows:

Assume that ten-1/2 in diameter seven-wire strands (10-12.7 mm diameter

Solve for the final service load condition by the line of thrust or C-line Method
𝑾𝑺𝑫 + 𝑾𝑳 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 − 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝟒𝟎𝟓𝒎𝒎

𝒆𝒄 = 𝟐𝟖𝟎 𝒎𝒎
𝒆𝒐 = 𝟎
𝟕𝟔𝟎𝒎𝒎

𝟐𝟎 𝒎
Third concept: Prestressing
to achieve load-balancing
A third useful approach in the design (analysis) of
continuous prestressed beams is the load-balancing
method developed by Lin. This concept is to
visualize prestressing primarily as an attempt to
balance the loads on a member. This technique is
based on utilizing the vertical force of the draped or
harped prestressing tendon to counteract or
balance the imposed gravity loading to which a
beam is subjected. Hence, it is applicable to
nonstraight prestressing tendons
Load Balancing
Method
Problem 3
A prestressed simply supported rectangular beam has a span of 20m. It is subjected to
a uniform superimposed gravity dead-load intensity 𝑊𝑆𝐷 and live load intensity 𝑊𝐿
summing to 5.75 kN/m. the initial prestress before losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑖 = 0.70𝑓𝑝𝑢 =
1303 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and the effective prestress after losses is 𝑓𝑝𝑒 = 1034 MPa. Compute the
extreme fiber stresses at the midspan due to

Allowable stress data as follows:

Assume that ten-1/2 in diameter seven-wire strands (10-12.7 mm diameter strands,

Solve for the final service load condition using Load-balancing method
𝑾𝑺𝑫 + 𝑾𝑳 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 − 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝟒𝟎𝟓𝒎𝒎

𝒆𝒄 = 𝟐𝟖𝟎 𝒎𝒎
𝒆𝒐 = 𝟎
𝟕𝟔𝟎𝒎𝒎

𝟐𝟎 𝒎