Design of Prestressed

Concrete
Lecture 1
 What is Prestressing ?
A prestressed concrete structure is different from a conventional
reinforced concrete structure due to the application of an initial
load on the structure prior to its use. The initial load or
‘prestress’ is applied to enable the structure to counteract the
stresses arising during its service period.

Definition
Prestressing is the application of initial load on a structure, to
enable it to counteract the stresses arising from subsequent
loads during its service period.
 Example
1. Force-fitting of metal bands on wooden barrels
The metal bands induce a state of initial hoop compression, to counteract
the hoop tension caused by filling of liquid in the barrels.

Hoop
Hoop
Tension
compression

2. Pre-tensioning the spokes in a bicycle wheel

The pre-tension of a spoke in a bicycle wheel is applied to such an extent
that there will always be a residual tension in the spoke
 What is Prestressed Concrete?
 Definition
Prestressed Concrete (PSC) is concrete in which stresses are
induced (by means of tensioned steel called Tendons)
before the structure is loaded, to counteract the stresses
resulting from the applied service load.
Example :- Liquid retaining structures, Bridge decks, Railway
Sleepers, Transmission line post etc..
 Need for Prestressing
 Concrete is strong in compression and week in tension.
 Cracks tend to develop at early stages of loading in flexural
members such as beams and slabs.
 In ordinary concrete beams tensile reinforcement at bottom
are taken care by standard steel reinforcement. But we still
get cracks which is due to both bending and shear.

 In prestressed concrete, because the prestressing keeps the

concrete in compression, no cracking occurs. This is often
preferable where durability is a concern.
 Development of Material
 Initially the process of prestressing involved use of ordinary
cement concrete and mild steel rods.
 It was observed that with time the effect of prestress is
reduced under sustained loads.
 Reduction in volume and length of concrete occurs due to
creep and shrinkage (Elastic Shortening).
 This also reduces the tensile strength in steel and soo the
stresses induced due to presstressing
 Inorder to reduce loss of strain due to Creep, Shrinkage and
Elastic Shortening

1) High Strength Steel (High original strain and Prestressing force)

2) High strength Concrete (Withstand high prestressing force)
Process of Prestressing
 RCC v/s PSC
Passive Combination (Materials are not stressed before
application)

RCC :- Concrete + Steel

Cement concrete and mild steel combine such that concrete
resist compression and steel resist tension.

Active Combination (Materials are actively stressed before

application)

PSC :- High Strength concrete + High Strength Steel

High strength steel and concrete combines together such
that full section effectively resist compression and tension
together.
 Advantages
The PSC has several advantages as compared to RCC. A fully
prestressed concrete member is usually subjected to
compression during service life. This rectifies several
deficiencies of concrete.

1. Section remains uncracked under service loads

(Reduction of steel corrosion, Increase in durability, Higher
moment of inertia, higher stiffness, Less deformations,
improved serviceability, Increase shear capacity and
performance under dynamic loads)
2. High span-to-depth ratios
( Reduction in self weight, More economical sections, Useful for
bridges, buildings with large column-free spaces
3. Suitable for precast construction
(Rapid construction , Better quality control, Reduced
maintenance, Suitable for repetitive construction, Availability of
standard shapes)
 Limitations
Although prestressing has advantages, some
aspects need to be carefully addressed.

1. Prestressing needs skilled technology. Hence,

it is not as common as reinforced concrete.
2. The use of high strength materials is costly.
3. There is additional cost in auxiliary
equipments.
4. There is need for quality control and
inspection.
 Types of Prestressing
1. Source of Prestressing force
(Mechanical, hydraulic, electrical
and chemical)
2. External and Internal Prestressing
3. Pre tensioning and Post tensioning
4. Linear and Circular Prestressing
5. Full, Limited and Partial Prestressing
6. Uniaxial, Biaxial and Multi axial
Prestressing
Thank you
Design of Prestressed Concrete

Lecture 2
Material Properties
 Concrete
(As per IS:1343 – 1980 Code of Practice for
prestressed concrete)

For prestressed concrete applications, high strength

concrete is required for the following reasons.

1. To sustain the high stresses at anchorage regions.

2. To have higher resistance in compression, tension,
shear and bond.
3. To have higher stiffness for reduced deflection.
4. To have reduced shrinkage cracks.
Compressive Strength

 The compressive strength of concrete is given in terms of

the characteristic compressive strength(fck)

 The minimum grades of concrete for prestressed

applications are:

 M30 for post-tensioned members

 M40 for pre-tensioned members.

Tensile Strength

In absence of test results, the Code recommends

fcr = 0.7 √fck

fcr = flexural tensile strength in N/mm2
fck = characteristic compressive strength of cubes in N/mm2 .
 Stress-Strain curve
The ultimate strength of concrete is
calculated from its stress- strain
curve. Stress-strain curves for high
strength concrete under
compression is shown in the figure.
Large elastic modulus reduces
shortening of member

Durability of concrete as
addressed in IS:1343 – 1980
says that,

• Min. cement content : 300 kg/m3

• Max cement content : 530 kg/m3
• Max w-c ratio : 0.5
 Prestressing Steel
Forms of prestressing steel
• Wires: A prestressing wire is a single unit made of steel. The nominal
diameters of the wires are 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 8.0 mm

• Strands: Few wires are wounded together in a helical form to form a

prestressing strand.

• Tendons: A group of strands or wires are placed together to form a

prestressing tendon. The tendons are used in post-tensioned
members.

• Cables: A group of tendons form a prestressing cable. The cables are

used in bridges.

• 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. Bars are available in the
following sizes: 10, 12, 16, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 32 mm.
 wire

Strands

Bar

cabl
e
 Properties of Prestressing Steel
The steel in prestressed applications has to be of good quality. It requires
the following attributes.

1. High strength
2. Adequate ductility
3. Bendability, which is required at the harping points and near the
anchorage .
4. High bond, required for pre-tensioned members
5. Low relaxation to reduce losses
6. Minimum corrosion

Allowable Stress in Prestressing Steel As per code

For high tensile steel bars minimum tensile strength is 980 N/mm2

Maximum tensile stress during prestressing (fpi) shall not exceed 80% of
the characteristic strength (fpk )

fpi ≤ 0.8 fpk

 Stress-Strain Curves for Prestressing Steel

• The stress versus strain

behavior of prestressing
steel under uniaxial tension
is initially linear(stress is
proportional to strain) and
elastic
(strain is recovered at
unloading).
• Beyond about 70% of the
ultimate strength the
behavior becomes
nonlinear and inelastic.
• There is no defined yield
point.
Forms of Precast Prestressed concrete
members
Design of Prestressed Concrete

Lecture 3
Prestressing Systems – ( Pre
Tensioning)
 Pre Tensioning
In Pre tensioning system, the tension is applied to
the tendons before casting of the concrete.

Stages of Pre-tensioning

1. Anchoring of tendons against the end abutments

2. Placing of jacks
3. Applying tension to the tendons
4. Casting of concrete
5. Cutting of the tendons.
The high-strength steel tendons are anchored
against the end abutments and are pulled with a
jack prior to the casting of concrete. The
abutments are fixed over strong foundation at the
ends of a prestressing bed.
After prestressing the tendons concreting is done with the help of
mould.

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.
 Devices
The essential devices for pre-tensioning
are as follows.

1. • Prestressing bed
2. • End abutments
3. • Shuttering / mould
4. • Jack
5. • Anchoring device
6. • Harping device (optional)
End Abutments

The end abutments have to be sufficiently stiff and have good

foundation to take initial prestressing force.

In case of mass production. The end abutments are kept

sufficient distance apart, and several members are cast in
a single line. The shuttering is provided at the sides and
between the members. This system is called the Long Line
Method or Hoyer System.
Prestressing Bed

The necessity of stiff and strong

foundation to carry large
prestressing forces is usually an
expensive proposition. This
can be bypassed by avoiding
transmission of heavy loads to
foundations, by adopting self-
equilibrating system.

This is done by means of a

‘tension frame’. The frame that
is generally adopted in a pre-
tensioning system is called a
stress bench. The concrete
mould is placed within the
frame and the tendons are
stretched and anchored on the
booms of the frame.
Anchoring Devices

In pre-tensioned members, the tendons are to be held in

tension during the casting and hardening of concrete hence
they are to be anchored tightly to the abutments.

Anchoring devices are often made on the wedge and friction

principle.
 Harping Devices

 The tendons are frequently bent, especially in case of

beams with the help of harping device.
 Eccentricity is given to tendons to counteract the moment
coming on the beams during its service period.
 The tendons are bent (harped) in between the supports
with a hold on device.
Advantages of Pre-tensioning

• Pre-tensioning is suitable for precast members produced

in bulk.

• Large anchorage device is not required.

Disadvantages of Pre-tensioning

• A prestressing bed (Stress Bench) is required for the pre-

tensioning operation.

• There is a waiting period in the prestressing bed, before

the concrete attains sufficient strength.

• There should be good bond between concrete and steel

over the transmission length.
Thank You
 Post Tensioning
 In Post tensioning system, the tension is applied to the tendons
after casting of the concrete.
 Ducts are placed while concreting, tendons are further inserted
in ducts and prestressing is applied.
 The duct prevents contact between concrete and the tendons
during the tensioning operation ( prevent friction loss).
 If the ducts are filled with grout, then it is known as bonded
post-tensioning.
 In unbonded post-tensioning, the ducts are never grouted and
the tendon is held in tension solely by the end anchorages
Bonded Post Tensioning Unbonded Tensioning

Ducts are filled with grout Ducts are never grouted

Grouting is done to prevent steel Grouting is difficult in small duct

from corrosion holes

Common process Lesser used

Tendons are cut from end and Tendons are left anchored
stress is transferred between throughout the service period
steel and concrete

Example: Beams Example: Slab

 Stages of post-tensioning

1. Casting of concrete
2. Placement of the tendons
3. Placement of the anchorage block and jack
4. Applying tension to the tendons
5. Cutting of the tendons
After anchoring the tendon at one end of the concrete
member, the tension is applied at the other end by a jack.
The tensioning of tendons and pre-compression of concrete
occur simultaneously developing self equilibrium. Hence
there is no need of Stress bench.

Unlike pre-tensioning, the tendons are pulled with the

reaction acting against the hardened concrete. In order to
take high prestressing force end block of members are
made with high strength concrete.
 Devices used in Post-tensioning

1. Casting bed
2. Mould/Shuttering
3. Ducts
4. Anchoring devices
5. Jacks
6. Grouting equipment (optional)

Advantages of Post-tensioning
• Post-tensioning is suitable for heavy cast-in-place members as it can be
done on site.
• The waiting period in the casting bed is less.
• The transfer of prestress is independent of transmission length.
• Prestressing time is itself the testing time for the concrete member

Disadvantage of Post-tensioning

The relative disadvantage of post-tensioning as compared to pre-

tensioning is the requirement of anchorage device and grouting
equipment. Also provision of ducts is a critical process.
 Stages of Loading
The analysis of prestressed members can be different
for the different stages of loading.

1. Initial : It can be subdivided into two stages.

a) During tensioning of steel
b) At transfer of prestress to concrete.

2. Intermediate : This includes the loads during

transportation of the prestressed members.

3. Final : It can be subdivided into two stages.

a) At service, during operation.
b) At ultimate, during extreme events.
 Geometric Properties
CGC = Centroid of concrete
CGS = Centroid of prestressing steel (tendons)

 The CGS and CGC can also lie outside the tendons or
concrete.
 In a PSC beam having concentric tendon CGS and CGS
coincide.
 The distance between CGC and CGS is eccentricity (e)
Concentric Tendon Eccentric Tendon
Ac = Net cross-sectional area of concrete excluding the area
of prestressing steel

Ap = Area of prestressing steel (tendons)

As = Area of Steel

A = Gross cross-sectional area of prestressed member.

A= Ac + Ap + As

At = Transformed area of prestressed member. It is area of the

member when steel is substituted by an equivalent area of
concrete.
At = Ac + mAp + mAs

m = modular ratio (Ep / Ec) 0r (Es/ Ec)

I = Moment of Inertia

Z = Section Modulus ( Z= I / y )
 Losses
 In the early days, it was observed that the prestressing
force does not stay constant, but reduces with time. Even
during prestressing of the tendons and the transfer of
prestress to the concrete member, there is a drop of the
prestressing force. The various reductions of the
prestressing force are termed as the losses in prestress.

 The losses are broadly classified into two groups, immediate

and time-dependent.

 The immediate losses occur during prestressing and

transfer stage.

 The time-dependent losses occur during the service life of

the prestressed member
 Losses

Immediate Time dependent

Elastic Friction Anchor Shrink Relaxa

Shortening losses age slip
Creep
age tion
 Elastic Shortening
When the tendons are cut and the prestressing force is
transferred to the member, the concrete undergoes immediate
shortening due to the prestress. The tendon also shortens by the
same amount, which leads to the loss of prestress.

Loss in prestress (∆fp) in tendon = Change in strain in tendon

Assumption;
Change in strain in the tendon = Strain in concrete
And strain in concrete can be calculated from the stress in
concrete (fc). This assumption is called strain compatibility
between concrete and steel.

Therefore Loss of prestress due to elastic shortening,

∆f p= mfc
 Friction Losses
 The friction generated at the interface of concrete and steel
during the stretching of a curved tendon in a post-tensioned
member, leads to a drop in the prestress.

 The loss due to friction does not occur in pretensioned

members because there is no concrete during the stretching
of the tendons.

 The friction is generated due to the curvature of the tendon

and the vertical component of the prestressing force.
 Anchorage Slip
 In a post-tensioned member, when the prestress is
transferred to the concrete, the wedges slip through a little
distance before they get properly seated in the conical
space. The anchorage block also moves before it settles on
the concrete. There is loss of prestress due to the
consequent reduction in the length of the tendon.

 Due to the setting of the anchorage block, as the tendon

shortens, there is a reverse friction. Hence, the effect of
anchorage slip is present up to a certain length. Beyond this
setting length, the effect is absent.
 Creep
 Creep of concrete is defined as the increase in deformation with
time under constant load. Due to the creep of concrete, the
prestress in the tendon is reduced with time.

 Creep occurs due to slow and sustained loading for longer period
of time.

 The creep strain depends on following factors.

 It increases with the increase in Cement content , Water-to-

cement ratio, Air entrainment, Ambient temperature.

 The creep strain decreases with the increase in Age of concrete at

the time of loading, Relative humidity, Volume to surface area
ratio.
 • Initially an immediate increase in strain is observed due to

prestressing, called as Elastic Strain (εcl )

• Gradually due to slow sustained loading under permissible

limit the strain stabilises at a level at this level it is called as
Ultimate Creep Strain. (εcr,ult )

Creep Coefficient :
(Ø)= εcr,ult / εcl
Loss of prestress due to
Creep
∆ fp = Ep . εcr,ult
Drop of prestress can be controlled using :

1) High Strength material 2)By adequate curing

3) Delaying application of Load.
 Shrinkage
• Shrinkage of concrete is defined as the contraction due to loss
of moisture. Due to the shrinkage of concrete, the prestress in
the tendon is reduced with time.

• The following figure shows the variation of shrinkage strain with

time. Here, t0 is the time at curing. Further with increase in
time an increase in strain is observed until it stabilizes at
certain limit, this strain is called as Ultimate Shrinkage Strain
(εsh )
Loss in prestress due to
shrinkage

∆fp = Ep εsh
 Relaxation
• Relaxation of steel is defined as the decrease in stress with
time under constant strain.

• Its effect is same as creep and shrinkage, loss of prestress

occur with respect to time.

• Relaxation depends on the type of steel, initial prestressing

force and the temperature.

• It can be observed that there is significant relaxation loss when

the applied stress is more than 70% of the yield stress.

• To calculate the drop (or loss) in prestress (∆fp), the

recommendations of IS:1343 - 1980 can be followed.