Types of Pre-stressing:

Class- 1: Full Pre-stressing:

•No tension is allowed under any loading i.e. permissible tensile stress is
considered zero.
•Adopted for the dynamic loads in corrosive atmosphere. (Since cracking
will not be there as there is no tension hence corrosion will not affect the
tendons.)
Class- 2: Limited Pre-stressing:
•Low value of tensile stress is permitted but it is less than cracking stress
and hence section is used effectively
•This type of section is used when structure occasionally carry maximum
load.
Class- 3: Partial Pre-stressing:
•Tensile stresses are permitted at working load but crack-width and the
strains are limited.
•Stresses are calculated by assuming cracked section i.e. neglecting
concrete in tension.
•This type of pre-stressing is used for bridges which are rarely subjected to
heavy loads.

Concrete for Pre-stress Bridge: Steel for Pre-stressing:

•strength of the steel should be around 1400 N/mm2.
a Strength Strength > M40 (40 N/mm2) (For pre-tensioned)
•Generally diameter of the strands is 5, 7, 8 mm.
b Cement Content Cement Content < 540 kg/m3
c Water Cement Ratio (W/C)< 0.45 Stage Pre-stressing:
•Pre-stressing is done in the stages say stage-1, stage-2, etc. one after another.
Limiting Stresses in Concrete in Compression and Tension •According to code minimum number of stages is recommended and it should
• Allowable compressive and tensile stresses for bonded Class 1 and Class 2 not be greater than 2.
members at transfer and service load are provided by IS 1343 are as
• For 100% jacking force, minimum concrete strength is fc,str
follows :
• For 30% of jacking force, minimum concrete strength = 0.5 fc,str
Transfer Condition Service Condition • Between 30% and 100% of jacking force, minimum concrete strength
Compression 0.50 fc k 0.33fc k • shall be arrived at by linear interpolation between 0.5 fc,str & fc,str
Tension :
Class 1 1.0 N/mm2 0 (Where, fc,str = Minimum Concrete required for full stressing)
Class 2:Pretensioned 0.45 f ci 0.45 fcu
Postensioned 0.36 fci 0.36 fcu

Load Stages to be considered for Stress Checking At the transfer. (i.e. Pre-stressing force + Dead Load)
(a)Construction stage: P/A σttp σtcD
•In this stage, loading includes temporary loads, loads due transportation of T
C
components, loads due to handling or erection, loads due to launching of C Yt T
girders etc.
(b) Design Load Stages:
•For the design load following conditions are checked
C C
C T
• Service dead load + full pre-stress after losses (DL + PL). σbcp Stresses
Stresses
• Service dead load + live load + full pre-stress after losses. (DL+LL+PS) Stresses Due to DL at Transfer
(c) Design Loads Plus Thermal Loads Stage: Due to Prestress
•The combination of the loads with differential temperature gradient effect
maximum 50% of live load is considered and adequate un-tensioned steel is  P P. e  M g
provided to take care the tensile stresses and limit the crack width. At top fiber      f tt .......(1)
(d) Ultimate Stage :  A Zt  Zt
•Section is checked for following ultimate load cases
 P P. e  M g
• Under moderate conditions At bottom fiber      f ct (2)
1.25 x Perm. Loads + 2x superimposed DL + 2.5 xLL  A Zb  Zb
• Under severe exposed conditions Note: (-ve  tension; +ve compression)
1.5 x Permanent Loads + 2x superimposed DL+ 2.5 x LL P = Prestressing force after losses up to transfer Transfer
(Superimposed dead load consists: precast footpath, hand rails, wearing course, kerbs etc.)
ftt to be put with negative sign in above equations)

1
At the service load (i.e. Pre-stress force + Dead Load+Live Load ) Determination of Section Moduluses
Multiplying eqn (1) by  and Subtracting from eqn 3,
P/A σttp σtcD σtcL σtcS
C C C  P P. e  M g M q  P P. e  M g 
T i.e.             f cw  f tt
Z t  Z t
C Yt
 A Zt  A Z t  Z t 
C  M q  1   M g   M q  1   M g 
C     f cw  f tt   Zt     (5)
  f cw  f tt  
T T
T
σbcp σbtD  Zt 
Stresses σbtL σbtS
Due to Prestress Stresses Stresses Stresses Multiplying eqn (2) by  and subtracting eqn (4) from it
Due to DL Due to LL at Service  P P. e  M g   P P. e  M g M q 
 P P. e  M g M q i.e.       f ct         f ct  f tw
At top fiber      f cw ......(3)  A Z b  Z b   A Z b  Z b Z b 
 A Z t  Z t Zt
 P P. e  M g M q  M q  1   M g   M  1   M g 
     f ct  f tw   Z b   q  (6)
   f tw ....(4)
 f ct  f tw  
At bottom fiber
 A Z b  Z b Z b  Zb 
Note: (-ve  tension; +ve compression) If the permissible stresses at working and at transfer ftw and fcw
 = % loss of prestress after Transfer respectively are known, the minimum value of Zt and Zb can be
calculated.
ftw to be put with negative sign in above equations)

Determination of Pre-stressing Force and Eccentricity Equations 7a and 7b may be re-written in terms of fsup and
From equations (1) and (4) finf as
 P P. e 
 P P. e   Mg  f sup     . (8a)
 A  Z    f tt  Z  .(7a)  A Zt 
 t   t 

 P P. e   f tw M g  M q  
 P P. e 
f inf     .. (8b)
       . (7b)  A Zb 
 A Zb    Zb 
Let the net tensile stresses due to (DL +LL) at top fiber at working To eliminate P, dividing equations (9a) and (b) above, we
stage is denoted by finf and the net stress at top fiber is denoted by get
1 e 
fsup, i.e. (i.e. RHS of Equation 7a and 7b is denoted by fsup and finf   
 A Z t   f sup 1 e  1 e 
respectively)     f inf     f sup
 Mg   1 e  f inf  A Z t   A Zb 
f sup   f tt    (9a)   
 Z t   A Zb 
f
   
M g  1M qf  ....f (9b) e f inf  f sup   e Z f  Z f  e  Zt Zb f inf  f sup
  ....... (10)
f inf   tw 
 Z bA 
inf sup  Z
 t Zb  Zt Zb
b inf t sup

A f sup Zt  f inf Zb 

Equations (8a) and (8b) may be re-written as If the eccentricity provided is less than the required,
more pre-stressing force is to be applied.
P. e P
  f sup Required prestressing force corresponding to a given
Zt A eccentricity may be calculated as

P. e
 f inf 
P P. e P  e 1
Zb A  f inf   P    f inf
Zb A  Zb A 
To eliminate e, dividing equations (11a) and (11b), we get
f inf f A Zb
P  P  inf
 f   e 1  Z b  Ae
Z b  A sup 
  Z t  Z b   f inf Z b  f sup Z t
P   
Zt  P A  Zb A 
 f inf  
 A
A f inf Z b  f sup Z t 
 P ......... (11)
Z t  Z b 

2
Limiting Zone of Pre-stressing Cable
 At mid-span  Moments are maximum
 Tensile stress at bottom and compressive stress at to
Cable Zone and Cable Profile
 Eccentricity must be such that • Once the prestress force has been chosen based on
 permissible stresses at top and bottom are within limit the most critical section (mid-span in SS beam), it is
 Need to determine the limiting zone of cable (since cable possible to find the limits of the eccentricity ‘e’ at
force can not be changed)
different sections
At Supports  DL and LL moments are almost zero • An allowable cable zone is produced within which
 the eccentricity of the cable the profile may take any shape.
 not to develop tensile stresses more than tensile strength of
concrete (even for zero moments) • As long as the ‘cable’ lies within the zone, the
 Need to determine the limiting eccentricity zone at support stresses at the different loading stages will not
also exceed the allowable values, even though some of
At Mid-span; Mg = Mmin and the tendons might physically lie outside the cable
Mg +Mq = Md = Design Moment zone.
At Mid-span; Mg = 0 and
Mg +Mq = Md = 0

 Z t f tt Z t M min  Z t f cw Z t M d
e   e   Magnel Diagram
P A P P A P
1
Z b f ct Z b M min Z f Z M 8 3 4
e   e  b tw  b  d 10
Pi
P A P P A P
2

Example: An un-symmetric I-section girder of a bridge is

 Mg   1012 106 
subjected to moments due to DL (Mg) and LL (Mq) as 1012 kNm f sup   f tt     0     10.6 N / mm2
and 450 kNm respectively.  Zt   95 106 
450
f
f inf   tw 
M g  M q     0  1012  450106   23 N / mm2
200
  0.85 0.85  75 106 
440  Z b  
A f inf Z b  f sup Z t  345 103  23  75 106   10.6 95 106
 
P 
550
Z t  Z b  
75 106  95 106 
ftt = ftw = 0
150
1460 103 N
A = 34500 mm2
Z t Z b  f inf  f sup 
fct = fcw = 15 N//mm2
Zt = 95106 mm3 95 106  75 106 23   10.6
e 

A f sup Z t  f inf Z b  345 103  23  75 106   10.6 95 106 
Zb = 75106 mm3

250
 967 mm
450 Maximum available eccentricity = (1000-440) – 75 = 485 mm
Minimum cover to cable = 75 mm The loss ratio after transfer = 0.85

3
  Z t f tt Z t M min  Z t f cw Z t M d
e   e  
P A P P A P
 95 10  0 95 106 1012 106
6
 95 106 15 95 106 1462 106
e   e  
1460 103 345 103 1460 103 1460 10 3
345 10 0.85 1460 103
3

e  0  275  693  968 mm e  970  275  1178  483 mm

Z b f ct Z b M min Z b f tw Z b M d
e   e  
P A P P A P
75 106 15 75 106 1012 106 75 106  0 75 106 1462 106
e   e  
1460 103 345 103 1460 103 1460 10 3
345 10 0.85 1460 103
3

e  770  275  693 1188 mm e  0  217  1178  960 mm

Since the eccentricity to be provided (485 mm) is CHECK FOR SECTION AT ULTIMATE
within limits, it may be provided. The ultimate moment carrying capacity of the section
The pre-stressing force to be applied corresponding to should not be less than the moment due to ultimate
available eccentricity may be calculated as loads
f inf A Z b
P For moderate condition
Z b  Ae (i.e. 1.25 x Permanent Loads + 2x superimposed dead
load + 2.5 x live load)
23  345 103  75 106

75 106  345 103  485 For severe condition
(1.5 x Permanent Loads + 2x superimposed dead load
 2456 10 N 3
+ 2.5 x live load)
Check for Stresses at Transfer and at working

Check for Moment Design for Shear

The ultimate moment carrying capacity of the section will be The shear force carrying capacity of the section will be calculated
considered as minimum of following on the basis of un-cracked section as well as based on cracked
Moment carrying capacity based on yielding of steel, section and minimum will be considered in the design.
M ult  0.9 d b As f p Shear Force Carrying capacity Based on Un-cracked section
Moment carrying capacity based on crushing of concrete Vco  0.67 bd f t 2  0.8 f cp f t   P Sin
For Rectangula r Section :
where  is the loss of prestress and  is angle of inclination of
M u  0.176 bd b2 f ck cable (for trapezoidal cable)
For Tee Beam Section : Where,

M u  0.176 bd b2 f ck   0.8 B f  b  d b   t f ck
2  t b = width of the section for rectangular section and is width of the
web for Tee-section,
3  2
Where b = width of the web, d = overall depth of the section.
Bf = width of the flange, fcp = compressive stress at the centriodal axis due to prestress
taken as positive.
db = depth of beam from the maximum compression
ft =maximum principal tensile stress given as
edge of the center of gravity of the steel tendons,
t = thickness of the flange. f t  0.24 f ck

4
 Shear Force Carrying capacity Based on cracked Section in Flexure Design for Shear when V < 0.5Vc
When the shear force at a section due to ultimate loads, V is less
M
Vcr  0.037 bd b f ck  tV than 0.5Vc the shear force capacity of the section, no shear
M reinforcement need be provided.

  Iy
Design for Shear when 0.5Vc < V < Vc
where M t  0.37 f ck  0.8 f p If V is greater than Vc/2, a nominal shear reinforcement may be
provide as
• Vcr should not be considered less than …… Asv 0.87 Fyv
• Moreover, Vcr calculate at a particular section may be
 0.4 MPa
Sv b
assumed to be constant for a distance equal to db/2 measured
Design for Shear when V > Vc
in the direction of increasing moment from that particular If V is more than Vc, the shear reinforcement will be provided as
section.
• Furthermore, for the sections having inclined tendons and Asv V  Vc

cracked in flexure, the component of pre-stressing force S v 0.87 f yv d l
normal to the longitudinal axis of the member should be Where dl is the depth from extreme compression fiber either to the
ignored. longitudinal bars having diameter not less than link bar over which
the link will pass or to the centroid of the tendons, whichever is
greater.

Design of Pre-stressed Beams:

Check for Minimum (Supplementary) Reinforcement • At transfer stage. (i.e. Pre-stressing force + DL)
 
As , min  0.26 f ctm f yk bt d  0.0013 bt d • At service load Stage (i.e. Pre-stress force + DL+LL )
σttp σtcD σtcL σttTR σtcS
Where, P/A
T C C T C
bt = Mean width of Tension zone Yt
fctm = Mean value of axial Tensile strength of concrete
C
C T T C T
P/A σbcp σbtD σbtL σbcTR σbtS
At transfer Pre-stressing DL LL Transfer Service
 P P. e  M g
At top fiber      f tt (i.e. concrete Tensile strength at transfer) .......(1)
 A Zt  Zt
 P P. e  M g
At bottom fiber      f ct (i.e. concrete comp strength at transfe r) (2)
 A Zb  Zb
At working load
 P P. e  M g M q
At top fiber      f cw (i.e. concrete comp strength at working) ......(3)
 A Z t  Z t Zt
 P P. e  M g M q
At bottom fiber      f tw (i.e. concrete Tens strength at working) ....(4)
 A Zb  Zb Zb
Note: (-ve: tension; +ve: compression) (ftt and ftw are to be put with -ve sign in above equations)
 = % loss of prestress; Mg & Mq = BM due to DL and & LL resp.

Determination of Section Modulus Determination of Pre-stressing Force and Eccentricity

Multiplying eqn (1) by  and Subtracting from eqn 3, From equations (1) and (4)

 P P. e  M g M q  P P. e  M g   P P. e   Mg 
i.e.  A  Z   Z  Z         f cw  f tt  A  Z    f tt  Z  .(7a)
 t  t t  A Z t  Z t   t   t 

 P P. e   f tw M g  M q  
 M q  1    M g   M  1    M g         . (7b)
    f cw  f tt   Zt   q   (5)  A Zb    Zb
  f cw  f tt  

 Zt 
In above equations, the terms on LHS indicates the stresses at top and bottom fiber due
Multiplying eqn (2) by  and subtracting eqn (4) from it
to prestressing force which may be denoted as fsup and finf indicating the stresses at top
 P P. e  M g   P P. e  M g M q  and bottom fiber due to prestress respectively
i.e.       f ct         f ct  f tw
 A Z b  Z b   A Z b  Z b Z b 
 P P. e   Mg 
f sup     . (8a)  f sup   f tt   ......... (9a)
 M q  1    M g   M  1    M g   A Zt   Z t 
   f ct  f tw   Zb   q  (6)
 Zb   f ct  f tw  
If the permissible stresses at working and at transfer ftw and fcw respectively are  P P. e  f
 f inf   tw 
M g  M q   ............ (9b)
f inf     .. (8b) 
known, minimum value of Zt and Zb can be calculated.  A Zb   Z b 
Based on Zt and Zb determined above, preliminary sections dimensions are
assumed

5
 To eliminate P, dividing equations (8a) and (b) above, we get
Limiting Zone of Pre-stressing Cable
1 e 
   1 eZt Zb  f inf 1 f sup e 
 At mid-span  Moments are maximum
1
 f inf  fsup   e f inf  f sup  A eZt Zb f inff sup Zt fsup  e
  f inf     f
ZAt f sup Zt  fAinf ZZb b 
....... (10)
A  Z Z  1 Zt Zeb  f inf
 A sup  Tensile stress at bottom and compressive stress at top
t b
   
 A Zb   Eccentricity at the mid-span must be such that
 permissible stresses at top and bottom are within limit
Equations (8a) and (8b) may be re-written as
 Need to determine the limiting zone of cable
P. e P P. e P
  f sup  f inf  At Supports  DL and LL moments are almost zero
Zt A Zb A
 since cable force can not be changed)
To eliminate e, dividing equations (11a) and (11b), we get  the eccentricity of the cable is changed towards support
P  P   Eccentricity is determined in such a way that no (limited)
 f    f sup  A f Z b  f sup Z t  A f Z  f Z 
Z b  A sup 
 Z t  Zbb  f inf Z b  f sup
Z t 
Z t PZb   finf
P Z A P Tensile stresses should develop in the section
 inf Z b  f sup Z t  P
.........  (11)inf b sup t ......... (11)
Zt 

P  A Zt 

P  A Z t  Z b  Z t  Z b 
 inf

f
A
  inf

f
A
  Need to determine the limiting eccentricity zone at
support also

 P P. e  M g  Z t f tt Z t M min Z b f ct Z b M min
     f tt .......(1)
(Tensile) Stresses at Transfer at top fiber
 A Zt  Zt
e   e  
P A P P A P
Z M g Z t f tt
 e t  
A P P
 P P. e  M g  Z t f cw Z t M d Z b f tw Z b M d
(Compressive ) Stresses at bottom fiber      f ct (2) e   e  
 A Zb  Zb P A P P A P
Z b f ct Z b M min
 e   Near the Support
P A P
Dead Load Moment, Mg = Mmin  0 and
 P P. e  M g M q
(Tensile) Stresses at working at bottom fiber      f tw ....(4) Design Moment, Md = Mg +Mq  0 + 0  0
 A Z b  Z b Z b
Z b M g M q Z b f tw
 e     Near the Mid-span
A P P P
Dead Load Moment, Mg = Mmin  MDL, Max, and
 P P. e  M g M q
(Compressive) Stress at bottom fiber      f cw ....(4) Design Moment, Md = Mg +Mq  MDL, Max + MDL, Max
 A Z t  Z t Zt
 Z t f cw Z t M d
 e  
P A P

CHECK FOR SECTION AT ULTIMATE Design for Shear

The ultimate moment carrying capacity of the section should not be less than Shear force carrying capacity of the section is calculated on the basis of un-
the moment due to ultimate loads cracked section as well as based on cracked section and minimum will be
considered in the design.
For moderate condition
(1.25 x Permanent Loads + 2x superimposed dead load + 2.5 x live load) Shear Force Carrying capacity Based on Un-cracked Section
Ib 
For severe condition Vco   w  2
f ctd  k1 cp f ctd  P Sin
(1.5 x Permanent Loads + 2x superimposed dead load + 2.5 x live load) Where,
 S 
Determination of Ultimate Moment Carrying Capacity of Section I = Second Moment of Area of gross-section
Ultimate moment carrying capacity of section is considered as minimum of S = First Moment of Area between centroidal axis and
following compression fibre about centriod axis
fctd = design value of concrete tensile strength = (f c/m)
Moment carrying capacity of Section, M ult  0.9 db As f p k1 = constant depending upon the transmission length and
has a value of ‘1’ for post-tensioned members
cp = mean compressive stress at centriodal axis = (P/Ac)
 = Loss ratio
P = Prestressing force
 = Slope of the cable at support

6
Shear Force Carrying capacity Based on cracked Section in Flexure Design for Shear when V < 0.5Vc
When the shear force at a section due to ultimate loads, V is less
M
Vcr  0.037 bd b f ck  tV than 0.5Vc the shear force capacity of the section, no shear
M reinforcement need be provided.

  Iy
Design for Shear when 0.5Vc < V < Vc
where M t  0.37 f ck  0.8 f p If V is greater than Vc/2, a nominal shear reinforcement may be
provide as
• Vcr should not be considered less than …… Asv 0.87 Fyv
 0.4 MPa
• Moreover, Vcr calculate at a particular section may be Sv b
assumed to be constant for a distance equal to db/2 measured Design for Shear when V > Vc
in the direction of increasing moment from that particular If V is more than Vc, the shear reinforcement will be provided as
section. Asv V  Vc
• Furthermore, for the sections having inclined tendons and 
cracked in flexure, the component of pre-stressing force S v 0.87 f yv d l
normal to the longitudinal axis of the member should be Where dl is the depth from extreme compression fiber either to the
ignored. longitudinal bars having diameter not less than link bar over which
the link will pass or to the centroid of the tendons, whichever is
greater.

DESIGN OF END BLOCK

Minimum (Supplementary) Reinforcement
 
Function: To distribute the concentrated pre-stressing force at the anchorage
As , min  0.26 f ctm f yk bt d  0.0013 bt d The end block must have sufficient area to accommodate the anchorages, and
Where, may be taken equal to the narrowest flange of the beam.
bt = Mean width of Tension zone The length of the end block (along the span) should not be less than 600 mm
fctm = Mean value of axial Tensile strength of concrete or its width whichever lesser.
The concentrated pre-stressing force results in bursting tensile force in the end
block. The bursting tensile force Fbst, developed in an individual square end
block due to symmetrically placed square anchorage or bearing plate may be
taken from following table.

Ypo/ Y0 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Fbst/Pk 0.23 0.20 0.17 0.14 0.11

Where, 2Y0 = side of end block, 2Yp0 is the side of loaded area,
Pk = load in the tendon, and Fbst is the burshting tensile force
This force Fbst is distributed in a region extending from 0.2Y0 to 2Y0 from the
loaded face of the end block as shown in Fig.

Design Steps of Post-tensioned Bridges as per IRC:112

• In case of circular anchorages or Preliminary Dimensions
bearing plates, the side of the
•Assume preliminary dimensions of the section as
equivalent square area should be
calculated. •Overall depth of the girder (D) = 60 – 80 mm per meter span
•Width of top flange (slab), Btf = 0.5D – 0.7D
•Width of bottom flange (slab) = 0.5 Btf
Reinforcement in the End Block:
•Minimum thickness of deck slab at ends = 150 mm – 200 mm
• Assuming the tensile strength of the steel as 0.87f y, steel area
•Thickness of deck slab = 200 mm – 250 mm (in composite
required may be calculated provided reinforcement cover is
more than 50 mm. construction)
• If the reinforcement cover is less than 50 mm, the strength of •Thickness of top slab at junction of slab & web > depth at free
steel will be limited to stress corresponding to 0.001 strain. end (slope 4H:1V)
•Minimum thickness of web = 150 mm + diameter of cable duct
•Minimum thickness of bottom flange = 200 – 350 mm
•Thickness of bottom slab at junction of slab and web > Depth at
free end (slope 1H:1V)
•Width of the flange of girder (Bbf) =0.5 Btf

7
• Calculate the section properties (A, Zt and Zb) with out • Check the assumed section for stresses, at transfer and at
deducting the area of duct working.
• Calculate moment due to DL, as Mg • Select the size of the prestressing tendon and determine the
• Calculate moment due to LL corresponding to worst position of no. of prestressing tendons
LL, as Mq • Avoid grouping of tendons (for bonding of grout), if required
put tendons vertically
• Calculate section modulus Zt and Zb from eqn (7) and check
• Minimum clear cover = 50 mm
that provided Z > required
• Determine the profile of the cable, the profile is determined
• Collect compressive and tensile strength of concrete at at two stages
transfer, ftc, ftt and at working, fwc, fwt • Determine the ultimate shear and flexural strength of the
• Assume some value of  section based on prestressing
• Calculate fsup and finf from eqn (9) • steel and untensioned steel and check that is not less than
• Calculate value of eccentricity ‘e’ of prestressing force from required ultimate moment and
eqn (10) • ultimate shear force calculated for (1.25xper. load + 2x
• Calculate value of prestressing force P, from eqn (11) super. imp load + 2.5xLive load)
• If eccentricity is to be varied, determine the range of
eccentricity from eqn.(12)

Minimum Longitudinal Reinforcement

Minimum Vertical Reinforcement If Grade of Concrete is less than M45
For mild steel: For mild steel:
• Minimum reinforcement in vertical direction to be provided in • Minimum reinforcement in longitudanal direction to be provided in bulb/web
bulb/web of the box should not be less than 0.3% of cross- of the box should not be less than 0.25% of cross-section are of bulb/web
section are of bulb/web
For HYSD bars:
• Minimum reinforcement in vertical direction to be provided in bulb/web of the
For HYSD bars: box should not be less than 0.15% of cross-section are of bulb/web
• Minimum reinforcement in vertical direction to be provided in If Grade of Concrete is greater than M45
bulb/web of the box should not be less than 0.18% of cross- For mild steel:
section are of bulb/web • Minimum reinforcement in longitudanal direction to be provided in bulb/web
of the box should not be less than 0.3% of cross-section are of bulb/web
Notes: For HYSD bars:
• This reinforcement is to be provided uniformly spaced along • Minimum reinforcement in vertical direction to be provided in bulb/web of the
box should not be less than 0.18% of cross-section are of bulb/web
the length of web. Notes:
• In the bulb portion, the cross-sectional area of bulb in plan • This reinforcement as far as possible is to be evenly spaced on the
shall be taken periphery
• Non-prestressed high strength reinforcement can also be reckoned for
fulfilling this purpose of minimum steel

Grouping of Cables
Cover and Spacing of Prestressing Steel • Grouping of cables shall be avoided to the extent possible
• If the prestressing cable is nearest to surface, the minimum • If unavoidable, only vertical grouping of cables, upto 2 cables may be
clear cover measured from outside of sheathing shall be 75 permitted as shown in Fig.
mm • Minimum Clear spacing between groups shall be diameter of the duct or
• The minimum clear cover to un-tensioned reinforcement 50 mm whichever is greater
including links and stirrups shall be taken as specified for Note:
• In case of severe conditions of exposure, grouping of cables should be
reinforced bridges. altogether avoided. This may be achieved by the use of high capacity
• Minimum clear distance of 50 mm or diameter of the duct, strands.
whererever is greater, shall be maintained between individual
cables when grouping of cables is not involved