Design of Concrete Structure II

UNIT II – Prestressed Concrete

Lecture 1- Introduction
 "Structural engineering is the art of molding
materials we don't wholly understand,
into shapes we can't fully analyze,
so as to withstand forces we can't really assess,
in such a way that the community at large has no
reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance."

...James E. Amrhein - Masonry Institute of America

(Retired) September 2009
 Basic Concept
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

Few Classic Everyday Examples Are:

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
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.
Example of Pre -Stressing Concept
For concrete, internal stresses are induced (usually, by means
of tensioned steel) because

 The tensile strength of concrete is only about 8% to 14% of its

compressive strength.

 Cracks tend to develop at early stages of loading in flexural

members such as beams and slabs.

 To prevent such cracks, compressive force can be suitably

applied in the perpendicular direction.

 Prestressing enhances the bending, shear and torsional

capacities of the flexural members.

 In pipes and liquid storage tanks, the hoop tensile stresses can
be effectively counteracted by circular pre-stressing
Basic Concept
 Early Attempts of Prestressing
• Prestressing of structures was introduced in
late nineteenth century
 Mild steel rods are stretched and concrete is poured
around them.

 After hardening of concrete, the tension in the rods is

released.

 The rods will try to regain their original length, but this
is prevented by the surrounding concrete to which the
steel is bonded.

 Thus, the concrete is now effectively in a state of pre-

compression.

 It is capable of counteracting tensile stress, such as

arising from the external loads
Trouble with early attempts at prestressing

The early attempts of prestressing were not

completely successful.
It was observed that the effect of prestress
reduced with time.
The load resisting capacities of the members
were limited.
Under sustained loads, the members were
found to fail.
 Reasons for Failure:
(Prestress Loss and Low Material Strength)
 Concrete shrinks with time.

 Moreover under sustained load, the strain in concrete increases with increase
in time.

 The reduction in length due to creep and shrinkage is also lead to reduction in
the length of the embedded steel, resulting in significant loss in the tensile
strain.

Creep and Shrinkage of Concrete – Loss in Prestress

 In the early applications, the strength of the mild steel and the strain during
pre stressing were less.

 The residual strain and hence, the residual prestress was only about 10% of the
initial value. The following sketches explain the phenomena.
The residual strain in
steel =
original tensile strain in
steel (–) compressive
strains
corresponding to short-
term and long-term
losses
 Original tensile strain in steel = (L2 – L1)/L1

 Compressive strain due to elastic shortening of beam

= (L2 – L3)/L1
(short-term loss in prestress)

 Compressive strain due to creep and shrinkage

= (L3 – L4)/L1
(long-term losses in prestress)

 Therefore, residual strain in steel = (L4 – L1)/L1

 The maximum original tensile strain in mild steel

= Allowable stress / elastic modulus
= 140 MPa / 2×105 MPa = 0.0007
 The total loss in strain due to elastic shortening,
creep and shrinkage was also close to 0.0007.

 Thus, the residual strain was negligible.

 The solution to increase the residual strain and

the effective prestress was to :

Adopt high strength steel with much higher original

strain. This leads to the scope of high prestressing
force.

Adopt high strength concrete to withstand the high

prestressing force.
Tung Yen Lin

Eugene Freyssinet

Pre Stress Technology -

Pioneers
The International Federation for Prestressing
(FIP), a professional organization in Europe was
established in 1952.

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)

was established in USA in 1954.

IS 1343 2012 - PRESTRESSED CONCRETE — CODE OF PRACTICE

( Second Revision )
Building Materials
 STRESS STRAIN CURVE OF CONCRETE

Steeper Ascending
and Descending
slope for Higher
Grade concrete
 Pre-Stressing Method
Pre – Tensioning The essential devices for pre-tensioning are
Prestressing bed
End abutments
Shuttering / mould
Jack
Anchoring device
Harping device (optional)

Force Transfer through

“Bond”
Tendon in contact with
Concrete
 Pre--Stressing Method
Pre
Post – Tensioning

Force Transfer through

“Bearing” on Deviator
Blocks and Anchorages
No Physical Contact
between tendon and
Concrete..
Concrete
Need Anchorage devices
 Nature of Concrete-Steel Interface

 Bonded tendon
– When there is adequate bond between the
prestressing tendon and concrete, it is called a
bonded tendon. Pre-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 unbonded tendon.
When grout is not applied after post-tensioning, the
tendon is an unbonded tendon.
 Stages of Loading
The analysis of prestressed members can be different for
the different stages of loading.

 Initial : It can be subdivided into two stages.

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

 Intermediate : This includes the loads during

transportation of the prestressed members.

 Final : It can be subdivided into two stages.

a) At service, during operation.
b) At ultimate, during extreme events.
 Advantages of Prestressed Concrete
1) Section remains uncracked under service loads

 Reduction of steel corrosion

• Increase in durability.

 Full section is utilised

• Higher moment of inertia (higher stiffness)
• Less deformations (improved serviceability).

 Increase in shear capacity.

 Suitable for use in pressure vessels, liquid retaining

structures.

 Improved performance (resilience) under dynamic and

fatigue loading.
2) High span-to-depth ratios

 Larger spans possible with prestressing (bridges,

buildings with large column-free spaces)

Typical values of span-to-depth ratios in slabs

Non-prestressed slab 28:1
Prestressed slab 45:1

 For the same span, less depth compared to RC

member.
• Reduction in self weight
• More aesthetic appeal due to slender sections
• More economical sections.
3) Suitable for precast construction
The advantages of precast construction are as
follows.
• Rapid construction
• Better quality control

• Reduced maintenance

• Suitable for repetitive construction

• Multiple use of formwork

• Reduction of formwork
• Availability of standard shapes.
Common Precast Section
 Limitations of Prestressing
Prestressing needs skilled technology. Hence,
it is not as common as reinforced concrete.

The use of high strength materials is costly.

There is additional cost in auxiliary

equipment.

There is need for quality control and

inspection.
 Types of Prestressing
1- Source of prestressing force
 Based on the method by which the prestressing force is
generated. There are four sources of prestressing force:
Mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and chemical.

2- External or internal prestressing

 Based on the location of the prestressing tendon with
respect to the concrete section.

3- Pre-tensioning or post-tensioning
 Based on the sequence of casting the concrete and
applying tension to the tendons.

4- Linear or circular prestressing

 Based on the shape of the member prestressed.
5- Full, Limited or partial prestressing
 Based on the amount of prestressing force, three types of
prestressing are defined.

Full Prestressing
• The level of prestressing is such that no tensile stress is allowed in
concrete under service loads, it is called Full Prestressing
(Type 1, as per IS:1343 - 1980).
Limited Prestressing
• When the level of prestressing is such that the tensile stress under
service loads is within the cracking stress of concrete, it is called
Limited Prestressing (Type 2).
Partial Prestressing
• When the level of prestressing is such that under tensile stresses
due to service loads, the crack width is within the allowable limit, it
is called Partial Prestressing (Type 3).

6- Uniaxial, biaxial or multi-axial prestressing

 The classification is based on the directions of prestressing a
member.
 Internal

External
Pre-Stressing Systems
Advantages of Pre-tensioning
The relative advantages of pre-tensioning as
compared to post-tensioning are as follows.
 Pre-tensioning is suitable for precast members
produced in bulk.
 In pre-tensioning large anchorage device is not
present.

Disadvantages of Pre-tensioning
The relative disadvantages are as follows.
A prestressing bed 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.
Advantages of Post-tensioning
The relative advantages of post-tensioning as
compared to pre-tensioning are as follows.
Post-tensioning is suitable for heavy cast-in-place
members.
The waiting period in the casting bed is less.
 The transfer of prestress is independent of
transmission length

Disadvantage of Post-tensioning
 The relative disadvantage of post-tensioning as
compared to pre-tensioning is the requirement of
anchorage device and grouting equipment.
 Pre stressing Steel
 Wires
 Prestressing wire is a single unit made of steel.

 Strands
 Two, three or seven wires are wound to form a prestressing strand.

 Tendon
 A group of strands or wires are wound to form a prestressing tendon.

 Cable
 A group of tendons 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.
 STRESS STRAIN CURVE OF HYSD STEEL

No defined
Yield Point

PROOF
STRESS

0.2% PROOF
STRESS
 Properties of Prestressing steel
1) High strength (min 980N/sqmm with proof
stress 80% of UTS) As high as
2010N/sqmm
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 Pre stressing Steel

The maximum tensile stress during pre stressing (fpi) shall

not exceed 80% of the characteristic strength.
fpi = 0.8 * fpk

Relaxation of Steel
Relaxation of steel is defined as the decrease in stress with time under
constant strain.

Due to the relaxation of steel, the prestress in the tendon is reduced

with time. Hence, the study of relaxation is important in prestressed concrete
to calculate the loss in prestress.

The relaxation depends on the type of steel, initial prestress and the
temperature.
 Instantaneous stress = (fp)
Initial pre stressing = (fpi).

Yield stress = fpy

It can be observed that there is

significant relaxation loss when the
applied stress is more than 70% of
the yield stress.
Variation of stress with time for different levels of pre
stressing
 References
- Prestressed concrete structure lectures IIT
madras
- Prestressed Concrete – N Krishna Raju 4th
edition