PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

– DESIGN GUIDE –
2010

Prepared by:
Prof. CLIPII Tudor, PhD
NAGY-GYÖRGY Tamás, Lecturer, PhD
FLORUȚ Codruț, PhD student

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The numbering of the tables and formulas is according to SR EN 1992-1-1:2004 (EC2).

1. Initial data

- Element type
- Element length
- Support width
- Prestressing stand length
- Number of tendons
- Type of tendons
- Permanent loads (rest)
- Live loads
- Humidity
- Exposure class
- Life cycle
- Type of the technological curve
- Concrete class
- Cement type
- Steel grade
- Modulus of elasticity of the tendons
- Steel class
- Relaxation losses
- Slip in anchorage

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1.1 Characteristics of the cross-section

For the element given in the project theme, the following characteristics of the section will
be computed:
xs
Xi

Ac – area of the concrete section

Ap – area of the prestressed reinforcement
Ic – second moment of area of concrete section
Wi – the modulus of resistance for the bottom fibre;
Ic
Wi 
xi

Ws – the modulus of resistance for the top fibre;

Ic
Ws 
xs

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2. Heat curing (Thermal treatment)
Heat curing (thermal treatment) is applied according to the following graph:

g
°C
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Ore
Hours

Ora 10
hour 14 17 21 04 08 09

3...4 h 3...4 h ˜4 h ˜7 h ˜5 h
Transfer la
Transfer at 16...22
16…22hh
timp Relaxation
de relaxaretime
(t relaxare
(trelax))
Pretensionare
Pre-stressing

Transfer
Casting

Transfer
Turnare

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3. Characteristics of the concrete

fck - Characteristic compressive cylinder strength of concrete at 28 days

C X/Y  fck= X MPa (N/mm2)

fcm - mean value of concrete cylinder compressive strength (obtained from table 3.1 in
function of the concrete class)

fctm - mean value of axial tensile strength of concrete (obtained from table 3.1 in function
of the concrete class)

fctm(t) - The compressive strength of concrete at an age t.

In formula (3.1) and (3.2) t will be replaced with tT, computed based on the technological
graph using formula (B.10).

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Ecm(t) - Secant modulus of elasticity of concrete at an age t

In formula (3.5) t will be replaced with tT, computed based on the technological graph using
formula (B.10).

3.1. Calculation of the total shrinkage strain

 cd ,  k h   cd , 0

kh is a coefficient depending on the notional size h0 according to Table 3.3

h0 is the notional size (mm) of the cross-section

h0 = 2Ac/u

where:
Ac is the concrete cross-sectional area
u is the perimeter of that part of the cross section which is exposed to drying

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 cd ,0 - Nominal unrestrained drying shrinkage, which may be taken from Table 3.2 or
based on formulas given below (B.11 and B.12 from Annex B)

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 ca () - phenomenon is due to water migration in concrete mass; is given by the formula
(3.12)

3.2 Computation of the creep

 (, t 0 ) - is the final creep coefficient, obtained using graphics from Figure 3.1.

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4. Characteristics of the prestressing reinforcement
The 0,1% proof stress (fp0,1k) and the specified value of the tensile strength (fpk) are defined
as the characteristic value of the 0,1% proof load and the characteristic maximum load in
axial tension respectively, divided by the nominal cross sectional area. Generally, these
values are given by the producers. In this case:

f p 0.1k f p 0.1k
f pd  
s 1.15
The characteristic strength of the steel (fp0,1k) is given in the theme of the project.

The relaxation of the reinforcement, given in the project theme, can be assumed:
ρ1000=8% - for Class 1
ρ1000=2.5% - for Class 2
ρ1000=4% - for Class 3

Ep - Design value of modulus of elasticity of prestressing steel, given in the project

theme.

Reinforcement types and their denotations used in this project:

0,6” <=> TBP15=7Φ5 => Ap=137 mm2
1/2” <=> TBP12=7Φ4 => Ap=88 mm2
3/8” <=> TBP9=7Φ3 => Ap=49 mm2

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5. Prestressing force during tensioning

5.1. Maximum stressing force

fp0.1k - characteristic 0,1% proof-stress of prestressing steel. This value is given by the
producer.

In this project, the following formula will be used:

 p max  k1  f pk  0.8  f pk

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6. Immediate losses of prestress for pre-tensioning

6.1. Losses at the anchorage

Account should be taken of the losses due to wedge draw-in of the anchorage devices,
during the operation of anchoring after tensioning, and due to the deformation of the
anchorage itself. Values of the wedge draw-in are given in the European Technical
Approval.
An average value used in calculation can be 4...6 mm, as given in the theme of the project.

Loss of the prestressing stresses and the prestressing loads, caused by the wedge draw-in
(sliping), can be asses according to the following relation:

1  2
 sl   Ep
Lp

where
 sl - loss of prestressing stresses due to anchorage slip.
1 ;  2 - slipping in the anchorage ends. If the pretensioning is done just from one edge
(side)  λ2 = 0.

In this project is considered, that the pretensioning is done just from one edge (side).

Lp - length of the prestressing stand (track)

Ep - design value of modulus of elasticity of prestressing steel

Psl  A p   sl

where

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Psl - losses due to anchorage slip
Ap - cross sectional area of the prestressing tendons

6.2. Relaxation of the prestressing steel

The relaxation of the prestressing steel is producing between the moments from the
stressing of steel up to the transfer.

where

 pi   p max   sl

In the formulas 3.28, 3.29 and 3.30, time t represents time of the prestressing steel
relaxation, from the moment of prestressing to the moment of the transfer.

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The equivalent time (teq) is calculated and it is given in the technological graph theme.

Loss of prestressing force caused by the relaxation of the steel can be evaluated as:

Pr  A p   pr

where:
Pr - loss of prestressing force caused by the steel relaxation
Ap - cross sectional area of the prestressing tendons.

6.3. Heat curing (Thermal treatment)

In order to reach faster the required initial strength for concrete, a heat curing process
(thermal treatment) is necessary, usually by using hot steam of hot water.

3.1.3

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7. Elastic deformation of the concrete at the transfer

In the moment of the transfer the value of the prestressing force can be computed as:
Pint erm  Pmax  Psl  Pr  P

where:
Pmax - force applied to prestressing steel
Psl - losses due to anchorage slip
Pr - loss of prestressing force caused by the steel relaxation
P - loss of prestressing force due to heat curing
xs

Ap cp
Xi

Pinterm

To calculate the unit stress in concrete at the level of prestressing steel (σcp) a simplified or
an exact procedure can be assumed.

The simplified calculation method

Pint erm Pint erm  e
 cp   e
Ac Ic
where:
Ac - area of the concrete cross section
e - distance between the gravity centres of the prestressing steel and concrete cross
section
Ic - second moment area of the concrete cross section

The exact calculation method

 p int erm
 cp 
Ac
e 
e2
A p (1  )
r2

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where:
Pint erm
 p int erm 
Ap

Ep
e 
E cm (t 0 )
Ep - modulus of elasticity of the prestressing steel
Ecm(t0) - secant modulus of elasticity of concrete at an age t0. In the case of this project t0
will be replaced with tT , as was computed before.
Ac - area of the concrete cross section
Ap - area of the prestressing steel
e - distance between the gravity centres of the prestressing steel and concrete cross
section
r - radius of gyration of the concrete cross section, computed as
Ic
r
Ac

Loss of prestressing stress (  el ) and loss of prestressing force ( Pel ) caused by the
elastic deformation (shortening) of the concrete at transfer can be evaluated according to
following relations:

 el   e   cp

Pel  A p   el

In the moment immediately after the transfer, the stress and force in prestressing steel can
be evaluated using the following relations:

Pint erm
 pm 0    el
Ap

Pm 0  A p   pm 0

In this stage, the stress in the prestressing steel must satisfy the following conditions:

 pm 0  min 0,75  f pk ;0,85  f p 0.1,k 

If it is not satisfied,  p max must be reduced.

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8. Static design

20 L=Ltransfer 20
Lcalc

ldisp 2 1

2 1
Lcalc

Combination of actions :
SLS
- characteristic ΣGk+Qk
- frequent ΣGk+Ψ1Qk
- quasi-permanent ΣGk+Ψ2Qk
ULS
- fundamental 1,35*ΣGk+1,5Qk

Ψ1 Ψ2
Roof 0,5 0,4
Intermediary slab 0,7 0,4

Load Characteristic values Bending moment in section 1-1

g self ,k  l 2
Self weigth gself,k M self ,k 
8
g rest ,k  l 2
Rest of the permanent grest,k M rest ,k 
8
Variable qk

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Combination Mod of combination Bending moment in section 1-1

( g self ,k  g rest ,k  q k )  l 2
Characteristic ΣGk+Qk M Ek 
8
( g self ,k  g rest ,k  1  q k )  l 2
Frequent ΣGk+Ψ1Qk M Ef 
8
( g self ,k  g rest ,k  2  qk )  l 2
Quasi-permanent ΣGk+Ψ2Qk M EQP 
8
(1,35  g self ,k  1,35  g rest ,k  1,5  q k )  l 2
Fundamental 1,35*ΣGk+1,5Qk M Ed 
8

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9. Verification of stresses at transfer

9.1. Design of normal stresses in the section 1-1

ct
xs

e Mself,k

Ap cp
Xi

Pm0

cb

Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self ,k
 cb   (bottom)
Ac Wi

Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self , k
 ct   (top)
Ac Ws

Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self , k
 cp   e (at the level of the prestressing steel)
Ac Ic

9.2. Design of normal stresses in the section 2-2 (at ldisp)

9.2.1. Determination of the position of the section 2-2 (at ldisp) along the element axis

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where:

fctm(t) - in chapter 3.

22
9.2.2. Computation of the bending moment from self-weight in the section 2-2 ( M self ,k )

22
g self ,k  Lcalc
M self ,k   l disp
2

9.2.3. Design and verification of the unit stresses in section 2-2

 ct<fctmf (tT()t )
ct ctm T
xs

Mself,k
e

Ap cp
Xi

Pm0

 cb<fck(tT)
cb  0.6 f ck (tT )

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 2 2
Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self ,k
 ct  
Ac Ws
2 2
Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self ,k
 cb  
Ac Wi

(1)P Local concrete crushing or splitting at the end of pre- and post-tensioned members
shall be avoided.

(3) The strength of concrete at application of or transfer of prestress should not be less
than the minimum value defined in the relevant European Technical Approval.

- condition to avoid longitudinal cracking

 ct  f ctm (t 0 ) - condition to remain the entire section uncracked

In the case when in section 2-2 the relation  cb  0,6  f ck (t 0 ) is not satisfied, the solution to
decrease the stress in concrete consists in disposal of one or more (plastic) sheets to the
one or more tendons. In this way, the wrapped tendon(s) is considered not anchored (nu
conlucreaza) in concrete, the section being verified with this new (reduced) stress. If the
relation continues to be unsatisfied (false), another tendon is considered to be wrapped in
sheet, followed by the re-verification of the section. The procedure is continued up to the
stage when the relation is satisfied (becomes true).

In the above formula t0 will be replaced with tT, computed based on the technological graph
using formula (B.10).

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ldisp 2 2'

teaca
sheet
3
2
1
teaca
sheet 2 2'
ldisp
lsheet
teaca ldisp

In the case that disposal of one or more sheets is necessary, verification in another cross-
section (2’-2’), situated at distance of ldisp measured from the sheet’s end will be done.

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10. Final losses of prestress

In the case of this project z cp  e .

M rest  M EQP
 c ,QP   cp  e
Ic

Pm 0 Pm 0  e  M self , k
 cp   e
Ac Ic

 pr - can be evaluated based on the relations 3.28, 3.29 or 3.30, considering t

being the life-cycle of the element

and

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 pi   pm 0   e   c ,QP

Ep
e 
E cm (t 0 )
where t0 is 28 days, thus Ecm(t0) became Ecm.

The final force of prestressing, considering the rheological losses can be determined with:
Pm  Pm 0  Pc  s  r

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11. Verification of the stresses in service stage in section 1-1

  ct

M
e

Pk=nPm8

cb
n=1

11.1. Verifications for  ct

 For exposure classes XD, XF, XS

 ct will be computed considering M = MEk and will be verified the relation
 ct  0,6  f ck
 For the rest of the exposure classes
 ct will be computed considering M = MEQP and will be verified the relation
 ct  0,45  f ck

11.2. Verifications for  cb

 For exposure classes X0, XC1, XS

 cb will be computed considering M = MEf and will be verified the relation
 cb  f ctm
 For exposure classes XD1, XD2, XD3, XS2, XS3
 cb will be computed considering M = MEf and will be verified the relation
 cb  0
 For exposure classes XC2, XC3, XC4

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 cb will be computed considering M = MEQP and will be verified the relation
 cb  0

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