PRESTRESS LOSSES

Lump Sum Estimates

AASHTO Lump Sum Losses*

Type of Prestressing Steel Total Losses

fc' = 28 MPa fc' = 35 MPa
Pretensioning Strand 310 MPa
Postensioning Strand 220 MPa 230 MPa
High strength bars 150 MPa 160 MPa
*Losses due to friction are excluded.

PTI Approximate Prestress Loss Values for Postensioning*

Postensioning Tendon Prestress Losses

Material Slabs Beam and Joists
Stress relieved 270 strand and
stress relieve 240 wire 210 MPa 240 MPa
High strength bars 140 MPa 170 MPa
*Losses due to friction not included.

Lin and Burns Average Percentages of Loss of Prestress

Type of Losses Pretensioning Postensioning

(percent) (percent)
Elastic shortening and
bending of concrete member 4 1
Creep of concrete 6 5
Shrinkage of concrete 7 6
Relaxation of steel 8 8
Total losses 25 20

1) Loss due to Elastic Shortening of concrete (ES)

f P
unit shortening of concrete,   c  i
Ec Ac Ec
fc
loss of prestress in steel, ES  f s  Es  Es  nf c
Ec
By transformed section method,
At  Ac  nAs
Pi

Ac Ec  As Es
Es Pi
f s  Es 
Ac Ec  As Es
Es
but n  Es  nEc
Ec
nEc Pi nPi nP
ES  f s    i
Ac Ec  As nEc Ac  nAs At
When MG and Pie are present,
 F Fey  My
fc    
A I  I
at the level of steel, y = e
F Fe2 M G e
fc   
A I I
due to F0 = 0.9Pi (pretensioned members)
F F e2 M e
f cir  0  0  G
A I I
E
ES  f s  nfcir n  s
Eci
where, n = modular ratio at time of transfer
fcir = concrete stress at time of transfer
Es = 200,000 MPa

Modulus of elasticity of concrete:

ACI: Ec  w1.5 0.043 f c' MPa
w = 1450 to 2500 kg/m3
For normal weight concrete, Ec  4700 f c' MPa
41400
Jensen: Ec 
14
1 '
fc
Hognestad: Ec  12420  460 fc'
Example 1. A straight pretensioned concrete member 12.2 meters long, with a cross-section of 380 mm by
380 mm, is concentrically prestressed with 780 mm2 of steel wires which are anchored to the bulkheads
with a stress of 1035 MPa. If Eci = 33000 MPa and Es = 200,000 MPa compute the loss of prestress due to
elastic shortening of concrete at the transfer of prestress.

Solution.
(a) Using elastic analysis with transformed section

Pi  1035(780)  807300 N
Es 200000
n   6.06 say n = 6
Eci 33000
At  Ac  nAs  380(380)  6(780)  149080 mm2
nPi 6(807300)
f s    33 MPa
At 149080
steel stress = 1035 - 33 = 1002 MPa

(b) Using gross concrete area

F0  0.9Pi  0.9(807300)  726570 N

nF0 6(726570)
f s  nf c    30 MPa
Ac 380(380)
steel stress = 1035 - 30 = 1005 MPa

Example 2. Consider the same member as in example 1, but postensioned instead of pretensioned.
Assume that the 780 mm2 of steel is made up of 4 tendons with 195 mm2 per tendon. The tendons are
tensioned one after another to the stress of 1035 MPa. Compute the loss of prestress due to the elastic
shortening of concrete.

Solution. The loss of prestress in the first tendon will be due to the shortening of concrete as caused by the
prestress in the other 3 tendons. Although the prestress differs in the 3 tendons, it will be close enough to
assume a value of 1035 MPa for them all. Hence the force causing the shortening in the first tendon is,

F0 = 3(195)(1035) = 605,475 N
nF 6(605475)
f s  0   25.2 MPa
Ac 380(380)
for the second tendon,
F0 = 2(195)(1035) = 403,650 N
nF 6(403650)
f s  0   16.8 MPa
Ac 380(380)
for the third tendon,
F0 = 195(1035) = 201,825 N
nF 6(201825)
f s  0   8.4 MPa
Ac 380(380)
The last tendon has no loss. The average loss for the 4 tendons will be,
25.2  16.8  8.4
(f s )ave   12.6 MPa
4
Note: This can also be obtained using one-half of the loss in the first cable.
25.2
(f s )ave   12.6 MPa
2
2) Loss due to Creep of Concrete (CR)

Creep - is the property of concrete to experience additional strain under a sustained load. Many
factors affect the creep ratio such as volume to surface ratio, age of concrete at the time of prestress,
relative humidity, and the type of concrete (lightweight or normal).

Loss of prestress due to creep is computed for bonded members from the following expression (for normal
weight concrete):
E
CR  K cr s  f cir  f cds 
Ec
where, Kcr = 2.0 for pretensioned members
Kcr = 1.6 for postensioned members
fcds = stress in concrete at c.g.s. of tendons due to all super-imposed dead loads
that are applied to the member after it is prestressed
Es = modulus of elasticity of prestressing tendons
Ec = modulus of elasticity of concrete at 28 days, corresponding to fc'
With sand-lightweight concrete reduce Kcr values by 20%.

For unbonded tendons,

Es
CR  K cr f cpa
Ec
where, fcpa = average compressive stress in the concrete along the member length at the
c.g.s. of the tendons

3) Loss due to Shrinkage of Concrete (SH)

Shrinkage of concrete is influenced by many factors, as is creep, and the most important are:
volume-to-surface ratio, relative humidity, and time from end of moist curing to the application of
prestress.
 V
sh  550 x106 1  0.06  1.5  0.015RH 
 S
 V
or sh  8.2 x106 1  0.06  100  RH 
 S
SH  f s sh Es
 V
SH  8.2 x106 K sh Es 1  0.06  100  RH 
 S
where, sh  effective shrinkage strain
Ksh = 1.0 for pretensioned beams

Values of Ksh for postensioned members

T (days) 1 3 5 7 10 20 30 60
Ksh 0.92 0.85 0.80 0.77 0.73 0.64 0.58 0.45
T = time after end of moist curing to application of prestress
4) Loss due to Steel Relaxation (RE)

The stress in steel with constant elongation maintained over a period of time will decrease
gradually. The amount of the decrease depends on both time duration and the ratio fpi/fpy and can be
expressed as follows:
fp log t  f pi 
 1   0.55 
f pi 10  f py 

With a time interval between the moment of stressing t1 in the pretensioning bed and a later time t
when we wish to estimate the remaining force,
fp  log t  log t1   f pi 
 1     0.55 
f pi  10   f py 

where log t is to the base 10 and fpi/fpy exceeds 0.55. Prestressed beams actually have a constantly
changing level of steel strain in the tendons as time-dependent creep occurs and this is reflected as follows:
RE   Kre  J  SH  CR  ES  C
where Kre, J, and C are tabulated values

Values of Kre and J

Type of tendon* Kre (MPa) J
1860 MPa Grade stress-relieved strand or wire 138 0.15
1720 MPa Grade stress-relieved strand or wire 128 0.14
1655 MPa or 1620 MPa Grade stress-relieved wire 121 0.13
1860 MPa Grade low-relaxation strand 35 0.040
1720 MPa Grade low-relaxation wire 32 0.037
1655 MPa or 1620 MPa Grade low-relaxation wire 30 0.035
1000 MPa or 1100 MPa Grade stress-relieved bar 41 0.05
* In accordance with ASTM A416-74, ASTM A421-76, or ASTM A722-75

Values of C
Stress relieved Stress-relieved bar or low-
fpi/fpu strand or wire relaxation strand or wire
0.80 1.28
0.79 1.22
0.78 1.16
0.77 1.11
0.76 1.05
0.75 1.45 1.00
0.74 1.36 0.95
0.73 1.27 0.90
0.72 1.18 0.85
0.71 1.09 0.80
0.70 1.00 0.75
0.69 0.94 0.70
0.68 0.89 0.66
0.67 0.83 0.61
0.66 0.78 0.57
0.65 0.73 0.53
0.64 0.68 0.49
0.63 0.63 0.45
0.62 0.58 0.41
0.61 0.53 0.37
0.60 0.49 0.33
5) Loss due to Anchorage Take-up (ANC)

For most systems of postensioning, when the prestress is transferred to the anchorage, the
anchorage fixtures are subject to stresses and will tend to deform thus allowing the tendon to slacken
slightly. A general formula for computing the loss of prestress due to anchorage deformation a is,
 E
ANC  f s  a s
L
Since this loss of prestress is caused by a fixed total amount of shortening, the percentage loss is
higher for short wires than for long ones.

6) Loss or Gain Due to Bending of Member

When a member bends, further changes in the prestress may occur: there may be either a loss or
gain in prestress, depending on the direction of bending and the location of the tendon.

Tendon shortens

Under Prestress Only

Tendon lengthens

Under Uniform Load

Parabola

Strain in tendon due to uniform load

Example 3. A concrete beam 200 mm by 450 mm deep is prestressed with an unbonded tendon through
the lower third point, with a total initial prestress of 640 kN. Compute the loss of prestress in the tendon
due to the bowing up of the beam under prestress, neglecting the weight of the beam itself. Es = 210,000
MPa, Ec = 28,000 MPa. Beam is simply supported.

Solution.

75 mm
fc
150 mm

Eccentricity of tendon,
e = 225 - 150 = 75 mm
Moment due to eccentric prestressing force,
Pie = 640(75)10-3 = 48 kN-m
The concrete fiber stress at the level of the cable is,
My 48(75)(106 )
fc   1  2.37 MPa C
I 12
(200)( 450)3
The unit compressive strain along the level of the tendon is,
f 2.37
 c   8.5 x105
Ec 28000
 The corresponding loss of prestress is,
f s   Es  8.5x105 (210000)  18 MPa

7) Frictional Loss

The friction in the jacking and anchoring system is generally small though not insignificant. More
serious frictional losses occurs between the tendon and its surrounding material. This friction loss may be
considered in two parts: the length effect and the curvature effect. In practice the duct for the tendon
cannot be perfectly straight and friction will exist between the tendon and its surrounding material. This is
called the wobbling effect. The loss of prestress due to curvature effect results from the intended curvature
of the tendon profile. Some approximate values for coefficients used to compute these losses are given in
the following table:

Friction Coefficients for Postensioning Tendons

Type of Tendon Wobble coefficient Curvature
K per meter coefficient 
Tendons in flexible metal sheathing:
Wire tendons 0.0033-0.0049 0.15-0.25
7-wire strand 0.0016-0.0066 0.15-0.25
High strength bars 0.0003-0.0020 0.08-0.30
Tendons in rigid metal duct:
7-wire strand 0.0007 0.15-0.25
Pregreased tendons:
Wire tendons and 7-wire strands 0.001-0.0066 0.05-0.15
Mastic-coated tendons
Wire tendons and 7-wire strands 0.0033-0.0066 0.05-0.15

The formula for combined length and curvature effects is,

Px  Ps e(   KLx )

An approximate formula when Ps - Px is small (< 15 to 20% of Ps)

Ps  Px  Px    KLx 

Where, Ps = jacking force

Px = force at some distance x
 = friction curvature coefficient
 = total angular change from jacking end to point x
K = friction wobble coefficient
Lx = distance from jacking end to point x
Example 4. A prestressed beam is continuous over two spans and its curved tendons are to be tensioned
from both ends. Compute the percentage loss of prestress due to friction, from one end to the center of the
beam (A to E). The coefficient of friction between the cable and the duct is taken as 0.4, and the average
"wobble" or length effect is represented by K = 0.0026 per meter.

R = 45 m

0.107 rad
0.60 m A D
E
0.60 m B C
0.169 rad

5.35 m 3.80 3.80 5.35 3.20 21.50 m

R = 30 m

Solution.

1. Using the approximate formula,

Ps  Px  Px    KLx 
Ps  Px
   KLx  0.0026(21.5)  0.4(0.169  0.107)  0.166  16.6%
Px
Note: This solution does not take into account the gradual reduction of stress from A
toward E.

2. More exact solution,

AB, length effect: KL = 0.0026(5.35) = 0.014
Stress at B = 1 – 0.014 = 0.986F1
BC, length effect: KL = 0.0026(7.60) = 0.020
Curvature effect: μα = 0.4(0.169) = 0.068
Total = 0.020 + 0.068 = 0.088
Using reduced stress at B of 0.986 the loss is 0.088(0.986) = 0.087
Stress at C = 0.986 – 0.087 = 0.899F1
CD, length effect: KL = 0.0026(5.35) = 0.014
Using the reduced stress of 0.899 at C, the loss is 0.014(0.899) = 0.013
Stress at D = 0.899 – 0.013 = 0.866F1
DE, length effect: KL = 0.0026(3.2) = 0.008
Curvature effect: μα = 0.4(0.107) = 0.043
Total = 0.008 + 0.043 = 0.051
Loss = 0.051(0.886) = 0.045
Stress at E = 0.886 – 0.045 = 0.841F1
Total loss from A to E = 1 – 0.841 = 0.159 = 15.9%
3. Still more exact solution is to use the formula, Px  Ps e(   KLx ) , which takes into account not
only the variation of stress from segment to segment but also from point to point all along the
cable. The solution is tabulated as shown.

Segment L KL α μα KL+ μα e-(KL+μα) Stress at end of

(m) Segment
AB 5.35 0.014 0 0 0.014 0.986 0.986F1
BC 7.60 0.020 0.169 0.068 0.088 0.916 0.903F1
CD 5.35 0.014 0 0 0.014 0.986 0.890F1
DE 3.20 0.008 0.107 0.043 0.051 0.950 0.846F1

The total frictional loss from A to E = 1 – 0.846 = 0.154 = 15.4%

Total Amount of Losses

Initial prestress – losses = effective prestress

The magnitude of losses can be expressed in four ways:

1. In unit strains - this is most convenient for losses such as creep, shrinkage, and elastic
shortenings of concrete expressed as strains.
2. In total strains - this is more convenient for the anchorage losses.

3. In unit stresses - all losses when expressed in strains can be transformed into unit stresses in
steel.
4. In percentage of prestress - Losses due to creep in steel and friction can be most easily
expressed in this way. Other losses expressed in unit stresses can be easily transformed into
percentages of the initial prestress. This often conveys a better picture of the significance of
the losses.

Limiting Maximum Loss (ACI-ASCE Committee)

Maximum Loss MPa
Type of strand Normal Lightweight
Concrete Concrete
Stress-relieved strand 345 380
Low-relaxation strand 275 310

Example 5. Estimate the change of prestress force with time for the pretensioned-prestressed concrete
beam. The normal weight concrete beam has only its own weight wG = 6.90 kN/m acting at transfer of
prestress which occurs approximately 48 hours after initially stressing the tendons to 0.75fpu = 0.75(1862) =
1397 MPa in the prestressing bed. For 30 days we will assume the beam carries only wG = 6.90 kN/m on a
simply supported 19.8 m span. Additional superimposed load wS = 14.6 kN/m is added to the beam when
erected at 30 days and is sustained for three years or more on the simple beam spanning 19.8 m. Assuming
the following material properties: fci’ = 31 MPa, fc’ = 41 MPa, normal weight concrete (Type III cement,
steam-cured concrete, 75% relative humidity), stress-relieved 12.7 mm diameter strands with fpu = 1862
MPa, Aps = 1975 mm2, Ag = 286000 mm2, I = 33900x106 mm4, e = 340 mm, Es = 200 GPa

Solution:
Initial prestressing force,
Pi = fpsAps = 0.75(1862)(1975)10-3 = 2758 kN
Elastic shortening,
F0 = 0.9Pi = 0.9(2758) = 2482 kN
1 1
M G  wG L2  (6.9)(19.8)2  338 kN-m
8 8
 F F e2  M e
f cir   0  0   G
 A I  I
2482 x103 2482 x103 (340)2 338 x106 (340)
f cir     13.75 MPa
286 x103 33900 x106 33900 x106
Eci  4700 fci'  4700 31  26168 MPa
Es 200000
n   7.64
Eci 26168
ES  Ksh nfcir  1.0(7.64)(13.75)  105 MPa
 Creep,
1 1
M SL  wSL L2  (14.6)(19.8) 2  715.5 kN-m
8 8
M SL e 715.5 x106 (340)
f cds    7.18 MPa
I 33900 x106
E
CR  Kcr s  f cir  f cds   2.0(7.64)(13.75  7.18)  100.4 MPa
Ec
Shrinkage,
RH = 75%, V/S = 3
 V
SH  8.2 x106 K sh Es 1  0.06  100  RH 
 S
SH  8.2 x10 (1.0)(200x10 ) 1  0.06 x3100  75  33.6 MPa
6 3

Relaxation,
RE   Kre  J  SH  CR  ES  C
RE  138  0.15  33.6  100.4  1051.45  148.1 MPa
Total losses,
TL  ES  CR  SH  RE
TL  105  100.4  33.6 148.1  387 MPa
f se  0.75(1862)  387  1010 MPa
The addition of 14.6 kN/m load at 30 days produces steel stress which is sometimes added back to
the resulting steel stress “after losses.” In this case we would get,
f st  nfcds  7.64(7.18)  54.8 MPa
f se  1010  54.8  1065 MPa
If we do not consider this additional steel stress, ACI limits the design losses to 345 MPa and
since
Total losses = 387 MPa > 345 MPa, use 345 MPa losses for design
f se  1397  345  1052 MPa

Elongation of Tendons

It is often necessary to compute the elongation of a tendon caused by prestressing. For all systems
the measured elongation is compared to the expected value, thus serving as a check on the accuracy of the
gage readings or on the magnitude of frictional loss along the length of the tendon.

Neglecting frictional loss along tendon - if a tendon has uniform stress fs along its entire length L,
the amount of elongation is given by
fL FL
s   s L  s 
Es Es As

For prestress exceeding the proportional limit, refer to the stress-strain diagram for the value of δs. When
the tendon is given an initial tension fs1, the total elastic elongation of the tendon can be computed by
fs
elastic elongation = s
f s  f s1

Considering frictional loss along tendon - the total lengthening for length L is given by
F L e   KL  1
s  2
Es As   KL
If only an approximate solution is desired,
F  F2 L
s  1
2 Es As

Example 6. A Prescon cable, 18.3 m long, is to be tensioned from one end to an initial prestress of 1035
MPa immediately after transfer. Assume that there is no slack in the cable, that the shrinkage of concrete is
0.0002 at time of transfer, and that the average compression in concrete is 5.5 MPa along the length of the
tendon. Ec = 26,000 MPa, Es= 200,000 MPa. Compute the length of shims required, neglecting any elastic
shortening of the shims and any friction along the tendon.

Solution:
The elastic elongation of steel is
f L 1035(18.3)(1000)
s  s   94.7 mm
Es 200000
shortening of concrete due to shrinkage is
0.0002(18.3)(1000) = 3.7 mm
elastic shortening of concrete is
5.5(18.3)(1000)/26000 = 3.8 mm
Length of shims required is
94.7 + 3.7 + 3.8 = 102 mm