Post Cracking Behaviour of

Prestressed Concrete
Beams

I ≠ Ig , A ≠ Ag
RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina
RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina
Partially Prestressed Beams

• In all our previous calculations on prestressed concrete beams we’ve

used the Gross Cross Sectional area and Gross second moment of area
of the section
• In doing that we assume that the cross-section is uncracked (Tension at
any point in the section doesn’t exceed cracking stress of concrete)
• In normal designs, we can allow prestressed concrete beams to be
cracked at service loads, although not as severely as in reinforced
concrete
• Beams which are designed to crack at service loads are known as
“partially prestressed beams”.
• Most prestressed beams are designed as “Partially prestressed beams”

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Stresses in a beam section due to applied moment and
prestress – UNCRACKED SECTION

t
T C C

M
C
y e e
T
P
b
Stresses
due to Applied Combined
eccentric moment stresses
pretress
P Pe My
b   y b  
Ag I g Ig

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Elastic Analysis of a rectangular cracked section

b ε0 σ0
dsc T εsc Cs
C dn/3
dp dst dn Cc

Ap σp Tp
εce εcp
C εst T
Ts
σst
Ast Prestress Applied
alone Moment

Strains in Concrete Stresses Forces

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Elastic analysis for a prestressed beam section differs from that for a
reinforced concrete section in one key step

This is the step in which the strain in the prestressing steel is related to
that in the adjacent concrete

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Determining strain in prestress steel
Strains in section with prestress
b o
dn
dp
dst
cp ce pe
s
 p
Due to prestress only, strain in concrete at tendon level is ce (+ve); strain in
the tendon is pe (-ve)

Applied moment causes strain in concrete to change from +ve ce to –ve cp.
The concrete at level of the tendon has therefore undergone a tensile strain
increment  = cp + ce (absolute values). Assuming perfect bond, the same
change in strain must occur in tendon.

Total strain in prestress p = pe +ce +cp

Where cp = ε0(dp-dn)/dn
RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina
Equations of equilibrium for the section

• Force Equilibrium
Cc+Cs = Tp + Ts

• Moment Equilibrium,
Taking moments about the top of the section, (anti-clockwise is +ve)

M= Tsdst + Tpdp – Ccdn/3 – Csdsc

Where ‘M’ is the applied external moment

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Calculation of forces in the section

Cc = 0.5σ0bdn = 0.5Ecε0bdn

Cs = AscEsεsc = AscEs ε0 (dn-dsc)/dn

Ts = Ast st = AstEs ε st = AscEs ε0 (dst-dn)/dn

Tp = App = ApEp ε p

For a given strain diagram of concrete, all the parameters can be established.
Only tricky issue is establishing ε p .

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Strain in prestressing steel

• due to effective prestress

εpe = σp/Ep = P/(ApEp )

• Compressive stress in concrete adjacent to the prestressing cable, due

to prestress alone
εce = σce/Ec where σce= P/Ag + Pe2/Ig

• Tensile strain in concrete at level of prestress steel due to applied

Moment
εcp = ε0(dp-dn)/dn

Total strain in prestress steel = p = pe + ce + ε0(dp-dn)/dn

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Force Equilibrium

Cc+Cs = Tp + Ts
0.5Ecε0bdn + AscEs ε0 (dn-dsc)/dn =
AscEs ε0 (dst-dn)/dn + ApEp ε p

Since ε p is a function of dn
ε0 and dn are the unknowns in the equation.
We need another equation to solve for the two unknowns.

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Moment Equilibrium

M= Tsdst + Tpdp – Ccdn/3 – Csdsc

M= AscEs ε0 (dst-dn)/dn x dst + ApEp ε p x dp

– 0.5Ecε0bdn2/3 – AscEs ε0 (dn-dsc)/dn x dsc

Most of the time, what we need are the stresses in the section for a given
service moment. Therefore the moment is known. Again we have the two
unknowns: ε0 and dn
Now, you can solve for the two unknowns. We usually adopt a trial and error
procedure, ie assume a dn and calculate ε0 using force equilibrium and check
the moment.

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Worked example- Calculation of stress in a prestressed concrete
section under a given bending moment
ex 6.4 text
• A post-tensioned prestressed concrete beam has a configuration of
reinforcement shown in the figure. Calculate the maximum stress in concrete
at a service bending moment of 345 kNm.
• f’c = 40 MPa
• Ec = 32000 MPa
• Ast = 1350 mm2
• fsy = 400 MPa 200
• Ap = 405 mm2
• fpy = 1710 MPa
• εpy= 0.009
• Effective Prestress force, Pe 625
700 750
is 445.5 kN after all losses. Ap
• Mcr = 238kNm, section cracked

Ast
RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina
 Let’s start with εp.
εpe = σp/Ep = P/AEp =
=445000/(405x 190000)=0.00579

εce = (P/Ag + Pe2/Ig)/Ec = 6.93/32000

= 0.000217

εcp = ε0(dp-dn)/dn = ε0(625-dn)/dn

εp = 0.00579 + 0.000217 + ε0(625-dn)/dn

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Force Equilibrium

Cc= Tp + Ts
0.5Ecε0bdn = AstEs ε0 (dst-dn)/dn + ApEp ε p
(note no compression steel in this problem)
0.5x 32000 x ε0 x200dn = 1350 x 200000 x ε0 (700-dn)/dn + 405 x 190000 x
(0.00579 + 0.000217 + ε0(625-dn)/dn))
ε0(0.5x 32000 x 200dn - 1350 x 200000(700-dn)/dn - 405 x 190000 (625-
dn)/dn) = 405 x 190000 x (0.00579 + 0.000217)
ε0=405 x 190000 x (0.00579 + .000217)/
(0.5x 32000 x 200dn - 1350 x 200000(700-dn)/dn - 405 x 190000 (625-
dn)/dn)

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Trial and error procedure

Assume dn = 375 mm
ε0= 0.505 x 10-3
σ0 = 32,000 x 0.505 x 10-3 = 16.2 MPa
Cc = 0.5x 32000 x 0.505 x 10-3 x200x 375 =606 kN
σ s= Es ε0 (dst-dn)/dn = 200000 x 0.505 x 10-3 (700-375)/375 = 87.5 MPa
Ts = 87.5 x 1350 = 118 kN
Tp = ApEp ε p = 405 x 190000 x (0.00579 + 0.000217 + 0.505 x 10-3(625-
375)/375 = 488 kN
M = Tsdst + Tpdp – Ccdn/3 – Csdsc
= 118 x 700 + 488 x 625 – 606 x 375/3 – 0= 312 kNm
We need the stresses and strains at a moment of 345 kNm.

Should we increase the dn or should we decrease it ?

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Relationship between applied moment and dn

dn mm ε0 σ0 C kN Ts kN Tp kN M kNm
MPa

375 .000505 16.2 606 118 488 312

350 586 18.7 656 117 158 345

325 703 22.5 731 165 219 512

400 447 14.3 572 91 482 288

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Cracked section analysis of flanged beams

b ε0 σ0

t
εt σt
dn
Asc
bw

Ap

Ast
Strain and stress at bottom of flange
εt = ε0(dn-t)/dn, σt = Ecε0(dn-t)/dn

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Equation for the compressive forces change as follows

Force in flange outstands

Cf = 0.5(σ0 + σt )(b-bw)t
 (d - t) 
C f  0.5  E c 0  Ec 0 n  (b  bw )t b
 d 
n
σ0
This will act at a distance from the top of
df
df = t(3dn-2t)/(6dn-3t)
t
σt
dn

Force in web bw
Cw = 0.5 σ0 bwdn

C w  0.5  E c 0  bw  d n
Web force will act at depth dn/3

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

 Force in top compressive reinforcement
0
Cs  A sc E s  (d n  d sc )
dn
Force in bottom tensile reinforcement
 d -d 
Ts  E s A st  0   st n 
 dn 
Force in cables
Tp  E p A p  ( ce   pe   cp )

Consider force equilibrium :

(C f  C w )  Cs  Ts  Tp
 d t    d -d 
 0.5  (E c 0  Ec 0 n )(b - b w )t  0.5 Ec 0 b w d n   A sc E s  0 (d n  d sc )  E s A st  0   st n   E p A p  ( ce   pe   cp )
 dn  dn  dn 
re - arranging gives
E p Ap d n ( ce   pe )
0  2
0.5 Ec bw d n  Ec (d  0.5t )(b  bw )t  Es Asc (d n  d sc )  Es Ast (d st  d n )  E p Ap (d p  d n )

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

Moment Equilibrium gives

• Taking moments about the top fibre of the section

• M= Tsdst + Tpdp – Cwdn/3 -Cfdf– Csdsc

This analysis assumes that the neutral axis is in the web of

the beam. A check needs to be performed to ensure that it
is the case.

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina

When do you need a cracked section analysis ?

• To determine stresses at the extreme compression fibre of concrete σ0 to

ensure that stress is within acceptable limits
– We have done this for an uncracked section in previous weeks, which is
quite straightforward when the section is uncracked
• To determine the cracked second moment of area of the section for
calculation of deflections

RMIT University© Lecture Notes prepared by Dr Rebecca Gravina