Academic year 2023/24

PRESTRESSED STRUCTURES

EXERCISE SHEET 2 September 2023 (Week 2 to 7)

1) The deck of a prestressed reinforced concrete road viaduct has a total length of 540m (2
end spans of 25m and 14 internal spans of 35m each) and consists of a slab supported on 2
continuous beams, concreted in situ, simply supported on the abutments and in continuity
on columns/piles of 1.20m in diameter and with a height above the ground of around 10
metres. The cross-section of the deck is illustrated in the figure.
Suppose that the deck is concreted in one step, kept in the formwork (RH = 100%) for 7
days, and then a longitudinal prestressing is applied which introduces a compressive stress
(approximately centred) of 30MN per beam. The formwork is taken out immediately after
the prestressing has been applied and the concrete is then subjected to a relative
humidity of 60%.
Data: Concrete C40/50; Cement class 42.5 of rapid hardening; Relative Humidity 60%;
Mean air temperature 23ºC; Specify the remaining data required.

a) Plot a graph with the evolution of the creep coefficient until the age of 100 days.
Determine the final value of ϕc (at the infinite time).
b) Plot a graph with the evolution of the autogenous shrinkage, drying shrinkage and total
shrinkage of the deck up to 100 days of age. Indicate the corresponding final values (at
the infinite time).
c) Determine the total length variation of the precast girders at 100 days and infinite
time due to time-dependent deformations (creep+shrinkage). What is the possible
effect of these deformations on the supporting columns of the deck?
2) The three-span solid slab shown in the longitudinal view is subject to uniformly
distributed loads. In addition to its self-weight, the slab is subjected to a permanent load
of 2.5kN/m2 and a live load Qk = 10kN/m2 (ψ1 = 0.6; ψ2 = 0.4), which is applied
simultaneously on the 3 spans. The slab will be prestressed with 0.6" unbonded strands
(Ap/strand = 1.4 cm2). Materials: C30/37; A500; Ap1670/1860.

STRAIGHT LAYOUT PARABOLIC LAYOUT STRAIGHT LAYOUT

a) Define the equations for the simplified layout of the resulting prestressing cable
(without concordance on the intermediate supports) considering the following
conditions: i) the minimum distance between the cable axis and the concrete surface
is 0.05m; ii) at the ends the cable is located at the center of gravity of the cross-
section; iii) at the shortest spans the cable is straight and at the internal span the
cable layout is parabolic.
b) Calculate and represent the equivalent load to the application of a prestress force
P = 1000kN/m.
c) Determine the internal force diagrams (M, V and N), for a 1 meter strip of slab, due to
the prestress equivalent load determined in the previous paragraph.
d) Determine the value of the required final prestress for a 1 meter strip of slab, in order
to guarantee the decompression limit state in the intermediate support sections for
the quasi-permanent combination of actions, and define the required number of
strands assuming a value for the total losses of 20%.
e) Define a practical layout to be given to the strands taking into account the appropriate
concordance and considering a minimum radius of curvature R ≅ 2.0m.
3) Consider the rectangular beam illustrated in the figure with a span of 15 meters, a width
of 0.40m and with a variable height along its length as indicated (h=1.10m at the ends and
h=0.80m in the central zone). The beam will be prestressed with bonded cables and with
the parabolic layout shown in the figure. During the prestressing application, the
characteristic value of the load mobilized during tensioning is 20kN/m (includes the effect
of the variation of the height of the beam). After the application of prestressing a residual
live load of 6kN/m is applied.
Data:
- Loads: Permanent load (mobilized during tensioning) G0,k = 20kN/m;
Total permanent load Gk = 33kN/m;
Live load Qk = 6kN/m (ψ1=0.6; ψ2=0.4). γG=1.35; γQ=1.50.
- Materials: C30/37; A500; Ap1860; bonded strands 0.6″ (Ap=1.40cm2/strand);
exposure class XC3; µ=0.20; k=0.005/m; ∆s=5mm; εcs = -0.3×10-3;
φc = 2.8; low relaxation steel.
0.35

0.80

0.35
1.10
0.10

Beam width:
5.0 5.0 5.0 b = 0.40m

15.0 m

a) Determine the equivalent prestressing load for the represented cable, assuming a
mean prestress along the entire length of P = 1000 kN and considering a calculation
model where the beam is defined by a straight axis located 0.40m below its upper
face.
b) Determine the minimum final prestress force in order to guarantee the decompression
at the midspan cross-section for the quasi-permanent combination of actions. Verify
the admissibility of the acting stresses in that cross-section at the tensioning. Design
the prestress reinforcement to be used by setting appropriate values for the losses of
prestress.
c) Design the beam to ultimate limit states of bending and shear, adding the necessary
ordinary reinforcement (set appropriate values for prestressing losses).
d) Knowing that the cable is tensioned at the left end, calculate the prestress diagram
after the immediate losses.
e) Determine the time-dependent losses due to concrete shrinkage and creep and due to
reinforcement relaxation at mid-span cross-section.
f) Check the relevant service limit states at the mid-span cross-section.
4) Consider the viaduct with a prestressed reinforced concrete deck with 2 spans of 18m,
continuous over the column of alignment 2. In the 4 meters adjacent to the column, the
deck is solid. The resulting cable layout is shown in the figure and consists of 6 parabolic
lines.
Data: - External loads on the deck: Gk=(190+q)kN/m (self-weight included);
Qk=(50+q)kN/m (ψ1=0.4; ψ2=0).
- Materials: C35/45; A500; Ap1860/1670; 0.6" stands (Ap/strand = 1.40 cm2).
- Minimum distance from the cable axis to the top and bottom of the beam, 15cm.
- Other data: exposure class XS1; prestressing applied at 14 days; RH = 60%; friction
coefficient: µ = 0.20; unintentional angular displacement: k=0.010/m; wedge
draw-in of the anchorage devices: ∆s=5mm; ϕc=2.5; εcs=-300×10-6; cement class
42.5R; low relaxation steel.

0,30

.. . ..
0,30

1,00 3,50 .

a) For the resulting cable layout shown in the figure, define the respective equations in
the various segments and define the equivalent load for a prestress P = 1000 kN, taking
into account the section variation in the solid zone.
b) Determine the isostatic, hyperstatic and total prestressing moment diagrams for a
force P = 1000 kN. Calculate also the reactions at the supports due only to this action.
c) Determine the value of the prestress force to verify the decompression limit state for
the frequent combination of actions.
d) Design the prestressing reinforcement assuming current values of prestressing losses
and checking that no cracking occurs when the prestress is applied. Justify the number
of cables taking into account their location and the geometry of the section.
e) Considering that the cable is only tensioned at the left end (alignment 1), calculate
the diagram of the prestressing along the cables after the immediate losses.
f) Determine the displacement recorded in the prestressing jacks when tensioning a
cable.
g) Determine the time-dependent losses in the section above the column.
h) Make the safety verification to the ultimate limit states of resistance (bending),
adding the appropriate ordinary reinforcement.
i) Assess the safety to the serviceability limit states by carrying out the necessary
checks.
j) Make the execution drawings of the girder using a suitable scale.
5) Consider a railway bridge deck, simply supported, with a 20 m span. The structure is built
with precast pretensioned beams, with a “U” shaped cross section, monolithically
connected to a 30 cm thick cast in place slab. The figure shows the cross section of one of
the deck's girders. The data that characterize the case study are presented below. For
parameters not provided, plausible values should be adopted.
The objective of this exercise is the calculation of the normal stress diagrams in the mid-
span cross section, to be used in the safety checks in Serviceability Limit State. Only the
effects of the permanent actions that act on the evolving structure (self-weight and
prestress) will be calculated.
Note that the 30 cm thick slab includes thin, monolithic, precast planks, used as formwork
for the cast-in place concrete. The slight heterogeneity introduced by these planks may
be disregarded for the purposes of the exercise.

(Dimensions in mm)

a) Determine the equivalent age of the precast concrete, t0, at the time of prestress
release, so that its characteristic strength at that time is fck = 35 MPa.
b) Determine the normal stress diagram, at the mid-span cross-section, immediately
after prestress release. Compare the maximum stresses with the admissible values as
imposed by the Eurocode 2.
c) Considering that the cast-in place concrete is poured ~ 40 days after prestress release,
determine the normal stress diagram for the mid-span cross section, at long term, for
the following actions: (i) self-weight of precast beam and prestress; (ii) self-weight of
the cast in place slab. The effects of phased construction and creep should be taken
into account through the age-adjusted effective modulus method.
d) Determine the long-term diagram of normal stress at mid-span, due to the differential
shrinkage between cast in place and precast concretes.
6) Consider now a continuous bridge deck structure, made with the same materials and
cross-section geometry as in Exercise 5, with the exception that the structure is
longitudinally continuous, with 25 m long internal spans, as shown in Figure 2.
After erection, the precast beams are simply supported in temporary bearings. The 30 cm
thick slab is cast in place 40 days (admittedly) after prestress release. Simultaneously, the
longitudinal continuity is established, by casting a diaphragm linking the adjacent girder
ends, and by ensuring that the reinforced concrete slab is continuous over the supports.
The prestress in the internal, 25 m long, spans is the same as in exercise 5.
The purpose of this exercise is the calculation of the normal stress diagrams in the mid-
span cross-section of the central span. For the sake of simplicity, in the calculation of
hyperstatic bending moments, you may admit that the rotation of that span’s extremities,
in the continuous structure, is zero.

Figure 1 – Structure for exercise 5 (dimensions in m)

Figure 2 – Structure for exercise 6 (dimensions in m)

Determine the normal stress diagram, for the cross-section under analysis, for the
following stages and actions:
a) at the time of prestress release;
b) at long term, for the following actions: (i) self-weight of precast beam and prestress;
(ii) self-weight of the cast in place slab;
c) at long-term, due to the differential shrinkage between cast in place and precast
concretes.
Material and geometrical characteristics, for exercises 5 and 6:

Precast concrete: C50/60

CEM II/A-L 42,5R
quartzite aggregates
fck = 35 MPa at the time of prestress release
moist curing until prestress release

Precast beam: A = 0,7338 m2

u = 8,097 m (perimeter)
vi = 0,5308 m (vertical distance from bottom fibre to centroid)
Ix = 0,1397 m4

Cast in place concrete: C35/45

CEM II/A-L 42,5R
quartzite aggregates
moist curing for three days

Prestressing strands: fpuk = 1860 MPa; fp0.1k = 1640 MPa

φ 15,7 mm
Ap = 1,5 cm2/strand

Number and position of prestress strands:

Vertical distance to Number of
Level
bottom fibre (m) strands per level
3 1,25 4
2 0,11 16
1 0,06 16

Prestress losses, in percentage of the stressing force, Pmax:

Immediate losses 9% of Pmax
Time dependent losses until setting
8% of Pmax
of cast in place concrete
Time dependent losses after setting
6% of Pmax
of cast in place concrete

Average relative humidity of the environment: 70%