PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
In a conventional reinforced concrete beam
subjected to an external load produces both tension
and compressive stresses, but only the concrete
above the neutral axis, as shown, resist compressive
stress. All the concrete in the tension area is
disregarded in design computations because
concrete is inherently weak in resisting tension.
Therefore, only about one third of the area is
assumed to resist compressive stresses , the
maximum stress being at the top and decreasing in
magnitude to a zero stress at the neutral axis. The
other two thirds is both only wasted but is actually a
burden in the sense that it only adds to the dead
wieght of the structure. Since in the usual reinforced
applied to beams that result in a member in which all
the concrete can resist the bending stress.
PRESTRESS
Prestressing could then be defined as the application of
a pre-determine force or moment to a structural
member in such a manner that the combined internal
stresses in the member, resulting from this applied force
or moment will be confined within specific limits. The
main purpose of applying this principle to concrete
structural members is to eliminate or if not, reducing the
tensile stresses in concrete. A prestressed concrete
beam is a member so designed and constructed that all
the stresses in the concrete resulting from bending are
compressive, none is tensile
Pre-tensioning:
Pre-tensioning is the application of the
necessary pre-stressing force by stressing steel
wires or strands, called tendons, to a
predetermined amount, and while the stress is
maintained in the tendons, the concrete is
placed around the tendons. After the concrete
has hardened, the tendons are released and
the concrete which has become bonded to the
tendons is pre-stressed as a result of the
tendons attempting to regain its length before,
when it was being stressed.
Post-tensioning:
Post-tensioning is the application of the necessary
pre-stressing force by stressing the tendons after the
concrete has been cast and has attained sufficient
strength to safely withstand the pre-stressing force.
The wires or tendons are placed in a mortar tight,
metal tube or flexible metal base to prevent the
tendon from bonding to concrete during placing and
curing of concrete. After the tendon has been
stressed, the void between the tendon and the
sheath is filled with grout.
General Principles of Pre-stressing:
Pre-stressing, in its simplest form, can be illustrated
by considering a simple prismatic flexural member
which is rectangular in cross section pre-stressed by a
concentric force. It is readily seen that if the flexural
tensile stresses in the bottom fiber, due to dead and
live loads are to be eliminated, the uniform
compressive stress due to pre-stressing must be
equal in magnitude to the sum of these tensile
stresses.
The stresses due to pre-stressing alone are generally combined stresses
due to direct load eccentrically applied.
f = P/A + Mc/I
Compressive stresses here are considered positive.
STRESSES DUE TO PRE-STRESSING ALONE
Loss of pre-stress ranges from 10% to
30% due to the effect of steel relaxation
and shrinkage and creep of concrete.
Relaxation is the loss of stress in a
material that is placed under and held at
a constant strain, while creep is the
change in strain for a member held
under constant stress.
DESIGN OF PRE-STRESS BEAMS
Preliminary Design Procedure: (Based on the assumption
that there is a little or no tension in the concrete.)
Under working load, the distance between the
application of the forces C and T averages about 0.65 of
the overall height “d”.
M = T (0.65d)
M = F (0.65d)
F = M/0.65d (effective pre stressing force)
But F = Asfs
Asfs = M/0.65d
As = M/fs(0.65d)
Average unit stress on the concrete = C/Ac
0.50fc = C/Ac = Asfs/Ac
Ac = Asfs/0.50fc
For preliminary design, the average stress is assumed to be
½ fc or 0.50fc
Approximate proportions of the depth of beam and moment
d = k √M
d = depth of beam in centimeters
k = coefficient which varies from 3.3 to 4.4
M = maximum bending moment in kN-m
Mg = girder moment
Mt = total moment
ML = Mt – Mg
when Mg/Mt is small, use the following approximate
relation;
F = ML/ 0.50d
Sample Problem:
A 500 mm by 760 mm concrete beam of 7.5 m simple span is
loaded with a uniform load of 4470 kg/m including its own
weight. The center of gravity of the pre-stressing tendon is
located 220 mm above the bottom of the beam and
produces an effective pre-stress of 164,000 kg.
Calculate the following:
a) The moment due to deadload and liveload.
b) The fiber stress in the concrete at the midspan section.
c) The bottom fiber stress in the concrete at the midspan
section.
