12.3.

FLEXURAL DESIGN
z

z
z

Service Limit State

Transformed Section
Compute Stresses
Compare with Stress Limits
Strength Limit State
Moment - Curvature

12.3.2

General Assumptions for Flexural Design

z

Plane sections before bending remain plane after

bending

Equilibrium of external forces and internal stresses

Compatibility of strains

12.3.3

General Assumptions for

Flexural Design of Prestressed Concrete Members
Service Load Design:
Concrete is uncracked
Stress in prestressing steel is linearly proportional to strain
Iterate to determine strand pattern
- satisfy stress limits for concrete and prestressing steel
Check Strength at Critical Sections:
Concrete
- inelastic in compressive regions
- tensile strength neglected
Prestressing steel
- inelastic

12.3.4

Determine Strand Pattern

Add strands until stress limits at midspan are satisfied
Fill rows from bottom
Minimum strand spacing
- LRFD Article 5.10.3.3.1
Minimum Cover
- LRFD Article 5.12.3
Then check stresses at ends

Typical Strand Pattern

12.3.5

12.3.6

5.10.3.3.1 Minimum Strand Spacing

Minimum clear distance between starnds at ends
of pretensioned girders:
1.33 x maximum aggregate size
3db
Strand Size (in.)
0.6000
0
6000
0.5625 Special
0.5625
0.5000
0.4375
0.50 Special
0.3750

Spacing (in.)
2.00

1.75
1.50

Minimum Concrete Cover

12.3.7

LRFD 5.12.3

12.3.8

Minimum Concrete Cover

LRFD 5.12.3
Modification factors for W/C ratio
z

For W/C 0.40 . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8

For W/C 0.50 . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2

Minimum cover to main bars, including epoxy-coated

bars = 1.0 IN.
Minimum cover to ties and stirrups may be 0.5 IN. less
than the values specified in Table for main bars, but
shall not be less than 1.0 IN.

Design for Flexure at

Service Limit State

12.3.9

Compute Section Properties

Determine effective width of deck
Transform deck to girder concrete
Transform strand (optional)
Compute Stresses
At release
At Service Limit State
- Permanent loads only
- Permanent and transient loads
Compare Stresses to Stress Limits
Concrete
Prestressing Steel

Transform Composite Deck

Concrete to Girder Concrete

12.3.10

Effective deck width - (LRFD 4.6.2.6.1)

Transformed effective deck width
Use same modular ratio for short- and long-term effects

12.3.11

Transform Prestressing Steel to Girder Concrete

LRFD 5.9.1.4
Section properties may be based on either the gross
or transformed section
Prestressing steel may be transformed using the
same procedure used for mild reinforcement

12.3.12

Assumptions for Service and Fatigue Limit States

LRFD 5.7.1
The following should apply to modular ratios
between steel and concrete:
the modular ratio, n, is rounded to the nearest
integer number,
the modular ratio is not less than 6.0, and
an effective modular ratio of 2n is applicable to
permanent loads and prestress.
- intended to apply to compression
reinforcement - see Std Specs Article
8.15.3.5

12.3.13

Compute Stresses at Release

Non-Composite Section (Bare Girder)
Loads
Girder dead load
Initial prestress
Top of girder
P Pe M
ft R = i i + gdl
A St
St
Bottom of girder
fbR =

Pi Pi e M gdl
+

A Sb
Sb

12.3.14

Compute Stresses at Release

Compute Stresses at Service Limit State

After Losses with Permanent Loads Only

12.3.15

Composite Section (Girder + Deck)

Loads on Non-Composite Section
Girder, deck dead loads
Other dead loads applied before placing deck
(
(e.g.,
diaphragms)
di h
)
Final prestress (after losses)
Loads on Composite Section
Barrier and future wearing surface
Other dead loads (utilities, etc.)
Vehicular live load

12.3.16

Compute Stresses at Service Limit State

After Losses with Permanent Loads Only
Top of deck
M
ftd P = cdl
Stcd
Top of girder
ftgP =

Pe Pe e M gdl + M ncdl M cdl

+
+
A St
St
S tcg

Bottom of girder
fbgP =

Pe Pe e M gdl + M ncdl M cdl

+

A Sb
Sb
S bcg

12.3.17

Compute Stresses at Service Limit State After

Losses with Permanent and Transient Loads
Top of deck
ftd P +L =

M cdl + M LL +I
Stcd

Top of girder
ftgP +L =

Pe Pe e M gdl + M ncdl M cdl + M LL +I

+
+
A
St
St
S tcg

Bottom of girder
fbgP +L =

Pe Pe e M gdl + M ncdl M cdl + M LL +I

+

A
Sb
Sb
S bcg

12.3.18

Compute Stresses at Service Limit State After

Losses with Permanent and Transient Loads

12.3.19

Stress Limits for Prestressing Tendons

LRFD 5.9.3
For Pretensioned Construction:
Low relaxation strand ( fpy = 0.90 fpu ):
0 75fpu Immediately prior to transfer
0.75f
0.80fpy At Service Limit State, after
losses
Stress Relieved strand ( fpy = 0.85 fpu ):
0.70fpu Immediately prior to transfer
0.80fpy At Service Limit State, after
losses

12.3.20

Stress Limits for Concrete

LRFD 5.9.4.1.1 and 5.9.4.1.2
For Temporary Stresses Before Losses
(Fully Prestressed Components):
Compression:
0.60 fci Pretensioned components
Tension (non-segmental bridges):
N / A Precompressed tensile zone without bonded
reinforcement
0.0948 fci 0.200 KSI Other than precompressed tensile
zone, and without bonded reinforcement
0.24 fci In areas with bonded reinforcement sufficient to
resist concrete tensile force (fs = 0.50fy)

12.3.21

Stress Limits for Concrete

LRFD 5.9.4.2.1
For Stresses At Service Limit State After Losses
(Fully Prestressed Components):
Compression (non-segmental bridges):
0.45 fc
0.60 fc
0.40 fc

Permanent loads
Permanent and transient loads, and
during shipping and handling
Live load and 0.5 the sum of effective
prestress and permanent loads

12.3.22

Stress Limits for Concrete

LRFD 5.9.4.2.2
For Stresses At Service Limit State After Losses
(Fully Prestressed Components):
Tension in precompressed tensile zone (other
th segmental
than
t l bridges):
b id
)
Components with bonded
0.190 fc
prestressing tendons other than
piles

0.0948 fc

Components subjected to
severe corrosive conditions

no tension

Components with unbonded

prestressing tendons

12.3.23

Stress Limits for Concrete

LRFD 5.9.4.2.2
For Stresses At Service Limit State After Losses
(Fully Prestressed Components):
Tension in other areas (segmental only):

0.190 fc

If bonded reinforcement is
provided which is sufficient to
carry the tensile force in the
concrete at a stress of 0.5fsy

Note other tensile stress limits for segmentally constructed

bridges.

Control of Stresses at Ends of

Pretensioned Members

12.3.24

The following methods can be used individually or in

combination with other methods
1. Draping, Harping or Deflecting
Reduce eccentricity at ends
Raise center group of strands until stress
limits are satisfied

12.3.25

Control of Stresses at Ends of

Pretensioned Members
2. Debonding, Blanketing or Shielding
Reduce prestress force at ends by preventing
bond of selected strands with concrete
Increase number of debonded strands until
stress limits are satisfied

12.3.26

Special Provisions for Debonded Strands

Std Specs 9.27.3 requires:
Development length for debonded strands is
doubled
LRFD 5.11.4.3 further requires:
Number of strands debonded 25% of total
strands
Number of strands debonded in any row 40%
of total strands in that row
Exterior strands in each row must be fully
bonded
All limit states must be satisfied

Control of Stresses at Ends of

Pretensioned Members

12.3.27

3. Adding Mild Reinforcement

If tensile stress > 0.0948 fci , but not more
than 0.22 fci , add mild reinforcement to
resist 120% of the tensile force

As =

1.2 (fcitop 2 )( x ) btop

fs

where fs = 0.5 fsy = 30 KSI

Control of Stresses at Ends of

Pretensioned Members

12.3.28

4. Adding Top Strands

Reduce moment at ends by adding
strands at the top of the girder
Can debond top strands in center
portion of the girder
- Must provide access hole for cutting
strand

Control of Stresses at Ends of

Pretensioned Members

12.3.29

5. Increasing Compressive Strength of Concrete at

Release, fci
Increase fci until stress limits are satisfied
Use reasonable value for fci that can be
achieved economically by local producers
Maintain reasonable balance between fci and fc

Fatigue Limit State

Stress Range Requirements

12.3.30

LRFD 5.5.3.3
Prestressing Tendons
18.0 KSI for radii of curvature in excess of 30.0 FT
10.0
10 0 KSI for radii of curvature not exceeding 12
12.0
0 FT
Linear interpolation may be used between the limits

Fatigue loading is a design truck (no lane load) with

constant axle spacing of 30.0 FT.

10

Basic Assumptions for

Design at Strength Limit State

12.3.31

LRFD 5.7.2.1
Reinforcement
Mild reinforcement yields
Prestressing steel is near or beyond yield
Concrete
Maximum usable concrete strain is 0.003 IN/IN
for unconfined concrete
Stress-strain distribution results in predictions
of strength in substantial agreement with test
results

Stress in Prestressing Steel at

Nominal Flexural Resistance

12.3.32

LRFD 5.7.3.1
Components with bonded tendons with flexure about one axis
and where fpe is not less than 0.5 fpu :

c
fps = fpu 1 k
dp

where:
fpe = effective stress in the prestressing steel after losses
fpu = specified tensile strength of prestressing steel

k = 2 1.04

f py

f pu

= 0.28 for low relaxation strand

fpy = yield strength of prestressing steel

Stress in Prestressing Steel at Nominal

Flexural Resistance

12.3.33

LRFD 5.7.3.1
c = distance from the extreme compression fiber to
the neutral axis
dp = distance from the extreme compression fiber to
centroid of prestressing steel
For rectangular section behavior:
A f + A f As fy
c = ps pu s y
f
0.85fc 1b + k Aps pu
dp
where:
Aps = area of prestressing steel
b = width of compression face

11

Concrete Stress Distribution at

Nominal Flexural Resistance

12.3.34

LRFD 5.7.2.2
Equivalent Rectangular Stress Block
Used in lieu of more exact stress distributions
Stress is 0.85 fc
Stress block extends a distance a= 1c from the
extreme compression fiber
1varies with concrete strength fc

12.3.35

Equivalent Rectangular Concrete Stress

Distribution at Nominal Flexural Resistance
LRFD 5.7.3.2

a = 1c
C = 0.85fcba
T = Aps fps

12.3.36

Nominal Flexural Resistance

LRFD 5.7.3.2
Mr = Mn
Rectangular Sections:

a
a
a

M n = Aps fps d p + As fy d s As fy d s
2
2
2

where:
Mr = factored resistance
Mn = nominal resistance
a = 1c
= depth of equivalent stress block

12

12.3.37

Nominal Flexural Resistance

LRFD 5.7.3.2.2
Flanged Sections:
Mn = Equation for Rectangular +

0.85 fc' ( b bw ) 1 hf (

a hf
)
2 2

Note:
Flanged section applies when c > hf , while this
applied when a > hf in Std Specs

Nominal Flexural Resistance for

Flanged Concrete Sections

12.3.38

(MacGregor 1988)

12.3.39

Nominal Flexural Resistance for Rectangular

Concrete Sections with Compression Reinforcement
(MacGregor 1988)

13

12.3.40

Unified Design Provisions Key Concept

Strength reduction factor, ,
depends on
maximum net tensile strain, t ,
at nominal resistance, Mn

5.2 - Definitions

12.3.41

Net Tensile Strain - The tensile strain at

nominal resistance exclusive of strains
due to effective prestress, creep,
shrinkage, and temperature.

5.2 - Definitions

12.3.42

Extreme Tension Steel The

reinforcement (prestressed or
nonprestressed) that is farthest from
the extreme compression fiber.

14

12.3.43

5.2 - Definitions
0.003

dt

t
Beam

Strain

Column

t = Net tensile strain

dt = Depth to extreme tension steel

12.3.44

5.2 - Definitions
t Extreme tension steel strain
at nominal resistance, due to applied loads
0 003
0.003
c

a = 1c

Mn
Pn

5.2 - Definitions

12.3.45

Compression-Controlled Strain Limit

The net tensile strain (t ) at balanced
strain conditions. See Article 5.7.2.1.

15

12.3.46

5.7.2.1 Balanced Strain Condition

0.003

fy /Es (or 0.002)

12.3.47

5.2 - Definitions
Compression-Controlled Section A
cross section in which the net tensile
strain (t ) in the extreme tension steel
at nominal resistance is less than or
equal to the compression-controlled
strain limit.
[Usually 0.002]

5.2 - Definitions

12.3.48

Tension-Controlled Section A cross

section in which the net tensile strain
(t ) in the extreme tension steel at
nominal resistance is greater than or
equal to 0.005.

16

5.5.4.2 Resistance Factors

= 0.583 + 0.25

dt

1
c

1.00

12.3.49

P/S

0.90

R.C.

= 0.65 + 0.15

dt

1
c

0.75

Compression- Transition
Tension Controlled
Controlled
t = 0.002 t = 0.005
Net Tensile Strain

12.3.50

10.3.3-4 STRAIN CONDITIONS

CompressionControlled
c 0.6 dt

TensionControlled

Transition
0.375 dt < c < 0.6 dt

c 0.375 dt

Example R.C. Beam

12

dt = 13.5

16

12.3.51

0.003

3#8

a = 1c

t
Given: fc = 4 ksi; fy = 60 ksi
Assume steel yields
T = Asfy = 3(0.79)60 = 142.2 kips
c = a/1 = 4.1 in.
a = T/(0.85 fcb) = 3.49 in.
Mn = T [dt-(a/2)] = 1672 in.-k = 139.3 ft-k
c/dt = 4.1/13.5 = 0.304 < 0.375 or
t = 0.003 [(dt-c)/c] = 0.0069 in./in. Tension-controlled
Mr = Mn = 0.90 (139.3) = 125.4 ft-k

17

Minimum Flexural
Reinforcement

12.3.52

LRFD 5.7.3.3.2
Unless otherwise specified, at any section of a
flexural component, the amount of prestressed
and non-prestressed reinforcement shall be
adequate to develop ...:
Mr = Mn 1.2 Mcr

4
M
3 u

where:
Mcr is based on the modulus of rupture.

12.3.53

Minimum Flexural Reinforcement

LRFD 5.7.3.3.2

Mcr = Sc (fr + f pe ) - Mdnc c 1 Sc fr

Snc
where:
= modulus of rupture
fr
fpe = stress in concrete due to effective prestress
only (after all losses) at surface where tension
is caused
by applied loads
Sc = composite section modulus for extreme
tension fiber
Sb = non-composite section modulus for extreme
tension fiber
Md/nc = non-composite dead load moment at the
section

12.3.54

Interior Diaphragms
Intended Purposes
Improve distribution of loads between girders
Stabilize girders during construction
Temporary bracing can be used
Disadvantages
Di
d
t
Costly to install
Research has shown that they are not
necessary for load distribution
May be detrimental in cases of side impact

18

12.3.55

Lateral Stability
Lateral stability of long girders should be
considered
See references by Mast
Lifting
- supported by cables
- location of lifting
g loops
p has greatest
g
effect
on stability
Transportation
- bottom supported, but rotation possible
- characteristics of trailer and route strongly
affect stability
Sections with large flanges are more stable

12.3.56

Moment-Curvature Analysis
(Lin and Burns 1981)

Example of Moment-Curvature
Response of Prestressed Girder

12.3.57

(Lin and Burns 1981)

19

Calculated and Observed

Moment-Curvature Responses

12.3.58

(Collins and Mitchell 1991)

Moment-Curvature Analysis of a
Concrete Member

12.3.59

(Collins and Mitchell 1991)

Moment-Curvature Response for

Different Quantities of Mild Reinforcement

12.3.60

20

Effect of Compression Reinforcement on

Moment Capacity

12.3.61

(MacGregor 2005)

Increase in Moment Capacity with

Compression Reinforcement

12.3.62

(MacGregor 2005)

Effect of Compression Reinforcement on

Long-Term Deflections

12.3.63

(MacGregor 2005)

21

12.3.64

Effect of Compression Reinforcement on

Moment-Curvature Response of
Under-Reinforced Sections
(MacGregor 2005)

Effect of Compression Reinforcement on

Moment-Curvature Response of
Over-Reinforced Sections

12.3.65

(MacGregor 2005)

22