UNIT 2: GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PRESTRESSED

CONCRETE MEMBERS
Objectives of this lecture series:
This lecture series aims to develop in the student:
i)
An understanding of the basic principles of prestressing and relevant British
standard codes.
ii)
An ability and confidence in combined direct and bending stresses in the
member subjected to concentric and eccentric loading.
iii)
An appreciation of the tendon profile used for prestressing.

2.1 Introduction to prestressed concrete :

A prestressing concrete member is a member of concrete in which internal stresses are
introduced in a planned manner, so that the stresses resulting from the superimposed
loads are counteracted to a desired degree.
Concrete has a high compressive strength compared to its low tensile strength (refer
BS:8110-1997,part1). That is why, concrete is reinforced with steel bars in such
directions where tensile resistance has to be offered.
Table 1.1: Compressive and flexural stresses of concrete (ref. BS:8100-1997,part 1, section 4)

In reinforced concrete members due to the low tensile resistance of concrete, a large
quantity of steel reinforcement is provided so that the entire tensile resistance is taken as

offered by the reinforcement. But, no special means are provided to prevent the concrete
offering tensile stresses.
In a prestressed concrete member high tensile steel wires (called tendon) are used to
supply the prestressing force to the concrete and the concrete are in a state of
compression throughout. Concrete used for prestressed work should have a minimum
cube strength of C35 for post tensioned and C40 for pretensioned system. The minimum
steel grade used is high yield stress steel conforming to Fe460.
Table 1.2: Total stress distribution in R.C and Prestressed concrete beam
Reinforced Cement Concrete (R.C.C)
Prestressed concrete
w

KN/m

+ve, Compression
-ve, Tension

KN/m

P
P

M/Z

L
P/A+ M/Z- Pe/Z

Tendon

+
Neutral Axis
+ve
-ve

Neutral Axis

Bending Stress Diagram

M/Z
Total stress Diagram
Assume :

+ve
ve

as compression
as tension
P/A- M/Z+ Pe/Z

Fig. 1.1: Reinforced and prestressed concrete beams under loading

Fig. 1.2: Prestressed concrete beams used in different structure

2.2 Member subjected to axial prestress force :

Assumptions:
1. Plane transverse section remains plane after bending.
2. Stress-strain relationships are linear.
3. Bending occurs about a principal axis.
4. Variation of stress in the reinforcement due to changes in the external loading is
negligible.

KN/m

P
L
B
Fig. 1.3: Beam subjected to transverse udl and axial prestressing forces
P/A

ftotal =P/A + M/Z

M/Z

+
+

+
+

P/A

ftotal =P/A -M/Z

M/Z
Bending stress
diagram

Direct stress
diagram

Total stress
diagram

Fig. 1.4: Direct and Bending stress distribution at section B-B

Total stress (f):

f fd fb
f top

P M

A Z

eq.(1.1)

P M

A Z

eq.

(1.2)
f bottom

P M

A Z

eq.

(1.3)
Where,
fd = direct stress
fb = bending stress

P=Prestress force
M=Bending moment

A=Area of cross section

Z=section modulus

Example 1: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m and

is subjected to a uniformly distributed load of 16KN/m including the self weight of the
beam. The prestressing tendons which are located along the longitudinal centroidal axis
provide an effective prestressing force of 960KN. Determine the extreme fibre stresses in
concrete at the mid span section.
[Answer: ftop=7N/mm2, fbottom=1N/mm2]

2.3 Member subjected to eccentric prestress Force :

B
KN/m

L
B
Fig. 1.5: Beam subjected to transverse udl and eccentric prestressing forces
P/A

+
+
P/A
Direct stress
diagram due to P

ftotal =P/A + M/Z - Pe/Z

M/Z

M/Z

M/Z
Bending stress
diagram due to
udl

+
M/Z
Bending stress
diagram due to P

=
ftotal =P/A - M/Z - Pe/Z
Total stress
diagram

Fig. 1.6: Direct and Bending stress distribution due to udl and eccentric prestress

Total stress (f):

P M Pe

A Z
Z
P M Pe
f top

A Z
Z
P M Pe
f bottom

A Z
Z

f fd fb f p

Where

eq.(1.4)
eq(1.5)
eq.(1.6)

e = eccentricity

Example 2: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m and

is subjected to a uniformly distributed load of 16KN/m including the self weight of the
beam. The prestressing tendons which are located at the lower third point and provide an
effective prestressing force of 960KN. Determine the extreme fibre stresses in concrete at
the mid span section.
[Answer: ftop=3N/mm2, fbottom=5N/mm2]

2.4 Prestressed beam with bent tendon : By providing bent tendons, the
tendon will exert an upward pressure on the concrete beam and therefore counteract a
part of the external downward loading.
W

L
Fig.1.6: Beam with bent tendon
W

2Psin

Fig.1.7: Free Body diagram of beam ( Tendon is replaced by force)

Direct stress (fd)
fd

P cos
A

eq.
(1.7)

Bending stress (fb)

M
Z
W 2 P sin L wL2
M
4
8
fb

(1.8)
Where w = dead load per unit length of beam
Total stress (f)
f fd fb

eq.

Example 3: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m. The
beam is prestressed with a tendon bent as shown in figure below. The external load on the
beam consists of a concentrated load of 180KN at mid span. If the effective prestress
force is 1200KN, calculate the extreme stresses for the mid span section.
[Answer: ftop=10.33N/mm2, fbottom= - 0.3N/mm2]
400mm

180KN

600mm
160mm

6m
Beam with bent tendon

Cross section of a beam

Solution:

Example 4: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m. The
beam is prestressed with a tendon bent as shown in figure below. The external load on the
beam consists of a concentrated load of 160KN at mid span. If the effective prestress
force is 1000KN, calculate the extreme stresses for the end section and the mid section of
the beam. The dead load of the beam is 5.76KN/m run.
[Answer: At end section ftop=6.25N/mm2, fbottom= 2.09 N/mm2
At mid section ftop=11.08 N/mm2 and fbottom= - 2.74 N/mm2]
400mm

160KN

1000KN
50 mm

600mm

200mm

6m
Beam with bent tendon

Cross section of a beam

Solution:

Example 5: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m. The
beam is prestressed with a tendon bent as shown in figure below. The external load on the
beam consists of a concentrated load of 160KN at mid span. If the effective prestress
force is 1000KN, calculate the extreme stresses for the end section and the mid section of
the beam. The dead load of the beam is 5.76KN/m run.
[Answer: At end section ftop=2.09N/mm2, fbottom= 6.25 N/mm2
At mid section ftop=11.08 N/mm2 and fbottom= - 2.74 N/mm2]
400mm

160KN

1000KN

600mm

50 mm
200mm

6m
Beam with bent tendon

Cross section of a beam

Solution:

2.5 Prestressed beam with parabolic profile tendon :

When the cable is provided with a parabolic profile, it will exert a uniform
upward pressure wc per unit run on the beam and will therefore receive a
downward uniformly distributed load wc per unit run.

KN/m

L
Fig.1.8: Beam with parabolic profile tendon

h
Wc per unit
run
Fig.1.9: Free Body diagram of beam ( Load transmitted to tendon)

Horizontal reaction at each end of the cable

wc L2
P
8h
(1.9)
Assume,
Phorizontal = P

eq.

Hence a parabolic tendon carrying a tension P will provide an upward uniform load of
8 Ph
wc 2 per unit length of the beam.
L

10

Example 6: A prestress concrete beam 400mmx600mm in section has a span of 6m. The
beam is prestressed with a parabolic profile tendon as shown in figure below. The
external load on the beam is 35KN/m on the whole span. Calculate the extreme stresses
for the mid span section. The tendon carries a prestressing force of 1000KN.
[Answer: ftop=6.563N/mm2, fbottom= 1.771N/mm2]
400mm

35KN/mm
600mm

200mm

6m
Beam with bent tendon

Cross section of a beam

Solution:

References:
Mosley W.H, Bungey J.H, Reinforced concrete design, Macmillan press ltd,
ISBN 0-333-73956-6,5th edition,1999.
2. Lin T.Y, Burns N.H, Design of prestressed concrete structures, John Wiley &
sons, 2nd Edition, 2001.
3. Kong K., Evans R.H, Reinforced and prestressed concrete, Nelson publishing
Ltd, 3rd Edition, 2004.
4. British code, BS5896, Specification for high tensile steel wire strand for the
prestressing of concrete.
1.

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British code, BS8110, Structural use of concrete-part1: code of practice for

design and construction.
6. British code, BS8110, Structural use of concrete-part2: code of practice for
special circumstances.
5.

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