Assignment No.

5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 1

DESIGN OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
GIRDER FOR THE GIVEN PLAN





B1 B2 B3 B4







From previous assignments,
Live Load = 60 psf
Dead Load = 135 psf
Load on Girder B2,
wd = 135 * 24.5 = 3308 plf
wl = 60 * 24.5 = 1470 plf
Since these values are very large and will yield a rectangular cross-section of very large
depth of 64 in. for 12 in. wide section, so we assume,
wd = 300 plf
wl = 700 plf


56 6
24 6
24 6 24 6
Assignment No. 5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 2

Span of Girder = 56.6 ft
Normal density concrete is used with design strength fc = 6000 psi
It is estimated that, at the time of transfer, the concrete will have attained 70 percent of its
ultimate strength, or fci = 0.7fc = 0.7 * 6000 = 4200 psi
Time dependent losses are assumed at 20 percent of the initial prestress, giving an
effectiveness ratio of 0.8
We obtain the following stress limits:
fci = 0.6fci = 0.6 * 4200 = 2520 psi
fti = 3f

= 34200 = 195 psi

fcs = 0.45fc = 0.45 * 6000 = 2700 psi
fts = 6f

= 66000 = 465 psi

The self weight of the girder is estimated at 275 plf. The moments due to transverse loading are:
Mo =

* 0.275 * 56.5
2
= 110 kip.ft
Md + Ml =

* 1.0 * 56.5
2
= 400 kip.ft
The required section modulii with respect to the top and bottom surfaces of the concrete
beam are,
S1
()

=
(.)
.
= 1774 in
3

S2
()

=
(.)
.
= 2042 in
3

Using S = 2042 in
3
, finding a symmetrical I-section. Using Table A.8 (Section properties of
symmetrical I- & Box beams) of Design of Prestressed Concrete by Arthur H. Nilson, 2
nd

ed.
Assuming b = 12 in, bw/b = 0.4 and hf/h = 0.1,
S =

S = 2042 =
.

.
solving for h
We get, h = 38.4 in taking h = 40 in
Therefore, b = 12 in, bw = 4.8 in, h = 40 in, & hf = 4 in
Assignment No. 5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 3












So, the 40 in depth I-section will meet the requirements and has the following properties:
Ic = 44313.6 in
4

S = 2215.68 in
3

Ac = 249.6 in
2

r
2
= 177.6 in
2

w0 = 260 plf OK
Next, the concrete centroid stress is,
fcci = fti

(fti fci) = 195

(195 2520) = 1163 psi

and the initial prestress force is,
Pi = Ac fcci = 249.6 * 1.163 = 291 kips
The required tendon eccentricity at the maximum moment section of the beam is,
e = (fti fcci)

= (195 1163)
.

= 14.88 in
Elsewhere along the span the eccentricity will be reduced in order that the concrete stress
limits not be violated.
The required initial prestress force of 291 kips will be provided using tendons
consisting of in diameter stress-relieved wires. The minimum tensile strength for this
diameter wire is fpu = 240 ksi, and for normal prestressing wire, the yield strength may be
12
4
4
4.8
40
+192
+271 2519
2132
14.88
Fig(b) Cross section dimensions (left) and Stresses at midspan
(right)
Assignment No. 5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 4

taken as fpy = 0.85fpu = 204 ksi. According to ACI Code, the permissible stress in the wire
immediately after transfer must not exceed 0.82fpy = 168 ksi or 0.74fpu = 178 ksi. The first
criterion controls. The required area of prestressing steel is,
Ap =

= 1.732 in
2

The cross sectional area of one in diameter wire is 0.0491 in
2
, so the number of wires
required is,
Number of wires =
.
.
= 36
Two 18 wire tendons will be used.
It is good practice to check the calculations by confirming that stress limits are not
exceeded at critical load stages. The top and bottom surface concrete stresses produced, in
this case, by the separate loadings are:
Pi; f1 =

(1

) =

(1
.
.
) = +787 psi
f2 =

(1 +

) =

(1 +
.
.
) = 3115 psi
Pe; f1 = 0.8 * 788 = +631 psi
f2 = 0.8 * (3115) = 2492 psi
Mo; f1 =

= 596 psi
f2 =

= +596 psi
Md + Ml; f1 =

= 2167 psi
f2 =

= +2167 psi
When initial prestress force of 291 kips is applied and the beam self weight acts, the top
and bottom stresses in the concrete at midspan are, respectively:
f1 = +788 596 = +192 psi
f2 = 3115 + 596 = 2519 psi

Assignment No. 5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 5

When the prestress force has reduced to its effective value of 232.8 kips and the full service
load is applied, the concrete stresses are:
f1 = +631 596 2167 = 2132 psi
f2 = 2492 +596 +2167 = +271 psi
These limiting stress distributions are shown in Fig. (b). Comparison with the specified
limit stresses confirms that the design is satisfactory.
DETERMINATION OF TENDON CENTROID LIMIT
ZONE
Results of the design are summarized as:
fci = 2520 psi Mo = 110 kip.ft S1 = 2215 in
3
fti = +195 psi Mt = 400 kip.ft S2 = 2215 in
3
fcs = 2700 psi Pi = 291 kips Ac = 250 in
2

fts = +465 psi Pe = 232.8 kips r
2
= 177.6 in
2

Since the member self-weight and the superimposed loads are uniformly distributed, the
variation of all moments is parabolic, from maximum at midspan to zero at the supports.
Accordingly the moment ordinates may be established:
Midspan Quarter Span Support
Mo 110 kip.ft 82.5 kip.ft 0
Mt 400 kip.ft 300 kip.ft 0
LOWER LIMIT
For fti, e(x)

()

At support,
e(x) = 10.34 in
Quarter Span,
e(x) = 13.74 in
Midspan,
e(x) = 14.88 in


Assignment No. 5 [CE 405: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN II]

Muhammad Ahsan Khan|CE 119 6

For fci, e(x)

()

At support,
e(x) = 10.32 in
Quarter Span,
e(x) = 13.72 in
Midspan,
e(x) = 14.86 in
UPPER LIMIT
For fcs, e(x)

()

At support,
e(x) = 16.83 in
Quarter Span,
e(x) = 1.36 in
Midspan,
e(x) = 3.79 in

For fts, e(x)

()

At support,
e(x) = 13.28 in
Quarter Span,
e(x) = 2.18 in
Midspan,
e(x) = 7.33 in