A prestressed 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 ( > 40 Mpa) compared to its very low tensile
strength ( < = 2.5 Mpa).

I-sections and T-sections

Concrete used for prestressed work should have a cube strength of -

35 N/mm2 for post tensioned system and
45N/mm2 for pretensions system.
ASSUMPTIONS IN THE DESIGN OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE MEMBERS
(i) A transverse section of the member will remain a plane after bending also.
(ii) Within the elastic limit of the deformation, Hooke's law is applicable to concrete
and steel components.
(iii) The stress in the reinforcement does not change along the length of the reinforcement.
Stress changes take place for the concrete component only. Variation of stress in the
reinforcement due to changes in the external loading is ignorable.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES :
Consider a Simply supported prestressed concrete beam of rectangular section
prestressed by a tendon provided through its centroidal longitudinal axis.
Let “P” be the prestressing forces supplied by the tendon.

Due to this prestressing force, the compressive stress induced in concrete -

fa = P / A where A is the sectional area of the member.
 Extreme stresses at the section due to bending moment

Hence, the final extreme stresses on the beam section are given by

Tendon at Eccentricity :
Example : A prestressed concrete beam 250 mm ,.vide and 375 mm deep is prestressed by
concentrically placed tendon. The span of the beam is 8 m and the beam has to support an
imposed load of 4.25 kN 1m. Find the prestressing force necessary so that the tension is just
avoided at the soffit of the mid-section. If however, the tendon is provided at an eccentricity
of 65 mm, find the presstressing force necessary so that tension is just avoided at the soffit
of the mid-section. Concrete weights 24 kN/m3.
 Concentrically provided

=0
EXAMPLE : A prestressed concrete beam of rectangular section 300 mm wide & 600 mm deep
has a span of 10 m. The effective prestressing force is 980 kN at an eccentricity of 120 mm.
The dead load of the beam is 4.5 kN / m and the beam has to carry a live load of 7.5 kN /m.

Determine the extreme stresses (i) at the end section

(ii) at the mid section without the action of live load.
(iii) at the mid section with the action of live load.
(ii) Analysis of the mid section subjected to prestressing force and dead load
(iii) Analysis of the mid section subjected to prestressing force, dead load & Live Load
EFFECT OF LOADING ON THE STRESS IN THE TENDON

e.θ + e.θ
 Prestressed Beam with bent Tendon

The axial longitudinal force provided by the tendon

= P.Cos θ = P ( approx. since θ is small, cosθ=1)

Net B.M.

FBD Effective upward force

Extreme fibre stress Net downward load at center = W - 2P sin θ

In general, the profile of the tendon should follow the shape of the bending moment diagram
for the given external loads.

e.g. If the loading on the beam is a uniformly distributed load, the tendon may be provided along
a parabolic profile.
Example : Fig. shows a prestressed concrete beam provided with bent tendon. The beam carries
a point load of 160 kN at the center. Determine the stress distribution for the end section and the
mid-section of the beam. The dead load of the beam is 6 kN / m.

6m

50 + 100
Extreme Stress

Stress at top
Stress at bottom
 Tendon with Parabolic Profile
By theory of cables carrying uniformly
distributed load, on the whole span.
Horizontal reaction at each end of the cable

Load transmitted to tendon

Hence a parabolic tendon carrying a

tension P will provide an upward
uniformly distributed load or pressure.
uniform upward pressure
we we per unit run

Hence the upward uniform pressure supplied by the

parabolic tendon will counter-act a part of the external
downward u.d.l.

Therefore, the net downward loading on the beam is equal to (w – we) per unit run.
Example : Fig. shows a prestressed concrete beam provided with a tendon having a parabolic
profile. If the total external load on the beam is 35 kN / m on the whole span, calculate the
extreme stresses for the mid span section. The tendon carries a prestressing force of 1000 kN.

Upward uniformly distributed pressure provided

by the cable
 Analysis of prestressed concrete beams :
Different techniques of analysis of prestressed concrete beam sections are –
1. Stresss concept
2. Load balancing concept
3. Strength concept

Load Balancing Method :

An important point is that - the cable profile can be adjusted so that the cable

may exert upward forces counteracting to some extent the downward external loading.

A beam can be designed such that, the upward forces transmitted by the cable
exactly neutralize the externally applied loading.

This method of design is called load balancing method.

Example : A pre-tensioned concrete beam is 300 mm wide and 600 mm deep. The tendons
are provided at a height of 200 mm above the soffit. The initially applied pre-stressing force is
1500 kN which eventually reduces to 1350 kN after losses. The live load on the beam consists of
two point loads 35 kN each, placed at distances of 4.5 m and 10.5 m from one end. Determine the
extreme stresses in concrete for the mid span section (i) under the initial full prestress and no live
load and (ii) under the final condition after all losses and full live load.

W1 x L1
Case (i) : Beam subjected to initial prestressing force and dead load

Extreme stress due to D.L. Moment

 Case (ii) : Beam subjected to final pretressing force + Dead load + live load.

Extreme stress due to Dead load + live load moments

Example : A beam of symmetrical I-section spanning 8 metres has a flanges width of 200 mm
and a flange thickness of 60 mm respectively. The overall depth of the beam =400 mm.
Thickness of the web =80 mm. The beam is prestressed by a parabolic cable with an
eccentricity of 150 mm at the centre and zero at the supports with an effective force of 100 kN.
The live load on the beam is 2000 N. Draw the stress distribution diagram at the mid span
section for the following condition.
(i) Prestress + self-weight (ii) Prestress + self weight + live load
Case (i) Beam subjected to prestress + self-weight

(we – wd)
Case (ii). Beam subjected to prestress + self-weight + live load
Example :

I self
Extreme fibre stresses are calculated for the following cases:
Case 1. Beam subjected to initial prestressing force and dead load Initial Tension
 15 % Prestress Loss
Case 2. Beam subjected to final prestresssing force + dead + live load
 Strength concept analysis of prestressed concrete beam sections :
(i) The P-force is the tension in the tendon.
(ii) The C-force is the compressive force
acting on concrete. Stresses in concrete are
produced entirely due to the C-force.

In the absence of any external bending

moment, the C-force and the P-force act
at the same level.
(i.e. P-line and C-line coincides)
Suppose, the beam is subjected to a moment M,
then the C-line will be shifted from the P-line
by a distance “a” called the lever arm.

In other words the effect.of the moment may be

considered by shifting the C-line by the
distance M\P.

Corresponding to the new position of the C-line

and its eccentricity
This concept in the analysis is called strength concept.
Example : Fig. Shows a prestressed concrete beam of unsymmetrical I-section. It is provided
with a parabolic tendon whose eccentricity varies from zero at each end to 300 mm at the
centre. The prestressing force in the tendon is 2250 kN. The beam carries a load of 40 kN /m
over the whole span including the weight of the beam. Determine the stress distribution for
the mid span section. The beam is 12 m long between supports.
Section Modulus

Stress analysis for the mid section, P =2250 kN and e=300 mm

Stress concept method
Extreme stress at top

Extreme stress at bottom

Strength concept method
Shift of the C-line from the P-line a=M/P

Eccentricity of the C-line = 320 - 300 = 20 mm above the C.G.axis

Extreme stress at top

Extreme stress at bottom

 Load balancing method
Upward u.d.l. transmitted by the cable

Net downward load on the beam =W - We = 40 - 37.5 = 2.5 kN / m

Extreme stress at top

Extreme stress at bottom

…..E N D…..