PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Dr. Mohamed Ali

ali.mohamed@adelaide.edu.au
School of CEME
Engg North N234

(Flexural behaviour in the post-cracking range-

Moment-curvature relationship & deflections)

When the PSC beam cracks and how shrinkage affects cracking
moment Mcr (AS3600 method)

• Flexural cracking occurs when the tensile stress at the extreme

tensile fibre is just large enough to overcome the precompression
due to prestress and to induce a net tensile stress that is equal to
the characteristic flexural tensile concrete strength, f`ct,f.
• Prestressing force reduces over time because of creep and
shrinkage of the concrete important in calculating Mcr
– do not use the initial value of prestress just after transfer, Pi
– use the value Pe that exists at the time of loading including
losses (losses due to shrinkage &creep)
– -reinforcing steel or bonded tendons in the section provide
partial restraint to the surrounding concrete as it shrinks
– Tensile stresses are induced in the concrete over time
– reduction in Mcr Please refer to examples from Chapter-5
of Warner’s book for this week’s lecture.
2
 3

AS 3600-2009 requires restrained shrinkage to be taken into account in

calculating Mcr
long-term tensile stress induced in the bottom concrete fibre by restrained
shrinkage σcs

εcs*-final design shrinkage strain for the concrete

Ast and Ap -areas of reinforcing steel and prestressing steel
pcw - compressive reinforcement ratio, any top fibre compressive
reinforcement Asc will actually induce a compressive stress
increment in the bottom fibre increase in Mcr

Z=elastic section modulus=y/Ig

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 Transition from uncracked to cracked condition

Transitional behaviour following cracking

5

Post-cracking behaviour of a section

The level of prestress has an important effect on the way the member
behaves in the post-cracking working load range.
reinforced section without prestress
•a sudden, large jump in the height of the crack and of the neutral axis
level in the section occurs at Mcr
•no subsequent change in the neutral axis as the moment increases
above Mcr
In the post-cracking, working load range, the lever arm is constant and
independent of the applied moment, Ts and Cc in the concrete above
the neutral axis both increase as M increases.
•For equilibrium M = Tsz, with the lever arm z remaining constant.

6
section with prestress
the neutral axis position rises as the applied moment increases
above Mcr
When the initial crack forms it rises immediately to a point a
little above the prestressing tendon, crack tip and the neutral
axis position rise in the section with increasing M The
internal lever arm z thus increases as M increases.
For equilibrium M = Tp z.
Provided the prestressing steel (or any reinforcement present)
is well bonded to the surrounding concrete, the first crack
remains very narrow.
With increasing load, additional cracks appear on either side
of the initial crack and the cracking region extends
progressively outwards along the member from the peak
moment section.
the height of the cracks at any cross-section will depend on the
amount of prestress in the section and also on the moment
acting. 7

8
 Elastic analysis for a rectangular cracked section
Assumptions -the compressive concrete and the reinforcing steel and
tendons all behave elastically & tensile concrete carries no stress
A'B'- the elastic strains in the concrete just prior to loading
A''B''- the elastic strains in the concrete after loading

For horizontal equilibrium

taking moments about the top fibre

tensile strain in the concrete at the levels of the tensile reinforcement & prestressing steel

With perfect bonding, the tensile strain in the reinforcing steel εst = εcst
εcp is much smaller than the total strain εp in the prestressing steel; εp has 2 more
components

1. tensile strain in the prestressing steel due to prestress

2.compressive strain in the concrete at this level due to

prestress
(obtained from an elastic analysis of the uncracked section)
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 Stress/Ec
Stresses due to
prestress only

total strain in the prestressing steel

Assuming elastic behaviour in the steels

compressive force in the concrete acting at

curvature in the section when the moment M

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Generation of moment-curvature relationship

Steps :
1. Initially choose a values of dn at a value slightly smaller than dp.
2. For a chosen dn value, find the corresponding top fibre strain εo to
satisfy force equilibrium
3.With values of εo and dn determined, evaluate σ&ε in the section
4. evaluate M corresponding to the chosen for dn and calculate the
curvature
5.Return to Step 2 and repeat the calculations for other decreasing
values of dn.
Closed form solution for εo for a given dn (alternative to step-2-)

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 Cracked section analysis: general trial-and-error
method

13

Short-term deflection calculations

AS 3600-2009 suggests two alternative methods for calculating deflections in
both RC & PSC beams.
(1) Rigorous method- covered in Clause 8.5.2- refined calculations
considering of cracking and tension stiffening -calculations require a first
principles approach such as a segmental analysis.
(2) Simplified procedure- uses an effective flexural stiffness, EcIef, for RC &
PSC beams in elastic formulae.
For a simply supported beam, the value of Ief, is determined at mid-span,
and for a cantilever at the support.
Expression for Ief in AS3600( Branson’s Eqn.)

Ig and Icr = the second moments of area of the gross and cracked sections,

Ms*= maximum bending moment at the section, based on the short-term

serviceability load,
Mcr =cracking moment for the section
α = 1.0 for prestressed concrete sections 14
Branson and Trost (1982) – For PSC, the effective stiffness should be
used for the increments in deflection that occur as the moment increases
from the value Mo , at which the curvature is zero, to Ms*
When the external applied moment is zero there is an initial negative
curvature κi in the section, which progressively decreases as M increases
until, at M = Mo = Pe, a state of zero curvature is achieved
For moments greater than Mo , the curvature is positive. The external loads
that produce moments Mo & the corresponding load is wo.

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For PSC beams,

replace Mcr & Ms*
with M’cr & Ms’ in
Branson’s Eqn. &
The total short-term deflection due to service load ws* Eurocode Eqn.

The initial deflection ∆o due to prestress plus the load wo is calculated for
the member in the uncracked condition, using the method described in
Chapter 4
where ∆o is the deflection due to prestress plus the zero-curvature load
wo (almost zero as can be seen in previous figures).

For design calculations

total service load = sustained component of the live load (ψlQ) +
transient component of the live load live load (ψs–ψl)Q
So, determine the deflection for each separately.

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 Eurocode Eqn. for Ief (used in Example 5.5 of Warner’s book)

Mcr is determined from with σcs = 0.

Eurocode :
k = 1.0 for short term loading and k = 0.5 for long term loading
Gilbert and Ranzi :
k = 0.7 for early ages (less than 28 days) and k = 0.5 for ages greater than 6
months
Cracked second moment of area (Icr) : use the modular ratio
method, with the modular ratio of reinforcing steel n = Es /Ec
and the tendon np = Ep /Ec

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Appendix
RC Design for Servicicability
(Linear Elastic Analysis)
for non-prestressed conventional reinforced
concrete beams
Deflection of Reinforced Concrete (R.C.) Beams – Elastic Analysis

5 ωL4 PL3
δ max = δ max=
384 EI 48 EI

Flexural rigidity (EI) of R.C. Beams

The steel area is usually expressed in terms of equivalent
concrete area
The determination of I is most important where the effect of
cracks in concrete should be considered properly
19

Flexural Rigidity/Moment of Inertia in R.C. Beams

Icr M (EI)uncr
Ig
(EI)cr
Ms

Mcr

( )
Equivalent Moment of Inertia: I ef = I cr + I g − I cr (M cr / M s )
3 I cr ≤ I ef ≤ I g

Mcr – Moment to initiate crack in the concrete (analysis is based on

uncracked section)
Ms – Serviceablity Moment (maximum moment the structure/beam is
expected to carry during its service life)

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 Mcr-Moment to cause cracking of concrete

• In RC beams, cracking occurs when the stress

in the concrete at the extrem tensile fibre due
to the applied loads reaches the cracking
stress
σcr=ft
ft= flexural tensile strength of concrete
ft = 0.6(f`c)0.5 (if not given, then use this approximate formula)

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Example. For the simply supported beam under serviceability load of

7.5kN/m as shown below, determine its maximum deflection due to this load
taking the depth of neutral axis as 200mm.

250
E c = 30 kN/mm 2
f t = 4 N / mm 2 (tensile strength of concrete)

400
365 I g = 1693 × 10 6 mm 4 (transformed concrete)

I cr = 1084 × 10 6 mm 4 (transformed concrete)

All dimensions are in mm

ω = 7.5kN/m

I ef = I cr + (I g − I cr )(M cr / M s )
3

L = 8m

ω L2
7 .5 × 8 2 σI ft I g 4 × 1,693 × 10 6
Ms = = = 60 kNm M cr = = = = 33.9 kNm
8 8 y c 200

I ef = 1,084 × 10 6 + (1,693 × 10 6 − 1,084 × 10 6 )× (33.9 / 60 ) = 1,194 × 10 6 mm 4

3
22
 ω = 7.5kN

L = 8m

I ef = 1,194 × 10 6 mm 4 E c = 30 kN/mm 2

5 ωL4 5 7.5 × 100 × 80004

δ max = = = 11.2 mm
384 EI 384 30 × 1000 × 1,194 × 106

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Flexural Rigidity of the Uncracked Section

R.C. Section Transformed concrete section

b b
( Ast )c
( m − 1)( Ast )c
D
Neutral Axis (NA)

( Ast )t ( m − 1)( Ast )t

Modular ratio: m = E s / Ec

Neutral axis position: Centroid of the transformrd concrete section (elastic analysis)

Moment of Inertia of the transformed concrete section abou NA: I tc

Flextura Rigidity: EI = Ec I tc
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 Example 3. For the RC beam section shown, calculate uncracked moment of
inertia, flexural rigidity, the moment to initiate concrete cracking and the
corresponding curvature.
Es 210,000
( Ast )compression = 300 mm 2
25 150 m= = =8
Ec 26,250

Transformed concrete section

250
300 300 × 150
= 45,000 mm 2 y
NA
( Ast )tension = 602 mm 2

All dimensions are in mm

Ec = 26,250 N / mm 2 ( m − 1)( Ast )t = (8 − 1) × 602 = 4214 mm 2

E s = 210,000 N / mm 2
( m − 1)( Ast )c = (8 − 1) × 300 = 2100 mm 2
f t = 2.6 N / mm 2

∑ A = 45,000 + 2,100 + 4,214 = 51,314 mm 2

Depth of NA from beam top:
51,314 × y = 2100 × 25 + 45,000 × 150 + 4214 × 250 → y = 153 .125mm

25 Transformed concrete section

150 ( Ast )t = 300 mm 2 2100 mm 2

y
250 45,000 mm 2
300 NA

4214 mm 2
( Ast )c = 602 mm 2 y = 153.1mm
Ec = 26,250 N/mm 2 , f t = 2.6 N/mm 2

150 × 3003
Ig = + 150 × 300 × (153.1 − 150) 2 + 2,100 × (153.1 − 25) 2
12
+ 4,214 × ( 250 − 153.1) 2 = 412 × 106 mm 4

Ec I g = 412 × 10 6 × 26,250 = 10.82 × 1012 N − mm 2

2.6 × 412 × 106 M cr 6.997 × 106

M cr =
ft I g
= = 6.997 kNm φcr = = 6.47 × 10 −7 mm −1
y 153.1 Ec I g 10.82 × 1012

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Flextural Rigidity of the Cracked Section

R.C. Section Transformed concrete section

( Ast )c b ( m − 1) ( Ast )c

dn y
d c
NA

( Ast )t m ( Ast )t

Neutral axis (NA) will pass through the centroid of the transformed concrete
section as the analysis is based on elastic theory.
So the distance of NA from the centroid of transformed section is zero.

y= ∫ y dA = ∫ y dA = 0 → ∫ y dA = 0
∫ dA A

dn
(b d n ) + (m − 1)( Ast ) c ( d n − c ) − m( Ast )t ( d − d n ) = 0 → d n = ....
2 27

Example. Calculate the flexural rigidity of the cracked section, the moment
to cause the steel yielding and the corresponding curvature. Also calculate
Ig/Icr (use Ig evalueated in the previous example).

25 150 ( Ast )c = 300 mm 2

Ec = 26,250 N/mm 2
250
300 Es = 210,000 N/mm 2
Es 210,000
f y = 250 N/mm 2 m= = =8
Ec 26,250

( Ast )t = 602 mm 2 Transformed concrete section

dn
( m − 1) ( Ast )c = (8 − 1) × 300 = 2100 mm 2

m ( Ast )t = 8 × 602 = 4816 mm 2

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 Transformed concrete section
25
150 150

y dn
250 2100 mm 2
300

4816 mm 2

Depth of neutral axis: ∫ y dA = 0

150 ×d n×d n / 2 + 2,100 × (d n − 25 ) − 4,816 × (250 − d n ) = 0
75 d n +2,100 d n−52,500 − 12,04,000 + 4,816 d n= 0
2

75 d n +6,916 d n−12,56,500 = 0
2

− 6,916 ± 6916 2 − 4 × 75 × 12,56,500

d n=
2 × 75
− 6,916 ± 20,610
= = 91.3 mm
150
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Transformed concrete section

150 Ec = 26,250 N/mm 2
d n = 91.3 mm Es = 210,000 N/mm 2

dn f y = 250 N/mm 2
2
25 2100 mm
250 m=8
4816 mm 2

150 × 91.33
I cr = + 2,100 × (91.3 − 25 ) + 4,816 × (250 − 91.3) = 168.6 × 106 mm 4
2 2

Ec I cr = 168.6 × 106 × 26,250 = 4.43 × 1012 N − mm 2 (flexural rigidity of the cracked section)

250 × 168.6 × 106

f y I cr
M yield = = = 33.2 kNm (moment to cause yielding of steel)
my 8 × (250 − 91.3)

M yield 33.2 × 10 6
φ yield = = = 7.49 × 10 −6 mm −1
Ec I cr 4.43 × 1012
I g = 412 × 10 6 mm 4
(from previous example)
I g / I cr = 412 / 168 .6 = 2.44 30
Example 5. Determine the flexural rigidity of the uncracked
section. What moment will cause the stress in the bottom fibre to
reach 4MPa and at what curvature will this occur. What is the stress
in the reinforcing bars and in the top fibre of the concrete.
1000
Ec = 20 kN / mm 2
150
Es = 200 kN / mm 2
300
500 50
Ast = 3000 mm 2

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Solution

Transformed concrete section m = 200 / 20 = 10

150
1000

dn
600
300 500

50
4MPa
3000 × 9 = 27,000 mm 2

Position of centroid from top surface

27,000 × 600 + 1,000 × 150 × 150 / 2 + 300 × 500 × (150 + 500 / 2)

= (27,000 + 1,000 × 150 + 300 × 500 ) dn
→ dn = 267.4 mm
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 Solution5

Moment of inertia

1,000 × 1503 300 × 500 3

I= + 1,000 × 150 × (267.4 − 150 / 2 ) +
2

12 12
+ 300 × 500 × (150 + 500 / 2 − 267.4 ) + 27,000 × (600 − 267.4 ) = 14,583 × 10 6 mm 4
2 2

Flexural rigidity EI = 20,000 × 14583 × 10 6 = 2.917 × 1014 N − mm 2

σI
4 × 14,583 × 10 6
Moment M = = = 152.5 kNm
y 650 − 267.4
M 152.5 × 10 6
Curvature φ= = = 5.23 × 10 −7 mm −1
EI 2.917 × 1014

My 152.5 × 10 6 × 267.4
Stress in top fibre σ c= = = 2.80 N / mm 2 (compressi on)
I 14,583 × 10 6

My 152.5 × 10 6 × (600 − 267.4 )

Stress in rebars
σ s= ×m = × 10 = 34.8 N / mm 2
I 14,583 × 10 6

Note - convert the stress in concrete to stress in steel by multiplying with “m” 33

Example 6: Determine flexural rigidity of cracked section

and the stress in the reinforcement when a moment of 130kNm is
applied. What the the curvature when this moment is applied.
1000

200 Ec = 20 kN/mm 2
Es = 200 kN/mm 2
300
400 50 Ast = 3000 mm 2

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 Solution6

Transformed concrete section

As a starting position, assume
1000 NA is in within the flange

200 dn

m = 200 / 20 = 10
550
300 3000 × 10 = 30,000 mm 2

Position of centroid from top surface

1,000 × d n × d n / 2 = 30,000 × (550 − d n )

500 d n + 30,000 d n − 16,500,000 = 0
2

− 30,000 ± 30,000 2 + 4 × 500 × 16,500,000

dn = = 154 mm Assumption is correct
2 × 500
1,000 × 154 3
I= + 30,000 × (550 − 154 ) = 5921 .9 × 10 6 mm 4
2

3 35

Solution 6

1,000 × 154 3
I= + 30,000 × (550 − 154 ) = 5921.9 × 10 6 mm 4
2

3
EI = 11843 × 1010 N − mm 2

My 130 × 10 6 × (550 − 154 )

σ s= ×m = × 10 = 87 N / mm 2
I 5921.9 × 10 6

M 130 × 10 6
φ= = = 1.098 × 10 −6 mm −1
EI 11843 × 10 10

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