Prestressed Concrete

Losses calculation

Fawwad Masood

The beam shown is to be post-tensioned using twelve 0.5 dia. Stress-relieved

Grade 270 strands in a single duct. The total jacking tension of 300 kips will be
applied to all strands at once, when the concrete age is 28 days. Jacking will be
at one end only. It has been determined by test that slip of 0.1 can be expected
at the anchorage. The tendon will be grouted after stressing and anchoring.
Other design data is as gove:
Find the separate contributions to loss of prestress force at the end of a fiveyear period, during which time the only permanent sustained load will be the
self-weight of the beam.

1- FRICTION LOSS: The central angle of the tendon is given by

= 8y/x
= _________________ = _________ rad
From table 6.3, for value of wobble coefficient(K) and
curvature friction coefficient () for seven wire strands in
metal sheathing K=0.0010 =0.20 are selected.
ffr=fp (K l + ) (K l + ) 0.30
(K l + ) = ________ x ______ + _________ x ________
= _________ 0.30
fpj = Pj / AP = ________ / _________ = _________
ffr= __________ x 0.0826 = 13500 psi
The stress at the far end of tendon at this stage is fp = fpj - ffr = __________ - ____________ = ________
At Mid span, based on a linear variation, the stress in the tendon is fpi = 156250 psi (Rounded off to 156 ksi)
2- ANCHORAGE SLIP LOSS: For slip uniformly distributed over the length of tendon, fanc=l/l x Ep, where l=
amount of slip and l = tendon length and Ep=elastic modulus of the prestressing steel. This is valid for pretensioning and
also for post tensioning, if the tendon is well greased or encased in low-friction plastic sheathing, and if wobble and
curvature are small. For many post tensioned beams however, the anchorage slip is confined to a region close to the
jacking anchorage. Also, for very short tendonds, anchorage set will produce high slip losses, for long tendons or
casting beds, slip becomes insignificant. i.e the losses may be neglected
For given condition, the slip does not effect at the midspan section of interest, i.e. fanc=0
3- ELASTIC SHORTENING LOSS: For pretensioned members and post tensioned members having multiple tendons,
Since Pi is not exactly known at the stage, it may be assumed as 90% of Pj due to
anchorage slip, friction, elastic shortening. And may be corrected later if needed.
fel = np fcs where np = Ep / Ec is the modular ratio
For post tensioned beam with either a single tendon or all strands tensioned at once with one jack this loss may be
neglected.
For given condition, all 12 strands tensioned at once with a single jack, therefore fel = 0
Now, using all initial prestressing losses, Pi = (fpi - fanc - fel ) x Ap

Pi= __________ x _________ = ___________lb

Prestressed Concrete

Losses calculation

Fawwad Masood

4- CREEP LOSS:
fcp= Cu np fcs ( Cu = Ultimate creep Coefficient ranging 1.6-3.2, if not known, avg. Cu = 2.35 is taken )
Pi is to be taken 0.9x Pi due to losses = 0.9 x286 = 257 ksi
Mo=1/8 wo l2 = 1/8 x __________ x __________ = _______________ np = __________ = ____________
fcs=

(
(

)
)
)

fcp=____________ x ___________ x _________________ = _______________

5- SHRINKAGE LOSS:
Shrinkage loss calculation will be based on assumption
of ultimate concrete shrinkage strain of 800 x 10-6 The
amount of shrinkage affecting the stress in tendon at 28
days of concrete from fig. 2.11, (For moist cured
concrete) 44% of loss is expected before that time.
Therefore, remaining strain
will be 800 x 10-6 x 0.56 = 448 x 10-6
fsh= Ep sh = ____ x 106 x _____ x 10-6
fsh= ___________ psi
6- RELAXATION LOSS:
Pi is to be taken 0.9x Pi due to losses, fpy from fig 2.4 = _______________ ,tn for 5 years = 44000 hours
frel= ______

frel=____________

fpj=163 ksi is reduced to fpi=156 ksi at mid span. After 5 years, Pi at

midspan is reduced because of creep, shrinkage and relaxation to an
effect prestress fpe=122.7 ksi
R= fpe /fpi =122.7/ 156 = 0.79
It is interesting to see that the results compared with lump sum estimate
based on the recommendations of AASHTO for fc = 5 ksi, is 33,000
psi, and that of PTI is 35,000 psi , while the one that is coming out of
our calculations is 33,300 psi, that makes either of the lump sum loses useable.