Precast Pretensioned Bridge Girders

Strength at Transfer, Transmission & Development Length,

De-bonding and Detailing
Wolfgang E Merretz, Godfrey F A Smith,
Structural Concrete Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia
ABSTRACT
Design of pretensioned prestressed concrete flexural members such as precast bridge girders has particular
requirements that differ from post-tensioned prestressed concrete design.
This paper examines strand transmission length, strand development length, de-bonding of strands and concrete
strength at transfer in short-span applications as they relate to the achievement of flexural member capacity. The length
required to develop the tensile capacity of strand is much greater than the transmission length nominated in earlier Australian
design codes. Recognition of this fact is now provided for in the Bridge Design Code AS 5100.5 and the soon to be published
revised AS 3600. It has also been shown that local de-bonding of strands for the purpose of controlling stress at transfer
reduces both shear and moment capacity. This can result in cracks penetrating to the strand causing anchorage to be reduced
or even destroyed.
Presented also in this paper is guidance on a methodology for the rational design for de-bonding.
With increasing size and complexity of precast prestressed concrete in infrastructure, it is timely to also revisit the
subject of design detailing and its economic influence on the manufacture of precast elements.
Keywords:

1.

pretensioned; design; strength; transfer; de-bonding; transmission length; development length;

moment capacity; cracking; detailing; economy; computation.

force is transferred to the member by way of the

mechanical anchors. To provide corrosion protection to

Introduction

Precast prestressed concrete construction when

used in road and rail bridge infrastructure has, over the last
thirty years, become a highly cost-effective method of
providing these much needed utility structures and now
enjoys preferential selection status over steel construction.
This is largely true because most bridges have a span
range of 8 to 40 metres and this span range is easily
accommodated by a cost efficient precast industry which is
able to manufacture and deliver to site components up to
140 tonnes in mass and of lengths to 45 metres.
This has only been possible through the
investment of significant capital to construct modern, well
equipped precasting factories with all necessary supporting
infrastructure and systems for the production of precast,
pretensioned concrete elements.
Prestressing of concrete can be achieved by two
methods.
x
Post-tensioning a concrete member (or member
segments) is accomplished by tensioning tendons
which are passed through preformed ducts cast
through the member. The tendons are anchored at one
end of the member and the prestressing force is
applied to the tendon at the opposite end by way of an
external jack and anchor system. The prestressing

the tendons, prestressing ducts are pressure filled with

cement grout after stressing.
x
Pretensioned concrete members are produced by
casting concrete into a mould around prestressing
strands which have been tensioned against the
abutments of a prestressing bed by way of a jacking
system and individual strand anchors. After the
concrete has achieved the minimum concrete transfer
strength, the pretensioning force is released from the
abutments and transferred to the concrete member
through bond between the concrete and the strand.
This paper deals exclusively with the latter method
although some aspects of the paper apply equally to both.

2.

Design Considerations

The design of pretensioned flexural members

such as girders and planks have particular aspects
associated with them that must be taken into account
during design and construction.
Generally it is more economical to manufacture
fully prestressed members rather than to use partial
prestressing wherein a proportion of the tensile capacity is

Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

23

provided by normal reinforcement. Partial prestressing can

be useful for serviceability reasons such as reducing the
creep hog of a member subject to transient or partial traffic
live load and for the control of deflection. The presence of a
substantial amount of reinforcement in the pre-compressed
zone will, however, reduce the prestress loss, the cracking
moment, the shear capacity and the hog deflection.
Where bridge decks incorporate precast elements
onto which is cast an in-situ concrete slab to form the
flexural compression zone, this hybrid is referred to as
composite construction. Composite construction is an
efficient use of precast and also absorbs construction
tolerances in the structure. It also increases the structural
depth and the ultimate capacity of the precast element.
I-Girders and Super-T girders acting together with
in-situ concrete are examples of precast composite bridge
deck construction. The longitudinal shear at the interface
must be investigated and reinforcement across the
interface provided where necessary.
Decompression and cracking moments are used
in calculations for shear capacity and minimum
reinforcement. Both must take account of the
proportionately greater reduction in the bottom fibre precompression caused by tension due to self-weight and insitu components acting on the precast section alone before
it becomes composite. The composite section can be made
to resist the weight of the in-situ concrete by propping the
precast member until the in-situ concrete reaches design
strength. Whilst this technique of construction is perfectly
acceptable, it finds almost exclusive application in building
structures where propping is easily facilitated and is used
infrequently in bridge construction because of site
topography constraints.
Precast girders are chiefly designed as simply
supported members. Beam to beam continuity can be
achieved but detailing issues make this complex and
potentially uneconomical. Beam continuity is sometimes
achieved with continuity reinforcement placed in the in-situ
concrete topping or deck slab independent of the precast
element. Alternatively, post-tensioned over-pier cap cables
anchored in the precast elements with in-situ stitch joints in
the depth of the precast element are occasionally used.
The critical section for shear in shallow or slab/
plank members will often be in the transmission zone of the
pre-stressing strand. Both the flexure shear and the web
shear capacities are a function of the amount of prestress
force or amount of steel acting at the section. A reduction
of the prestress in the transmission zone must be taken
into account in determining the minimum shear capacity.
The length required to develop the tensile capacity of the
strand in flexure is much greater than the transmission
length and is referred to as the development length
discussed in Section 2.3. The possibility of cracks in this
region at ultimate, which may affect bond length, should be
checked, particularly for members that have de-bonded
strands.

prestress force, the only load acting on the element will be

its self-weight.
The Bridge Design code AS 5100.5 20041,2,
clause 8.1.4.2 requires the strength of the section to be
checked using a strength reduction factor I = 0.6 and load
factors of 1.2 for the prestress force and 0.85 or 1.2 for
dead loads, depending on whether they diminish or add to
the effect of the prestress force. This requirement is
deemed to be satisfied if the maximum compressive stress
at transfer does not exceed 0.5fcp for a rectangular
distribution of stress at a section or 0.6fcp for a triangular
distribution of stress where fcp is the compressive strength
of the concrete at time of transfer. The prestress force
immediately after transfer is the initial force (Pi) and is the
sum of the total force in the prestressing strands
immediately after release of the tensioning jack (Pj) less the
immediate loss of prestress force due to initial strand
relaxation and heat curing at the time at transfer (Plri) and
the elastic loss in concrete at the level of the strands (Ple).

and

AS 5100.2 and 5 requires that I Pu > 1.2 Pi

2.1

2.2

Transmission Length and Transfer of

Prestress

Strength at Transfer

At the time the prestress force is transferred to a

precast element, the force available in the strands will be at
a maximum having been reduced only by elastic strain in
the member and some relaxation in the strands due to heat
accelerated curing. The strength of the concrete is still
developing at this stage and, if hogging is induced by the

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Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

Pi = Pj Plri - Ple
At present, designs used in the manufacture of
precast bridge girders give a concrete strength at transfer
of 35 MPa at 18 hours after casting. This may be increased
to 40 MPa with a possible cost premium of 15% to 60%
depending on the likelihood of not maintaining daily
manufacture cycles.
For a simple rectangular stress block centred on
the prestress tendons, with no non-tensioned reinforcement
in the block and with gravity loads acting to reduce the
effect of the initial prestress Pi, the compressive failure load
Pu is given by Warner and Faulkes8:
Pu = 1.7 fcp b (ypb + 0.85 Msw/Pu)
Where:

----------- (1)

fcp = compressive strength of the

concrete at transfer
b = width of the element at the centroid
of prestress
ypb = distance of prestress centroid from
bottom of element
Msw = moment due to gravity loads acting
on the section

The above equation is a second order polynomial

with a single unknown. Therefore:
Let A = 1.7 fcp b
Then

Pu = A ypb + {(A ypb)2 + (4 A 0.85 Msw)}0.5

2
--------------------

(2)

In a pre-tensioned prestressed concrete member,

the length of strand required to develop the full stress in the
strand at transfer of prestress (Vpi), measured from the end
face of the member, is defined as the transmission length
(Lpt). This length is given in AS 3600 and AS 5100.5 as:

Lpt = 60db

--------------------

(3)

where db = the nominal diameter of the strand

It is assumed that no change in the location of the
inner end of the transmission length occurs with time, and
that a completely unstressed zone of length 0.1 x
transmission length (Lpt) develops at the end zone of the
strand.
For the commonly used super grade, low
relaxation strand types, the transmission lengths are
762mm and 912mm for 12.7 and 15.2 diameter strand
respectively.
The expression for transmission length was
defined by ACI/AASHTO in 1959 and adopted in Australia
in 1963. It was derived from tests by the Portland Cement
Association (PCA) for regular grade 250 ksi (1725 MPa)
strand and was expressed in imperial units for the stress in
strand after losses (Vp.ef) using an average transfer bond
stress of 400 psi (2.76 MPa). This stress applies to the
perimeter of a seven-wire strand, (Per = 4Sdb/3) and for
equilibrium of forces over the transmission length:
2
6 Fx = 0.400(4Sdb/3)Lpt 0.725(Sdb /4) Vp.ef = 0
--------------------

(4)

The bond stress and effective prestress are in ksi

units. The ratio of the net steel area of grade 250 ksi strand
to the area of a circle of the same nominal diameter is
constant and equal to 0.725. For super grade 270 ksi
strand (1840 MPa) the constant is about 6 percent larger.
Solving equation (4) in S.I. units:
Lpt = 0.145(Vp.ef db/3)

--------------------

(5)

This results in a transmission length of 50db where

Vp.ef

1040 MPa

The prestressing industry adopted the higher 270

ksi super (1840 MPa) grade prestressing steel in the early
1970s at which time the equation for transmission length
became invalid. The switch to a higher grade strand,
coupled with lower relaxation characteristics, necessitated
a longer transmission length than predicted by the above.
An analysis of transmission and development
lengths for pre-tensioned concrete by Buckner3,4 in 1994
showed that the transmission length for seven-wire, low
relaxation strand in normal weight concrete having 24.1
MPa (3500 psi) compressive strength or higher at transfer,
can be reasonably approximated by the expression3:
Lpt = Vpi db/3

(imperial units)

Lpt = 0.145 Vpi db

-------------------

(6)

0.145 x 1840 x 0.75 x 0.9 db

=

60db (S.I. units)

Where Vpi approximates 1840 x .75 x 0.9 = 1240
MPa and is the strand stress at the end of the transmission
zone immediately after release of strands and transfer of
prestress.

The transmission length increases proportionally

with strand diameter. It is established immediately after
transfer of prestress and remains essentially unchanged
over time. Further analysis by the FHWA Washington USA
confirmed that the transmission length for super grade, low
relaxation steel is more closely predicted by the stress in
the strand (Vpi) at transfer. The use of the term Vpi is more
rational considering that the transmission length is
established at transfer of prestress and does not change
appreciably with subsequent time. An important step in the
design of pre-tensioned concrete elements is to determine
the top and bottom fibre stresses at the inner end of the
transmission length at transfer of prestress. For this the
stress Vpi is required. Therefore, to express Lpt in terms of
Vpi instead of Vp.ef is both rational and convenient for
design.

2.3

Development Length

The prestress force is transferred to the concrete

by a combination of bond and dilation of the strand along
the transmission length (Lpt). A further length defined as the
flexural bond length (Lb) is required to prevent slip when
the strand reaches its ultimate design stress (Vpu) in the
member. The sum (Lpt + Lb) is termed the development
length (Ld). The flexural bond length (Lb) is the region
where the bond stress equals the difference between the
design stress (Vpu) and the effective prestress (Vp.ef). Figure
1 shows the bi-linear relationship for transmission and
development lengths for 12.7 and 15.2 diameter strands for
stresses from zero to the effective stress after losses along
the transmission length and stress to where the strand is
fully developed at factored resistance.
Various assumptions are made as to the distance
required to transfer the prestress. The value depends on:
x
Type of tendon, e.g. strand or indented wire
x
Strength of the concrete
x
Position of the tendon, e.g. if it has a significant depth
of concrete below it, and
x
Rate of release of the tendon
AS 3600-2001, Clause 13.3.2 and the 92
AUSTROADS Bridge Design Code adopted the calculation
of prestress transmission length based on ACI relations for
prestress at transfer of 70% of the guaranteed minimum
UTS of the strand i.e.; 129 KN and 175 KN respectively for
12.7 dia and 15.2 dia strands. The 92 AUSTROADS Code
also assumed that the development length at ultimate load
was equal to the transmission length which is deemed to
be 60db where the first 10% of length is unstressed then
increases linearly from this point to the maximum prestress
at 60db. Accordingly, both AS 3600 and the 92
AUSTROADS codes were non-conservative by a factor of
two to three. AS 5100 now requires the development length
to be a minimum of 180db.
Research work reported by the Prestressed
Concrete Institute (PCI)5 in the mid 1990s confirmed the
work of other researchers that a much longer length of
approximately 2.5 to 3 times the transmission length was
required to maintain full bond at ultimate load. The
Canadian Code and the Australian Precast Concrete
Handbook gives the development length as:
Ld = 0.145(Vpu 0.67Vp.ef)db
-------------------- (7)
where

Vpu = design stress in the strand (MPa)

Vp.ef = stress in the strand after losses (MPa)

Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

25

Figure 1

It should be noted that where strands are located

high in the section so that more than 300mm of concrete is
below the strand then both the transmission length and the
development length should be increased by at least one
third to two times 60db.
In short span pretensioned concrete flexural
members say 8m or less in length, prestressing strands
may not be fully developed at sections of high moment. It is
possible to have the applied moment curve intersect the
capacity curve before the strands are developed. In some
cases, the strands may not be fully developed even at mid6
span.
The prestress transmission and ultimate bond
development lengths directly affect the design of pretensioned members. Bond failure of the strand can lead to
failure of members and therefore the potential for collapse.

2.4

De-bonding

To understand the need for de-bonding of strands,

consider a simply supported, single span beam uniformly
loaded. Under the self weight of the beam flexural stresses
are introduced that vary from zero at each end to their
maximum at mid-span.
When straight prestressing strands with large
eccentricities are used to control dead load and live load
stresses at mid-span to within allowable limits, the constant
moment produced by the prestressing will produce
excessive stresses in end zones of the member where
stresses due to dead load approach zero. In order to
maintain the concrete stresses within acceptable limits in
this partially loaded member it may be necessary to adjust
the eccentricity and/ or the amount of prestress by reducing

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Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

the eccentricity, deflecting or de-bonding a number of

strands. Refer to Appendix A.
The selection of the method will depend on the
section shape, physical features of the member and the
number of similar units to be manufactured. The choice is
best arrived at in discussion with an experienced precaster.
Super-T girders and planks have straight strands only and
I-girders may have deflected or straight strands.
In the de-bonding method, closely fitting thinwalled flexible tubing (sheathing) of appropriate length is
slipped onto the designated strands. It is preferable to
stagger the sheathing in two or three lengths to allow a
gradual build-up to full prestress (refer to Photo 1). The
transfer of prestress and development of strand capacity
commences at the termination of the sheathing with lengths
Lpt and Ld calculated as above.
AS 5100, Clause 8.1.8.3 requires that at least
one-half of the strands required at the section of maximum
moment continue to the end of the member. A practical
limit for de-bonding strands is in the range of 25% to 50%.
Any more would suggest the section is too small for the
application. At least one State Road Authority places the
limit at 50% for bridges. The Ohio and New York State
DOT place a limit of 25% on the allowable number of debonded strands.
Since de-bonding reduces the quantity of strand
and prestress in the end region of a member, the flexureshear cracking and web-shear cracking capacities, as
described in AS 5100.5 Clause 8.2.7.2 will reduce and
must be checked.
The flexural capacity will also reduce, increasing
in step-like manner along the member and must be

Figure 2
checked against the required moment capacity. It is usual,
7
although not entirely accurate , to pro-rata the capacity of
the partially developed strands at the critical sections.
Flexural tension can occur in the concrete in the
development length of de-bonded strand at service loads,
which may affect the bonding of the strand. It is more likely
to occur where all the sheathing is terminated at one
location. AS 3600 now requires the development length of
de-bonded strand to be increased to 2 x Ld if bottom fibre
tension  the cracking moment in the development length.
Alternatively designers may reduce the tensile capacity of
the de-bonded strands accordingly.
If the cracking moment is exceeded then cracks
can penetrate to the strand and anchorage will be reduced
or even destroyed. In such an event, the strand pattern and
sheathing layout should be revised or the capacity of the
partially developed strands disregarded up to this point.
Appendix A gives an example for de-bonding of
strands.
Photo 2 1000 Deep Super-T Setup two in-line
Stressing Bed

Long-line Manufacturing
Concept

To ensure cost effectiveness it is important that

standard detailing is adopted. Too often it is the case that
designers set out to detail pretensioned members without
regard to how the member will be produced. Sound,
workable details have been developed by the precast
industry in collaboration with the state road authorities.

3.1

Photo 1

De-bonding of Strands in Super-T

Standardisation of Prestress Strand

Patterns within Sections

Pretensioned members are manufactured on a

stressing bed consisting of reaction abutments between
which the prestressing force is applied. The mould sits on
the bed and the prestressing strands pass through
endplates set for the casting length. Depending on the

Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

27

Figure 3 Typical AUSTROADS Type T2 Open Top Super-T

length of the stressing bed, the length of member being

manufactured and the length of mould available, one or
more members may be cast in line at the same time. Refer
to Photo 2 and Figure 2.
One of the most effective (and elegant)
characteristics of precast prestressed concrete is the ability
of the designers to minimise the concrete member section
and therefore minimise the member self weight. The
combination of prestressing strands with non-tensioned
reinforcement and cast-in hardware such as bearing plates
and connection fittings often results in extreme congestion
within the already confined space available. Designers
must select details to accommodate effective diameters of
deformed reinforcing bars (effective diameter being 15%
greater than the nominal diameter); reinforcement
processing industry steel bending tolerances provided in
AS 3600, Clause19.2.2 (-15, +0 mm); and reinforcement
positioning within tolerances given in Clause 19.5.3 (-5,
+10 mm). Designers must select details that will
accommodate these discrepancies. The precast industry
has developed detailing to overcome these difficulties.
The following points should be adhered to when
detailing typical cross sections (Figure 3):
x
Do not locate strands on centreline of girder
as this location is required for centreline
hardware.
x
The array pitch for the positioning of 12.7 and
15.2 diameter strand is 50mm x
50mm horizontally and vertically. This is
governed by standard anchorage hardware
and prestressing abutment equipment.
x
The bottom layer of strands should be located
65 mm above girder soffit to provide 35 mm
cover to stirrups.

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Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

x
x

x
x

Keep the bottom row outer strands away from

the internal bend area of the stirrup
reinforcement.
De-bond strands a minimum amount to
ensure tensile and compressive stresses at
transfer are within acceptable limits; e.g. 2.5
MPa tension and up to 22 MPa compression
for a transfer stress of 37 MPa.
Do not de-bond more than 50 percent of the
prestressing strands.
Always position at least two strands in the top
flange of all members. This helps to control
stresses, minimises de-bonding, reduces top
fibre tension at transfer and helps to maintain
accurate placement of shear reinforcement.
Proportion the section and reinforcement to
limit maximum compressive strength (fcp) of
concrete at transfer of prestress to no greater
than 37 MPa for fc = 50 MPa. Always
nominate the actual minimum transfer
strength required. Unnecessarily high transfer
strengths can increase the cost of the
member significantly.
Concrete cover on all Super-T girder types to
be a minimum of 35mm irrespective of
exposure
classification.
This
permits
standardisation
of
main
vertical
reinforcement.
To ensure accurate and maintainable
positioning of reinforcement, always place
girder shear reinforcement normal to the
member axis. Do not place on the skew angle
if one exists except where required locally in
end-blocks.

x
x

In the case of skew-ended members, arrange

the transverse reinforcement in a fan in the
end zone only to accommodate the skew. In
the main body of the member always detail
reinforcement square to the longitudinal axis
of the member.
For closed top Super-T girders use F818,
F918, or F1018 welded fabric in the top
flange depending on flange bending
requirements. These meshes are detailed
with main wires running upmost and across
the girder flange. To avoid clashes and
cutting of fabric, detail stirrup spacing only in
modular units relative to the mesh, ie 100,
200, 300mm centres.
Do not detail reinforcing bars transversely in
the top surface of the bottom flange except
locally as required in endblocks.
Open
cogs
on
vertical
projecting
reinforcement should be avoided to eliminate
OHS risk both at the precasting factory as
well as on the construction site.
Standardise on a single geometry for the
stirrup reinforcement projection to connect the
deck slab compositely with the precast
section. Photo 3 and Figure 4 shows the
preferred geometry and stirrup projection.
This detail applies to both open and closed
top Super-Ts.
To allow placing of girder lifting hardware and
adequate space for cross girder connections,
the end block length should be a minimum
length of 800mm.
To accommodate transverse diaphragms
between girders at ends of girders, provide
transverse mechanical couplers at internal
faces of end-blocks and maintain the full
depth of the girder. Do not notch the ends.

Photo 3
Projecting Shear Reinforcement from Super-T Setup

4.

5.

References

1.

Australian Standard AS 5100.2 Bridge Design,

Part 2 Design Loads. Sydney: Standards
Australia, 2004.

2.

Australian Standard AS 5100.5 Bridge Design,

Part 5 Concrete. Sydney: Standards Australia,
2004.

3.

Buckner CD. An Analysis of Transfer and

Development Lengths for Pretensioned Concrete
Structures, Report No. FHWA-RD-94-049. Federal
Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
December 1994;108pp.

4.

Buckner CD. A Review of Strand Development

Length for Pretensioned Concrete Members PCI
JOURNAL March-April 1995;84-105.

5.

Canadian Prestressed Concrete Institute. Design

rd
Manual Precast & Prestressed Concrete, 3
Edition. Ottowa, Ontario 1996.

6.

Martin LD, Korkosz WJ. Strength of Prestressed

Concrete at Sections Where Strands Are Not Fully
Developed. PCI JOURNAL 1995;Sept Oct:5866.

7.

Shahawy M A, Issa M, Batchelor B. Strand

Transfer Lengths in Full Scale AASHTO
Prestressed Concrete Girders. PCI JOURNAL
1992;May-June.

8.

Warner RF, Faulkes K A. Prestressed Concrete

2nd Edition. 1993.

Conclusions

In this paper the authors have examined a number

of important design and detailing matters that relate to the
early age loading history of precast pretensioned concrete
flexural members. The principal outcomes are presented in
summary form below.
x
An understanding of the bond mechanism in
prestressing strand at transfer for pre-

tensioned concrete and an explanation of the

60db requirement of AS 3600 and AS 5100
has been provided.
A reasoned background to the recently
introduced provisions for development length
in both AS 3600 and AS 5100 has been
provided.
The consequence of random or excessive debonding where tension within the development
length due to service loads occurs is
highlighted by the need to increase the
development length or reduce the amount of
de-bonding.
A rational approach for the design of debonding has been presented. This approach
can be easily adapted to a spreadsheet
process.
Lack of attention to detail by designers will
cause delays and potential costly contractual
confrontation due to the inability of designers
nominated needs being achievable through
interference of prestressing strand with
reinforcing steel and other cast-in hardware.
To address this issue, and as an aid for
designers, a useful set of design detailing
parameters has been provided.

Concrete Forum Vol 1 No 1

29

APPENDIX A Design for De-bonding

AUSTROADS Type T4 Super-T Girder with Straight Strands
The amount of de-bonding required to ensure stress levels in top and bottom fibres are within acceptable limits are
determined immediately after transfer of the prestressing force to the concrete. The de-bonded length shown in Column C8 of
Table B2 is the minimum de-bonded length.

Properties of AUSTROADS Type T4 Super-T

Top flange width
A
Yb
Zt
Zb
e
sw
fc
fcp
Girder Span
Distance end to bearing

= 2100 mm
2
= 555,850 mm
= 677 mm
= 192.96 x 106 mm3
= 234.76 x 106 mm3
= 472 mm
= 14.18 kN/m
= 50 MPa
= 38 MPa
= 32 m (c/c bearings)
= 400 mm

Properties of 48/15.2 Dia Grade 1750 Low Relaxation Strands

Ap
6Ap
Initial losses
Vpi
Pi

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= 143 mm2 /strand

= 48 x 143 = 6864 mm2
= Relaxn after steam curing = 3.66%, Elastic = 10.28% 6= 13.9%
= 1750 x 0.75 x 0.861 = 1130 MPa
= 6864 x 1130 = 7756.3 kN (initial prestress force)

Stress due to prestress with all strands fully bonded

Top fibre;
Vt(ps) = - Pi/A + Pi .e/Zt
= - (7756.3 / 555.85) + (7756.3 x 103 x 472 / 192.96 x 106)
= + 5.019 (Tension)
Bottom fibre;
Vb(ps) = - Pi/A Pi .e/Zb
= - (7756.3 / 555.85) - (7756.3 x 103 x 472 / 234.76 x 106)
= - 29.55 (Comp)

Allowable Stresses
AS 5100.5 Clause 8.1.4.2 and 8.6.2
Compression
Fc = 0.6 x fcp = 0.6 x 38 = 22.8 (Comp)
Tension
Ft = 0.25 x i fcp = 0.25 x 380.5 = 1.541 (Tension)
At the above tensile stress limit, the concrete alone will carry the stress and top reinforcement is not required. It does
however require more de-bonding.

Transmission Length
Lpt = 0.145 x Vpi x db / 3
= 0.145 x 1130 x 15.2 / 3

= 830 but AS 5100.5 Clause 13.3.2 requires 60 x db

= 912 mm

De-bonding Requirements
It is assumed that a completely unstressed zone of 10% x Lpt exists from the girder end-face and then the force
develops linearly to its full value of Pi at the end of the transmission length for each stage of de-bonding. It will also be assumed
that the transmission length for a fully bonded strand and an un-bonded strand is equal to Lpt = 912 mm.
Therefore, the prestress becomes fully effective at a point 912 mm from the end of the girder or 912 400 = 512 mm
from the centre of bearings.
At x = 912 mm from the beam end:
Msw = w.(x-a) . (L-(x-a)) / 2
= 14.18 x (0.912 0.4) x (32.0 (0.912 0.4)) / 2
= 114.30 kN.m
Vt(sw) = -114.30 / 192.96 = -0.592 (Comp)
Vt = Vt(ps) + Vt(sw)
= 5.019 0.592 = 4.427 (Tension)
Vb(sw) = 114.30 / 234.76 = 0.487 (Tension)
Vb = Vb(ps) + Vb(sw)
= -29.55 + 0.487 = -29.063 (Comp)
The top stress at x = 0.912 m exceeds the allowable by 4.427 1.541 = 2.886 Tension
The bottom stress exceeds the allowable by 29.063 22.80 = 6.263 Compression
Therefore, by inspection the de-bonding requirement will be governed by the bottom stress and calculations performed
to reduce the excessive stress. The excess tension will also reduce.

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Reduction of Compressive Stress

Compute the reduction in bottom stress due to be-donding four strands in row 1 and two strands in each of rows 2, 3
and 4.
Pi = 2 x 143 x 1750 x 0.75 x 0.861 = 323.18 kN

For 2 strands:

The reduction of bottom fibre stress Vb due to 2 strands is:

Vb(ps) = - Pi/A Pi .e/Zb

Pi/A = 323.18 / 555.85 = -0.581 (Comp)

Set up Table B1 and compute Vb for the de-bonded strands in each row. Select enough strands to be de-bonded to
give a total Vb equal to or greater than the excess compression of 6.263 MPa.

Table B1
Stress Reductions using nominated numbers of de-bonded strands
Row
Eccentricity
Number
Pi/A
Number
e, (mm)
De-bonded
4
447
2
-0.581
3
497
2
-0.581
2
547
2
-0.581
1
597
4
-1.162
Totals
10
*Vb = bottom fibre stress due to 2 or 4 strands in the row being de-bonded

Pi .e/Zb

Total *Vb

-0.615
-0.684
-0.753
-1.644

-1.196
-1.265
-1.334
-2.806
-6.601

In this example, a total of 10 strands provided a stress reduction of 6.601 MPa (>6.263 MPa). If more stress reduction
is necessary, simply increase the number of strands in rows 2 and 3.

Calculation of De-bonded Length (x) in Table B2

The equation for bending moment at any point of a uniformly loaded beam is:
Mx = w.x/2(L-x)
Mx = 14.18.x/2(32.0-x)
7.09.x2 226.88.x + Mx = 0
x = -b  SQRT(b2 4.a.c)
2.a
Substituting:
x = 226.88  SQRT(51,474 28.36.Mx)
14.18

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Table B2
Summary of De-bond Calculations
C1
C2
C3
Row
Other rows un-boded
being
checked
Row
Resulting
numbers
Vcp.f
(MPa)

C4
Net Vcp.f
=29.55-C3
(MPa)

C5
Reqd
Vb(sw)
=net-allow
=C4-22.8
(MPa)

C6
Reqd Msw
=C5.Zb
(kN.m)

C7
x for Msw
(m)

C8
De-bonded
length
=x+0.4-0.912
Figure 5
(m)

3,2,1

-5.405

24.145

1.345

315.05

1.455

0.943

2,1

-4.140

25.410

2.610

612.25

2.975

2.463

-2.806

26.744

3.944

925.66

4.800

4.288

Nil

0.000

29.550

6.750

1584.63

10.300

9.788

Table B2 Calculations
Column C3
Column C4
Column C5
Column C6
Column C7
Column C8

Obtain Vcp.f due to strands in row being de-bonded from Table B1

-29.55 MPa is the stress in bottom fibre due to prestress with all strands bonded
Bottom fibre stress from girder self weight required to offset excess prestress
Self weight moment required = C5 x 234.76
Distance from centreline of bearing to point giving required moment
0.400 m is the distance from centre of bearing to end of girder.

Figure 5
When lifting devices or temporary supports are not located close to the bearing supports, stresses in the girder should
be checked for the actual support condition.

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33