EAS458 PRESTRESSED CONCRETE DESIGN 2017/2018

2.6 LOSSES

In prestressed concrete applications, the most important variable is the prestressing force. In the early
days, it was observed that the prestressing force does not stay constant, but reduces with time. Even
during prestressing of the tendons and the transfer of prestress to the concrete member, there is a drop of
the prestressing force from the recorded value in the jack gauge. The various reductions of the
prestressing force are termed as the losses in prestress.

For the serviceability requirements to be satisfied in each region of a member at all times after first
loading, a reasonably accurate estimate of the magnitude of prestress is needed in the design. This
requires reliable procedures for the determination of both the immediate and time-dependent losses of
prestress (Fig. 2.12).

Immediate losses of prestress occur during the stressing (and anchoring) operation and include elastic
shortening of concrete, the short-term relaxation of the tendon, friction along a post-tensioned cable and
the slip at the anchorages. Meanwhile, the time-dependent losses of prestress are caused by creep and
shrinkage of the concrete, and relaxation of steel.

Figure 2.12 Causes of various losses in prestress

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2.6.1 Definitions
The losses of prestress that occur in a tendon are categorised as either immediate losses or time-dependent
losses (as illustrated in Fig. 2.13)

𝑃 𝑃 𝑃
Jacking Prestressing force Final or effective
force immediately after prestressing force
transfer

Figure 2.13 Losses of prestress in the tendons

Immediate losses occur when the prestress is transferred to the concrete at time t0 and may vary
along the length of the tendon. Immediate losses are the difference between the force imposed
on the tendon by the hydraulic prestressing jack Pmax (=Pj) and the force in the tendon
immediately after transfer at a distance x from the active end of the tendon Pm0(x) and can be
expressed as:

Immediate loss = ( )

Time-dependent losses are the gradual losses of prestress that occur with time over the life of
the structure. If Pm,t(x) is the force in the prestressing tendon at x from the active end of the
tendon after all losses, then,

Time-dependent loss = ( ) ( )

Both immediate and time-dependent losses are made up of several components. Immediate
losses depend on the method and equipment used to prestress the concrete and include losses
due to elastic shortening of concrete, wedge draw-in at the prestressing anchorage, friction in
the jack and along the tendon, deformation of the forms for precast members, deformation in
the joints between elements of precast structures, temperature changes that may occur during
this period and the relaxation of the tendon in a pretension member between the time of
tensioning the wires before the concrete is cast and the time of transfer (particularly significant
when the concrete is cured at elevated temperatures prior transfer).

Time-dependent losses are the gradual losses of prestress that occur with time over the life of
the structure. These include losses caused by the gradual shortening of concrete at the steel

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level due to creep and shrinkage, relaxation of the tendon after transfer and time-dependent
deformation that may occur within the joints in segmental construction.

2.6.2 Immediate losses

The magnitude of immediate losses is taken as the sum of the losses caused by each relevant
phenomenon. Where appropriate, the effects of one type of immediate loss on the magnitude of other
immediate losses should be considered. For example, in a pretensioned member, the loss caused by
relaxation of the tendon prior to transfer will affect the magnitude of the immediate loss caused by elastic
deformation of concrete.

Elastic deformation losses

1. Pretensioned member
When the tendons are cut and the prestressing force is transferred to the member, the concrete
undergoes immediate shortening due to the prestress. The tendon also shortens by the same amount,
which leads to the loss of prestress.

The elastic shortening loss is quantified by the drop in prestress (ΔPel) in a tendon due to the change
in strain in the tendon (Δεp,0). It is assumed that the change in strain in the tendon, Δεp,0 is equal to the
strain in concrete (εcp,0) at the level of the tendon due to the prestressing force. This assumption is
called strain compatibility between concrete and steel.

The strain in concrete at the level of the tendon is calculated from the stress in concrete (σcp,0) at the
same level due to the prestressing force. A linear elastic relationship is used to calculate the strain
from the stress.

The quantification of the losses due to elastic shortening of the concrete is derived mathematically
below:
i). The elastic shortening loss = the loss in prestress force,

ii). The change in strain in a tendon ( ) = the strain in concrete ( ) at the level of the tendon:

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Substitute into 2.26:

iii). The elastic shortening loss = The drop in prestress (ΔPel) = [the change in stress of the tendon] x
[cross sectional area of prestressing steel].

( )

2. Post-tensioned member
If there is only one tendon, or with two or more tendons stressed simultaneously, the elastic
deformation of the concrete occurs during the stressing operation before the tendons are anchored,
hence in this case, the elastic shortening losses are zero.

In a member containing more than one tendon and where the tendons are stressed sequentially,
stressing of a tendon causes an elastic shortening loss in all previously stresses and anchored tendons.
Consequently, the 1st tendon to be stressed suffers the largest elastic shortening loss and the last
tendon to be stressed suffers no elastic shortening loss at all. Elastic shortening losses in the tendons
stressed early in the prestressing sequence can be reduced by re-stressing the tendons (prior to
grouting of the prestressing ducts).
It is relatively simple to calculate the elastic shortening losses in an individual tendon of a post-
tensioned member, provided the stressing sequence is known. For most cases, it is sufficient to
determine the average loss of stress as follows:

In post-tensioned members, the tendons are not bonded to the concrete until grouting of the duct
occurs after the stressing sequence is completed. It is the shortening of the member between the
anchorage plates that leads to elastic shortening, and not the strain at the steel level, as in the case for
pretensioned members.

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For simplicity, the loss in all the tendons can be calculated based on the stress in concrete at the level
of centroid of prestressing steel. This simplication cannot be used when tendons are stretched
sequentially in a post-tensioned member.

3. The simplified formula

If the transfer force is Pm0, and the force after elastic shortening loss is P’ (the remaining force), then:

( )

From 2.32:

( ) ( )

Substitute into 2.34:

( )

( )

**Note that Eq. 2.36 can only be applied for pretensioned member.

For post-tensioned member, it is normally adequate to assume 50% of the above (Eq. 2.36) losses. In
this case, the remaining prestress force is:

( )

Example 2.8
A prestressed concrete sleeper produced by pretensioning method has a rectangular cross section of 300
mm wide and 250 mm deep. It is prestressed with 9 nos. of straight 7 mm diameter wires at 80% of the
ultimate strength of 1570 N/mm2 as shown in Fig. E.g. 2.8. Estimate the percentage loss of stress due to
elastic shortening of concrete. Given Ep = 195,000 MPa and Ecm,0 = 30 GPa.

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Figure E.g. 2.8

Solution using Eq. 2.32:

( )

The calculation of losses will be performed separately for top and bottom wires.

Beam’s properties:

Parameters due to prestresing force:

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Pretressing force:

Stresses due to prestressing force:

Elastic shortening (the drop in prestress):

⁄
⁄

Loss in percentage:

Solution using Eq. 2.36:

( ) ( )

Losses in prestressing (%):

Conclusion:
The results are not too much different.

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Friction in ducts (friction along the tendon)

The friction generated at the interface of concrete and steel during the stretching of a curved tendon in a
post-tensioned member, leads to a drop in the prestress along the member from the stretching end. The
loss due to friction does not occur in pretensioned members because there is no concrete during the
stretching of the tendons.

The friction is generated due to the curvature of the tendon and the vertical component of the prestressing
force. In addition to friction, the stretching has to overcome the wobble of the tendon. The wobble refers
to the change in position of the tendon along the duct. The losses due to friction and wobble are grouped
together under friction.

The magnitude of the friction loss depends on the tendon length, x, and the total angular change of the
tendon over that length, as well as the size and type of the duct containing the tendon. An estimation of
the loss of force in the tendon due to friction at any distance x from the jacking end may be made using:

( )
( ) ( )

where:
: The sum in rad. of the absolute values of successive angular deviations of the tendon over the
length x.

: The coefficient of friction between the tendon and its duct and depends on the surface
characteristics of the tendon and the duct, the presence of rust on the surface of the tendon and the
elongation of the tendon.

Table 5.1 Cl. 5.10.5.2 EN1992-1-1 (0.19 for strand; 0.17 for cold drawn wire)

: The estimate of the unintentional angular deviation (in rad./m) due to wobble effects in the straight
or curved parts of internal tendons and depends on rigidity of sheaths, the spacing and fixing of
their supports, the care taken in placing the prestressing tendons, the clearance of tendons in the
duct, the stiffness of the tendons and the precautions taken during concreting.

Typical value is between 0.005 to 0.01 rad./m

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Example 2.9
A post-tensioned beam shown in Fig. E.g. 2.9 is stressed by two tendons with a parabolic profile and
having a total cross-sectional area . The total initial prestressing force, Pm0 = 10,500 kN
and the total characteristics strength is 14,000 kN. Given the parabolic curve is y = 2.844x10-6x2. Evaluate
the prestress loss at mid-span due to elastic shortening of the concrete and friction. Use the following
data: , , Ecm(transfer) = 32 kN/mm2, Es = 205 kN/mm2. Take the average
eccentricity for the parabolic tendon as 2/3ec.

1800 mm
e=0
c.a
ɵ
ec = 640

1200 mm
30 m
Cross-sectional area A = 1.05 m2 Cross-section
Second moment of area I = 0.36 m4 at mid-span

Figure E.g. 2.9

Solution:
Loss due to elastic shortening:
From Eq. 2.37:

( )

⁄ ⁄

( ) ( )

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Loss due to friction:

From Eq. 2.38:
( )
( ) ( )

( )
( ) ( )
( )

2.6.3 Time-dependent losses

Creep of concrete
The sustained compressive stress on the concrete will cause a long-term shortening due to creep, which
will similarly reduce the prestress force. As in the previous elastic shortening, the stress in the concrete at
the level of the steel is important. Hence;

( )

And,

Therefore,

( )

( )
( )⁄

( )
( )( )

Note that P’ is the prestressing force after considering all short-term losses

Shrinkage of concrete
This is based on empirical figures for shrinkage/unit length of concrete (εcs) for particular curing
conditions and transfer maturity. Typical values range from (outdoor exposure) to
(indoor exposure).
, hence,

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Example 2.10
Use info. in Example 2.9, estimate the losses due to creep and shrinkage. Given: creep coefficient
( ) and shrinkage strain, .

Solution:
Loss due to creep:
From Eq. 2.41:
( )
( )( )

P’ is the prestressing force after considering all short-term losses:

Short-term loss due to elastic shortening =
Short-term loss due to friction = 459 kN
Total short-term loss = 814 kN

( ) ( )( )

Loss due to shrinkage:

From Eq. 2.42:

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