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Finite Element Modelling of Unbounded Post-Tensioned Tendons

Conference Paper · October 1999

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Calin Mircea
Universitatea Tehnica Cluj-Napoca
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 Finite Element Modelling of Unbounded Post-Tensioned Tendons

Session 3: Modelling of Concrete Structures

Lecturer Dr. Eng. Călin Mircea
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Civil Engineering Faculty
15, C. Daicoviciu Street, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Phone: +40.94.214.908, Fax: +40.64.192.055, E-mail: calin.mircea@bmt.utcluj.ro

SUMMARY

The paper deals with FE modelling of unbounded post-tensioned cables. In order to avoid the
use of linkage elements that comprise the slipping properties of the tendon-duct contact,
iterative procedures are possible to be performed.
After a brief presentation of the numerical options to be considered in the optional structural
analyses, an iterative procedure based on the “linear strain criterion” has been developed to
simulate the behavior of unbounded tendons in post-tensioned concrete structures. The
combined effect of slip and friction is mathematically modeled to each loading step, the
effects being included in the residual properties of the finite element. The procedure allows
the complete account of the loading path. Finally, comparisons are made with test data of two
spatial concrete structures post-tensioned by external cable networks.

INTRODUCTION

Prestressed concrete structures by unbounded tendons represent an efficient alternative in

conceiving, construction and rehabilitation of large span structures, circular structures, etc.
The absence of adherence at the contact between strands and concrete generates particular
phenomena that have to be considered in structural analyses:
- tendon’s slips, associated with active friction, may occur in several stages during
construction and service of structures;
- the uniform stress state in cables is restrained only by friction, due to the properties of the
contact surface between tendons and theirs duct (i.e. usually HDPE ducts);
Therefore, Bernoulli's law is not applicable. In this context, computer techniques are the only
tools that allow an accurate description of the structural behavior. Among them, Finite
Element Method represents the ideal instrument in structural modelling.
Tendon's slip is initiated due to the lack of the stress equilibrium. After the initial slip at
tensioning followed by the anchorage's recoil, new slips may be initiated by external actions.
The slip of the tendon related to its duct takes place practically instantaneously. This is the
result of the non-uniform distribution of the deformations along the contact area. Until the
moment of the slip, stress gradients are stored at the left and right of the maximum friction
zone. Any change in the direction of the slip leads to spectacular increases of friction
properties. The slip is accompanied by:
- temperature gradients that modify the physic properties of the two materials in contact
(obviously, in the case of steel-HDPE contact, the most affected is the duct);
- growth of the penetration of strand's wires in the duct, leading to larger contact area;
- increased local irregularities at the contact surface.
All these aspects promote higher friction effects, even if the direction of the slip is the same.
LINE ELEMENTS RELATED TO UNBOUNDED TENDONS

Generally, isoparametric line elements based on the “constant strain criterion” are appropriate
to model reinforcement. The intimate contact between steel bars and concrete is described by
bond-slip linkage elements [1]. In the case of unbounded tendons, as it will be shown later,
linkage elements are not strictly necessary. In non-linear FE analyses, the combined effect of
slip and friction may be mathematically modeled to each loading step, the effects being
included in the residual properties of the finite element.

linear strain criterion

constant strain criterion

σ x = σ0e- (k⋅s x +µ⋅θx )

x
Figure 1. Stress variation in tendons considering different strain criterions
At tensioning, stress variation in tendons follows an exponential rule. On short lengths, the
variation can be considered linear. Shape functions based on the “constant strain criterion” do
not lead to accurate estimations of the exponential variation. As figure 1 reveals, without
linkage elements (i.e. spring elements), the concept determines large deviations from the
stress variation that governs the behavior of unbounded cables. However, it can be
successfully applied in simplified approaches of external prestressing and linear analyses of
straight post-tensioned cables. Simplified procedures may be also used to simulate with
enough accuracy the behavior of all unbounded cables, even if the scientifically approach it is
not very well argued. As the same figure shows, the ”linear strain criterion” is more
appropriate to describe the phenomenon. Below, a numerical procedure is presented as an
extent of the iterative procedure given by Virlogeux [2] for external prestressing.

MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR SLIP AND FRICTION

“Linear strain criterion” leads to compatible stresses and strains in the nodal points. This
continuity does not exclude the lack of stress equilibrium related to the friction properties
between strand and duct (figure 2). The following notation will be used for the friction
properties on the current cable segment (i,i+1):
si,i +1
A i,i +1 = k i,i +1si,i +1 + µi,i +1 (1)
R i,i +1
where ki,i+1 is the linear friction factor and µ i,i+1 is the friction factor in bent portions. Theirs
value may be considered constant on the length between two consecutive nodal points. At the
current loading step, the slip will not be initiated between the nodal points (i) and (i+1) if:
σi e i,i+1 ≤ σi,i +1 ≥ σi e i,i+1
-A +A
(2)
If this condition is satisfied, the duct deformation is compatible with the cable elongation and
the slip is obstructed by friction.
The slip always takes place on the direction of the stress decreasing. Next, an indicator that
shows the direction of the slip will be defined as follows:
 Ri,i+1 Ri,i+1

δσi
δσi+1
δσi
δσi+1

+ (k i,i +1s i,i +1 + µ i,i +1 s i,i +1 R i,i +1 ) - (k i,i+1s i,i+1 +µ i,i+1 s i,i +1 R i,i +1 )
σ i +1 = σ i e σ i +1 = σ i e

a. νi,+1= -1 b. νi,i+1= +1

Figure 2. “Linear strain criterion” applied to post-tensioned cables

νi,i+1= +1 if the slip takes place from left to the right (i.e. direction i→i+1);
νi,i+1= 0 if no slip occurs;
νi,i+1= -1 if the slip takes place from right to the left (i.e. direction i+1→i);
The slip initiates if:
+ν A
νi,i +1σi,i+1 > νi,i+1σi e i,i+1 i,i+1 (3)

σi+1

σx σ i +1 + δσi +1
σi σσi+1
i +1
σ x

σi
σ i - δσi δWdi+1, x
εi+1
sx,i+1
δW i, x
d
si,x εx
εi
a. νi,i+1= -1
σi+1

σx σi+1
σi σi+1-δ σi+1
σi + 1
σ x

σi + δσi
σi δWdi+1, x
εi+1
sx,i+1
δW i, x
d
si,x εx
εi
b. νi,i+1= +1

Figure 3. Energetic equilibrium of the slipping phenomenon

Considering blocked the nodal points, the slip takes place only on the length si,i+1. As a result,
when the new equilibrium is achieved, one portion of the segment (i,i+1) will be elongated
and the other one shortened (i.e. portions with lengths si,x and sx,i+1= si,i+1- si,x respectively). At
the end of the slip, the new equilibrium implies:
( ν A
)
σi + νi,i+1δσi e i,i+1 i,i+1 = σi+1 - νi,i+1δσi+1 (4)
where δσi and δσi+1 are the stress increments in the nodal points due to the slip. Together with
the size si,x, stress increments represent the unknown values. The shortening of one portion in
section x has to be equal with the elongation of the rest of the segment (i,i+1) (i.e. the value of
the maximum slip):
δsi ,x = δs x,i +1 (5)
The third equation needed to solve the problem, may be the energetic equation that governs
the slip process. The incremental potential energy of deformation released by the shortened
portion will be found in the incremental increase of the deformation energy of the elongated
portion and friction losses. Friction losses are very important because theirs values are strictly
related to the friction factors. The energetic equation at the end of the slip (figure 3) is:
νi,i+1 ( δWdx,i + 1 − δWdi,x ) = W fi,x + W fx,i + 1 (6)
x,i + 1 x,i + 1
where δWd and δWd
i,x i,x
are the energy increments in the two fragments. W f and W f
represent, together, the work done by friction forces on segment (i,i+1). Finally, the equation
system given by relations (4), (5) and (6) becomes:
(σ i + ν i,i+1δσ i ) e ν i,i + 1 A i,i + 1
= σ i+1 - ν i,i+1 δσ i+1 (7.a)
δσ i δσ
s i , x = i+1 (s i,i +1 - s i , x ) (7.b)
Ei E i+1
1
(2σ i + ν i,i+1δσ i ) s i , x + 1 (2σ i+1 - ν i,i+1δσ i+1 )(s i,i +1 - s i , x ) =
6 6
1  µ  1 s i , x  δσ i
= ν i,i+1 A s  k i,i+1 + i,i+1  2σ i + ν i,i+1 δσ i + (σ i+1 - σ i )  si,x + (7.c)
8  R i,i+1   2 s i,i +1  E i

 µ  s i , x  δσ i+1
1 1
+ ν i,i+1 A s  k i,i+1 + i,i+1  σ i+1 - ν i,i+1 δσ i+1 + σ i + (σ i+1 - σ i )  (s i,i +1 - s i ,x )
8  R i,i+1   2 s i,i +1  E i+1
The right side of the third equation (7.c) of the above system, which represents the work done
by the friction forces, can be reduced to an inferior order by neglecting the insignificant terms.
However, only one solution of the above equation system has significance to the problem.
As figure 4 shows, the lack of equilibrium is transferred to the adjacent segments (i-1,i) and
(i+1,i+2), respectively. A new slip will be possible in these segments if the new nodal forces
do not satisfy the equilibrium relation (2). At each incremental load, analyses of stress
equilibrium should be made between the nodal points. The stress correction should start where
the lack of equilibrium is larger. Iterations should follow the same rules, prior to convergence.
Because load increments are small, the stress continuity will be performed considering null
friction factors if at the same iteration stage the slip changes its direction on the same
segment. As figure 5 put into evidence, if the direction of the slip changes from one load
increment to another, the values of the friction factors should be increased in correlation with
the work done by friction forces on that cable segment.
For low values of the friction factors, the eventual correction of the Young's modulus may be
done after the slip's analysis. For high values of friction factors, the instant character of the
slip may lead to plastic strains in the cable and the correction should be made after the
iterative procedure. Afterwards, residuals of the line elements are computed.
 Ri,i+1 Ri,i+1
i+1 i+2 i+1 i+2
i-1 i si,i+1 i-1 i si,i+1
sx sx
δσi δσi+1

σ δσi+1 σ δσi

⇓ ⇓

σ σ
δσi+1 δσi+2 δσi
⇓ δσi-1 ⇓

a. νi,i+1= +1 b. νi,i+1= -1
Figure 4. Redistribution of the stress unbalance to adjacent segments

a. νi,i+1= -1 b. νi,i+1= +1
Figure 5. Increased friction factors at the change of the slip direction

COMPARISON WITH TESTS DATA AND FINAL REMARKS

Sub-parametric two nodded line elements were used in structural analyses of two models
tested by Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and INCERC [3]. Lagrange polynomials were
considered as interpolation functions, whereas mapping was ensured by usual first order
polynomials. The first model (figure 6.a) concerned a square ribbed plate achieved at 1:10
scale, bidirectionally outside prestressed, which was loaded until its collapse. The second
model (figure 6.b) represented a translation cupola made at 1:20 scale of precast elements,
also outside prestressed by cables (wires), bidirectionally placed on an afinitive surface.
Figures 7 and 8 show comparative results and theoretic data obtained in the two studied cases.

a. ribbed slab b. precasted cupola

Figure 6. Externally post-tensioned models
 1,500 75,000
1,250 Theory

Wd (Erg)
(MPa)
1,000 50,000
750 θ=7.91°
500
p

Test data 25,000

250
0 0 θ=6.98°
Loading stage Loading stage
a. stress variation in the central segments b. energy losses in the deflected elements
of the median tendon of the median tendon
Figure 7. Results from test and analysis of the ribbed slab
1,750 75,000
1,500
(MPa)

∆Wd (Erg)
1,250 50,000
1,000 θ=13.7°
750 Theory
p

500 Test data 25,000

250 θ=9.2°
0 0
Loading stage Loading stage

a. stress variation in the central segments of b. energy losses in the deflected elements
the median tendon of the median tendon
Figure 8. Results from test and analysis of the prefabricated cupola

FINAL REMARKS

A numerical procedure was developed to simulate the behavior of unbounded post-tensioned

tendons. In the above-mentioned analyses, convergence was achieved at loading steps
between 0.5% and 5% of the total step load. The procedure allows the replacement of linkage
elements, leading to faster results and improved description of the phenomenon. In addition,
numerical models for the rheological properties of the tendons may be introduced to take into
account the time dependent behavior. The procedure may be implemented in complex FE
programs that allow the simulation of the long-term behavior of concrete post-tensioned
structures with unbounded cables.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to express theirs gratitude to Professor Mircea Mihailescu from Technical
University of Cluj-Napoca for his guidance.

REFERENCES

[1] Kotsovos, M.D, Pavlović, M.N. -Structural Concrete: FE Analysis for Limit-State Design-
, Thomas Telford Publications, 1995, p. 185-191.
[2] Virlogeux, M. -Analyse non-linéaire des structures a précontrainte extérieure-, XIe
Congres de la FIP, Hambourg 1990.
 [3] Mircea, C.G.R -Long Span Prestressed Concrete Roof Systems-, Technical University of
Cluj-Napoca, 1997, PhD Thesis, p. 193-208.

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