CON4338 Structures and Tall Buildings Assignment 3

Total mark = 40

Q.1 A post-tensioned prestressed concrete beam with T-section in a footbridge is as shown

in Figure Q1. It is simply supported with span of 10.0 m and designed to carry a service
load of 25.0 kN/m. Short-term prestress loss is 10% and long-term loss is 20%.

Figure Q1

(a) Calculate the cross-sectional area, centroid (measured from bottom of beam) and
major moment of inertia of the beam section. (3 marks)

(b) Calculate the maximum permissible prestressing force so that the following
allowable concrete stress limits would not be exceeded:

Allowable stresses at transfer: f’ max = 17 N/mm2 and f’ min = -1 N/mm2

Allowable stresses at service stage:f max = 10 N/mm2 and f min = 0 N/mm2
(14 marks)

(c) Based on the prestressing force calculated in (b), find the extreme fibre (top and
bottom) stresses at transfer and service stages respectively. (6 marks)
 CON4338 Structures and Tall Buildings Assignment 3

Q.2 A 5.0 m high cantilever wall is constructed to retain water in a reinforced concrete
service reservoir. The cantilever wall section has uniform thickness of 550 mm. Design
information is as follows:

Unit weight of water = 10 kN/m3

Nominal cover, c = 40 mm
Grade 40 concrete
High yield steel with f y = 500 N/mm2
Modulus of steel bar, E s = 200 kN/mm2
Short term modulus of concrete, E c = 25 kN/mm2
Long term modulus of concrete due to creep effect =12.5 kN/mm2

Vertical main bars (inner layer): T20-125 mm c/c each face.

Horizontal distribution bars (outmost layer): T20-150 mm c/c each face.

Assume the design crack width is 0.2 mm.

Check the adequacy of the service reservoir with respect to flexural crack width under
serviceability limit state (SLS) with design water depth of 5.0 m. (17 marks)