LECTURER : Dr. LIM Samreth , S.E ,P.E & ASEAN Eng.

SPANICHE ENGINEERING SCHOOL

VERSION 2023
 GENERAL
 In pre-stressing system, losses are divided into two categories
( EDWARD G. NAWY ,2009 ) :

 Immediate elastic losses ,which occurs during the stressing operation.

 Time-dependent losses ( Long-term losses ) ,which occurs at a gradually

decreasing rate over the life time of a member.

PRE-STRESSING LOSSES

Immediate Elastic Losses Time-dependent Losses

Elastic Shortening Anchorage Friction Shrinkage Creep Steel relaxation

of Concrete Loss Seating Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss

Occurs during operation Occurs during member life time

 The total losses of pre-stressing losses = Immediate elastic losses plus

Time-dependent losses ( Long-term losses ).

Page : 01
 ELASTIC SHORTENING OF CONCRETE
 Case study of a pretensioned member [ Figure 01 ] , concrete
shortens when a prestressing force is applied.
𝑳
 Concrete strain :
𝑃 𝑃
∆𝑬𝑺
𝜺𝑬𝑺
𝑳 𝑃 𝑃
 From Hook’s law : ∆𝐄𝐒
𝐟𝐜 𝐏𝐢 Tendon
𝜺𝑬𝑺 =
𝑬𝒄 𝑨𝒄 𝑬𝒄 [ Figure 01 ]

 At the same magnitude of shorting , prestressing tendon suffers

the same as concrete as well :

𝐄𝐬 𝐏𝐢 𝐄𝐬 𝐏𝐢 𝐏𝐢
∆𝒇𝒑𝑬𝑺 𝐄𝐬 𝜺 𝒏 𝐧𝐟𝐜𝐬
𝑨𝒄 𝑬𝒄 𝑬𝒄 𝑨𝒄 𝑨𝒄

Page : 02
 𝑬𝒔 𝑷𝒊
∆𝒇𝒑𝑬𝑺 𝐧𝐟𝐜𝐬 Where : 𝒏 & 𝐟𝐜𝐬
𝑬𝒄 𝑨𝒄
 In case of the tendon has eccentricity e and the self-weight
moment : Self-weight moment
𝑷𝒊 𝒆𝟐 𝑴𝑫 𝒆
𝐟𝐜𝐬 = 𝟏
𝑨𝒄 𝒓𝟐 𝑰𝒄
𝑬𝒔
 In case of post tensioned member the pre-stressing loss due elastic 𝒏𝒄𝒊
𝑬𝒄𝐢
shortening of concrete is in form ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) :
𝑬𝒔
∆𝒇𝒑𝑬𝑺 𝑲𝑬𝑺 𝐟𝐜𝒊𝒓
𝑬𝒄𝒊 The reduction is very small between 𝑷𝒊
Where : and 𝑷𝒋 ( Jacking force ) so we can use
𝑷𝒊 𝒆𝟐 𝑴𝑫 𝒆 𝑷𝒊 𝟗𝟎% 𝑷𝒋 ( Sami & Martin, 1995 ).
𝐟𝐜𝒊𝒓 = 𝟏
𝑨𝒄 𝒓𝟐 𝑰𝒄
𝑲𝑬𝑺 𝟎. 𝟓 ; 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓
𝐄𝒔 𝑬𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒍

𝐄𝒄𝒊 𝑬𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓
Page : 03
 FRICTION LOSSES 𝜶
(Radians)
 Curvature Effect

 Friction between the tendon and the duct due to the

curvature effect : dF 𝝁𝑭𝒅𝜶
dF 𝐋 𝐱
Thus, 𝝁𝒅𝜶
𝑭 Tendon
𝑭𝟐 𝜶
dF 𝐹
𝝁𝒅𝜶 Thus, ln 𝝁𝜶 𝑭𝟏
𝐝𝜶
𝑭𝟏 𝑭 𝟎 𝐹

𝐹 𝐝𝐅
𝝁𝜶
𝑒 𝝁𝜶 So, 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏 𝒆 𝑭𝟐 = 𝑭𝟏 𝒅𝑭
𝐹
Where 𝜶 = Total angular change in radian from jacked end to 𝑷𝒇 𝑭𝟏 𝒅𝜶
point x ( distance x )
𝝁 = Curvature coefficient 𝐝𝜶

 Wobble Effect
 Friction between the tendon and the duct due to the 𝑭𝟏 𝒅𝜶

wobble effect or length effect : dF 𝑲𝑭𝒅𝒙

Page : 04
 dF
Thus, 𝑲𝒅𝒙
𝑭
𝑭𝟐 𝐱
dF 𝐹
𝐤𝒅𝒙 Thus, ln 𝒌𝒙
𝑭𝟏 𝑭 𝟎 𝐹

𝐹 𝐤𝒙
𝑒 𝐊𝒙 So, 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏 𝒆
𝐹
Where 𝒙 = Cable length from jacked end to point x
𝑲 = Wobble coefficient

 Combine Curvature and Wobble Effect

 Friction between the tendon and the duct due to the

𝑲𝒙 𝝁𝜶
curvature effect and wobble effect : dF 𝝁𝑭𝒅𝜶 𝑲𝑭𝒅𝒙 𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒔, 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏 𝒆

Thus, ∆𝐅 𝑲𝒙 𝝁𝜶 𝑲𝒙 𝝁𝜶
𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏 𝑭𝟏 𝒆 𝑭𝟏 𝑭𝟏 𝟏 𝒆
 In term of stress between the :

𝑲𝒙 𝝁𝜶
∆𝒇𝒑𝑭 𝒇𝟏 𝟏 𝒆 Thus, when 𝒇𝟏 𝒇𝑱 we will get : ∆𝒇𝒑𝑭 𝒇𝑱 𝟏 𝒆 𝑲𝒙 𝝁𝜶

 So the friction losses will be in expression :

Page : 05
 𝝁𝜶 𝑲𝒙
∆𝒇𝒑𝑭 𝒇𝑱 𝟏 𝒆
𝟎. 𝟓𝜶
Where 𝒙 = Cable length from jacked end to point x Adopted from SNP’s
𝑲 = Wobble coefficient standard material
𝐲 𝝁 0.2 /rad
𝝁 = Curvature coefficient 𝐦
K 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒎
0.5x 𝜶
𝒇𝑱 = Jacking stress at jacking point
𝐱

In range of ACI Code Value

𝜶 = Total angular change in radian from 𝜶 𝒎
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 𝟐 & 𝒚 𝟎. 𝟓𝒎, 𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒔
jacked end to point x ( distance x ) 𝟐 𝟎. 𝟓𝒙
𝜶 𝟖𝒚 /𝒙 "𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔"

 Friction coefficients for post-tensioned tendons ( ACI318M-08, Section 18.6.2 )

Description Wobble coefficient, 𝑲 Curvature coefficient, 𝝁𝒑
Wire tendons 0.0033-0.0049 0.15-0.25
Grouted tendons in
High-strength bars 0.0003-0.0020 0.08-0.30
metal sheathing
7-wire strand 0.0016-0.0066 0.15-0.25
Mastic Wire tendons 0.0033-0.0066 0.05-0.15
Unbonded coated 7-wire strand 0.0033-0.0066 0.05-0.15
tendons Pre- Wire tendons 0.0010-0.0066 0.05-0.15
greased 7-wire strand 0.0010-0.0066 0.05-0.15
Page : 06
 ANCHORAGE SEATING LOSS
 After tendons are stressed, they are anchored with conical wedges and when it
is released, the strand pulls the wedge into the anchorage device and the strand
slips, so the loss of prestress due to slip can be calculated by base on
elongation equations ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) : dx
𝑷𝒋
𝑷𝒙 ∆𝑭𝑨
𝑷𝒙
∆ 𝒅𝒙 𝑷𝒂 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
𝑨𝑬𝒔 𝑷𝒄

Where 𝐴 = Cross sectional area of the tendon,

𝒅𝒙 = Element of distance along tendon length,
𝑬𝒔 = Elastic modulus of tendon, x
a Trail value “ a ”
𝑷𝒙 = Tendon force under at distance “x” from c
jacking end, and Target values “ c ”
∆= Calculated elongation  The distance c is target length that correspond with
 An elongation ∆𝒂 for the selection distance target elongation 𝜹𝒂 = 6mm ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 )
“ a” is calculated by ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) :  𝑷𝒂 = Tendon force correspond anchor set influence
at distance “a” (assumed distance) ,
𝟏
∆𝒂 𝑷𝒙 𝑷𝒂 𝒅𝒙  𝑷𝒙 = Tendon force at distance “x” from
𝑨𝑬𝒔 jacking end, and 𝑷𝒙 𝑷𝑱 .
Page : 07
 ANCHORAGE SEATING LOSS
 The estimated distance “ a ” or denote “ X ” can be determined base on its
profile shape and 𝑿 𝑳 ( Antoine E. naaman, 2014 ) :
Practical use for
𝑬𝒔 𝜹𝒂 𝝁𝜶 𝑲𝒙 estimation
𝑿
𝒇𝑱 𝝀
,𝝀 𝒙
The recommendation 𝝀 with 𝑿 𝑳, ( Antoine E. naaman, 2014 )
Where : The elongation associated with “ X ”
𝝁𝜶 𝑲𝒙
distance is 𝜹𝒂 = 6.35mm ( 0.25 in )
Tendon profile Description 𝝀
𝒙
𝒇𝑱
The term of 𝝀 can be recommended Linear 𝒙 𝝀 𝑲
by its profile shape 𝒇𝑱 𝒃
𝟐𝛍𝒂
𝑷𝒋 dx Parabolic 𝑎 𝝀 𝑲
𝑷𝒙 𝒃𝟐
∆𝑭𝑨 𝑷𝒂 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
𝑷𝒄 𝒇𝑱 𝛍
Circular 𝑹 𝝀 𝑲
𝑹
𝒇𝒑 𝒙
Any shape or 𝒇𝑱
combination shape z 𝒛 𝟏
x 𝝀
( approximate approach 𝑳 𝒇𝑱
a over length L ) 𝒙
X 𝑳

Page : 08
 CREEP LOSSES
 In post tension system, the creep losses can be calculated by
equation below ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) :
𝑬𝒔
∆𝒇𝑪𝑹 𝑲𝒄𝒓 𝒇𝒄𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒄𝒅𝒔
𝑬𝒄
Where :  The value 𝑲𝒄𝒓 = 2 for normal weight concrete ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) and
𝑲𝒄𝒓 = 1.6 (Zia et al., 1979)
𝑷𝒊 𝑷𝒊 𝒆𝟐 𝑴𝒈
 𝒇𝒄𝒊𝒓 𝑲𝒄𝒊𝒓 𝒆 , for post tension member 𝑲𝒄𝐢𝒓 = 1.0 ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 )
𝑨𝒈 𝑰𝒈 𝑰𝒈

and 𝑴𝒈 is bending moment due to dead load at time immediately after prestress force
transfer ( Commonly due to self weight ) and 𝒆 = eccentricity of center of gravity of tendons.

 𝑷𝒊 = initial prestressing force (after anchorage seating loss).

 𝑨𝒈 = Area of gross concrete section at cross section considered and

𝑰𝒈 = moment of inertia of section considered.
𝑴𝑺𝑫𝑳
 𝒇𝒄𝒅𝒔 𝒆 , stress in the concrete at center of tendon due to all
𝑰𝒈

super-imposed dead loads.

Page : 09
 SHRINKAGE OF CONCRETE
 Shrinkage is the decrease in the volume of concrete during hardening and drying
under constant temperature and mount of shrinkage increases with time. The
shrinkage is not related to the applied loads and stress loss due to shrinkage of
concrete is computed by ( Bijan O.Aalami, 2014 ) :

∆𝒇𝐒𝑯 𝑲𝒔𝒉 𝑬𝒔 𝜺𝒔𝐡

𝟔 𝑽
Where :  𝜺𝒔𝐡 𝟖. 𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟑𝟔
𝑺
𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝑹𝑯
𝑽 𝑽 𝒕𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒃
 = volume to surface ratio normally for slab :
𝑺 𝑺 𝟐
Practical use
 RH = relative humidity in percentage
Shrinkage coefficient 𝑲𝒔𝒉 (Aalami, 2014)
 𝑲𝒔𝒉 = a factor that accounts for the
Day* 1 3 5 7 10 20 30 60
amount of shrinkage that will have taken
𝑲𝒔𝒉 0.92 0.85 0.8 0.77 0.73 0.64 0.58 0.45
place before the prestressing is applied.
*Day refer to the time from the end of moist curing to the
application of prestressing force ( Stressing day )

Page : 10
 RELAXATION OF STEEL
 Strand subjected to a sustained tensile force undergoes a gradual increase in strain, it is
called “ Steel Relaxation ”. Conversely, if a strand is stressed and anchored between two
fixed points then it gradually loses force due to relaxation of the strand and the prestress
loss is computed by ( ACI-ASCE Committee ) :
Stress Relaxation Constants 𝑲𝒓𝒆 and J (Aalami, 2014)
∆𝒇𝑹𝑬 𝑲𝒓𝒆 𝑱 ∆𝒇𝒑𝑬𝑺 ∆𝒇𝑺𝑯 ∆𝒇𝑪𝑹 𝑪
Description Grade and type * 𝑲𝒓𝒆 (MPa) J

Where :  𝑲𝒓𝒆 and J are a function of the 270 strand or wire 137.90 0.15
250 strand or wire 127.55 0.14
type of steel.
240 wire 121.35 0.13
Stress relieved
 C is a function of both the type of 235 wire 121.35 0.13
steel and the initial stress level in 160 bar 41.37 0.05

the tendon. 145 bar 41.37 0.05

270 strand 34.47 0.040
250 wire 31.92 0.037
Practical use Low relaxation
240 wire 30.34 0.035
235 wire 30.34 0.035
*In according with ASTM A416-74, ASTM A421-76, ASTM A722-75

Page : 11
Stress Relaxation Constant C (Aalami, 2014)
( Continued table )

𝒇𝒑𝒊 Stress relieved Stress relieved bar or Low 𝒇𝒑𝒊 Stress relieved Stress relieved bar or Low
𝒇𝒑𝒖 strand or wire Relaxation strand or wire 𝒇𝒑𝒖 strand or wire Relaxation strand or wire

0.80 - 1.28 0.67 0.83 0.61

0.79 - 1.22 0.66 0.78 0.57
0.78 - 1.16 0.65 0.73 0.53
0.77 - 1.11 0.64 0.68 0.49
0.76 - 1.05 0.53 0.63 0.45
0.75 1.45 1.00 0.62 0.58 0.41
0.74 1.36 0.95 0.61 0.53 0.37
0.73 1.27 0.90 0.60 0.49 0.33
0.72 1.18 0.85
0.71 1.09 0.80
0.70 1.00 0.75
0.69 0.94 0.70 Practical use
0.68 0.89 0.66
0.67 0.83 0.61
0.68 0.89 0.57

Page : 12
 LUMP SUM LOSSES
 Suggested AASHTO lump sum losses

Total loss
Type of prestressing material
𝒇′𝒄 𝟐𝟕. 𝟔𝑴𝑷𝒂 𝒇′𝒄 𝟑𝟒. 𝟓𝑴𝑷𝒂

Pretensioning strand - 310 MPa

Post tensioning* wire or strand 221MPa 228MPa
Bar 152MPa 159MPa
* Losses due friction and anchorage seating loss are excluded.

 Suggested PTI lump sum losses of post tensioning ( EDWARD G. NAWY ,2009 )

Pre-stressing loss
Post tensioning tendon material
Slabs Beams or joists
Stress-relieved 270-K strand and
207MPa 241MPa
stress-relieved 240-K wire
Practical use
Low Relaxation 270-K strand 103MPa 138MPa
Bar 138MPa 172MPa
Note : This approximate prestressing loss exclude friction and anchorage seating losses.
Page : 13
 LUMP SUM LOSSES
 Other suggested lump sum losses of post tensioning

Post-tensioned members Prestressing loss

Bonded tendon according to Naaman (2012) and
207 MPa
Lin & Burns (1981) [ elastic shortening, creep,
(15% of jacking force 75 % of 𝒇𝒑𝒖 )
shrinkage and relaxation ]
Unbonded tendon according to Aalami (2014) 20% of jacking force

 Total losses of post-tensioning

𝒇𝒑

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

Practical use
𝒇𝒑𝒊 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞

𝒇𝒑𝒆 A𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

𝒙
Page : 14
 REDUCTION OF PRE-STRESS LOSSES
 Pre-stress losses should be reduced when they are unacceptably high values and there
are many options can be applied for this reduction :

 Reduce friction loss by making the tendon profile as flat as possible,

particularly in the interior spans. Rise up the drape to be a flat profile

Stressing up to maximum ( normally 80% of ultimate tensile stress )

 Apply a higher initial jacking force, and then reduce the jacking force
to the nominal design value before locking the anchorage.
 Most national standards limit the maximum jacking force to 80%
of the tendon strength so that the procedure can only be used
where the design jacking force is lower than this limiting value.

Page : 15
 Stress from both ends.
 Prestressing forces in outer bays are higher than those obtainable
from alternate end stressing Stressing both end

 Stress alternate tendons from the two ends.

 This method results in a more uniform prestressing force over
the tendon length than both end stressing, because at each end,
alternate tendons have the maximum and the minimum force.

[ Plan view : Alternative stressing end]

Page : 16
 TENDON ELONGATION
 The normal practice is to use the elastic elongation of the tendon to
monitor the force and elongation is measured at full jacking load
before locking the anchorage.
 The expected elongation, and the margin of acceptable variation, is
specified by the designer for each tendon and if the measured elongation
falls outside the specified range then immediate steps can be taken to
remedy the situation if it is considered necessary.
 The elongation of a tendon stressed by a force P is
𝑷𝑳𝒕
𝛅
𝑨𝒑 𝑬𝒔
where : P = average force in a tendon
𝑳𝒕 = total length of tendon
𝑨𝒑 = cross sectional area of tendon
𝑬𝒔 = modulus of elasticity of tendon

Page : 17
 MODIFICATION OF TENDON ELONGATION
 A bonded tendon always has a slack in it before it is stressed. During the stressing of bonded
tendons, initially the jacking effort goes into taking the slack up, and then it stresses the
tendon.
 The normal procedure is to partially stress the tendon, to about 10% of the specified
jacking force, and take this as the reference zero point for measuring elongation.
 This procedure automatically allows for any tendon slack and any slip at the dead end.
 The elongation, measured from the reference point, must be multiplied by a correction
factor so that it can be compared with the calculated 𝛿.

𝑷
𝛅 𝜹𝒎
𝑷 𝑷𝒓
where 𝜹 = corrected value of actual elongation
𝜹𝒎 = measured elongation
𝑷𝒓 = Tendon force at the reference point
P = average force in a tendon
Page : 18
 EXAMPLE :
Calculate ( YC )
prestressing loss
and its elongation.

f ci  24 MPa
f c  32 MPa

f pu  1860 MPa
f Jack  0.75 f pu

Page : 19
 PRESTRESSING LOSSES
1450

Prestressing ∆𝒇𝒑 1400

1395
1393.95
1380.53
Description 1359.18
Losses 𝒇𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌 1350 1327.5
1305.38
Elastic Shortening 9.05MPa 0.65 % 1300 1283.71279.05

1253.74
Friction 87.97MPa 6.31% 1250 1234.39
1222.43
1221.58

Anchorage Slip 115.95MPa 8.31% 1200

1182.03 1182.03

Creep 31.35MPa 2.25%

1150
Shrinkage 30.17MPa 2.16%
1088.87 1088.87
Steel Relaxation 31.65MPa 2.27%
1100

Total Immediate Losses 212.97MPa 15.26% 1050

Total Long Term losses 93.16MPa 6.68% 1000

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Total losses 306.13MPa 21.94%
𝑷𝑳𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑳𝒕 𝟏𝟑𝟎𝟕. 𝟎𝟑𝑴𝑷𝒂 𝟏𝟓. 𝟗𝟖𝒎
Elongation 𝛅 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝒎𝒎
𝑨𝒑 𝑬𝒔 𝑬𝒔 𝟏. 𝟗𝟖 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑴𝑷𝒂

1A 2 3 4 B 5 6 7 89

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