PRESTRESSED CONTINUOUS BEAMS

1 INTRODUCTION
It is more economical for the beams to be continuous instead of simple in prestressed
concrete structures as in normal reinforced concrete structures. In this way, it is possible to
cross large spans with more delicate, less reinforcement and lower deflections in beams
built with post-tensioning.
However, because the prestressing reinforcement has a defined location along the section,
its economy may be reduced in beams subject to very variable bending moments in value
and mark. Friction losses take significant values due to the length and curvature of the
cables. Likewise, elastic shortenings caused by post-tensioning should be taken into
consideration in supports and interconnected elements.

2 ENSURING CONTINUITY
Generally, by making the simple beams suitable for transportation with the first tension, in
other words, the beam self-load and the deck load are taken to the first tensioned beams; It
is economical to construct a continuous beam with post-tensioning for additional self-loads
and live loads that will come later. Because, in this case, scaffolding and formwork costs are
considerably reduced.
Various cable profiles for continuous beams can be seen in Fig. 1. In the classical continuous
beam cable form seen in (a), it is possible to use flat cable in variable cross-section beam as
in (b) or separately post-tensioned cables as in (c) in order to reduce friction losses due to
length and curvature.

Examples of transforming prefabricated first tensioned simple beam elements into

continuous beams are shown in Fig. 2.

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The sliced cantilever technique is widely used in beams with large span, especially in bridge
beams (Fig. 3). This method is particularly suitable in places where access such as deep
valleys and rivers, ie scaffolding and mold manufacturing, is difficult. In this application, the
cables left in the pre-stressed sections are successively post-tensioned and connected to
each other, and the connection is achieved in the middle by crossing the two sides of the
bridge. For example, in the application shown in Fig. 3, by applying post-tensioning from the
sheaths left in the slices formed by the first stressed elements, the bridge is completed by
connecting the slice no.2 to slice no.1, slice no.3 to slice no.1, slice no.4 to slice no.2, slice
no.5 to slice no.3..

3 COMPUTING METHOD
In a simple beam, support responses consist of constant and live loads, no reaction occurs
without prestressing (Fig. 4a). In other words, no external moment occurs under the effect
of pure prestressing. In this case, the pressure line (C geometric location of the concrete
pressure force) and the center of gravity of the prestressing reinforcement (geometric
location of the T tensile force) coincide (Fig. 4b). Moment at any cross section

M = Te = Ce (1)
It is calculated by the relation. Here, "e" is the distance between the section center of gravity
and the prestressing reinforcement.

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Continuous beam behavior is explained below. The beam, whose longitudinal section can be
seen in Fig. 5a, is bent when prestressed and deflects.
As a result of this bending, it wants to be separated from the beam supports (Fig. 5b). Since
lifting of the beam is restricted by the supports, support reactions occur to hold the beam
there (Fig. 5c). These reactions create moment in the beam (Fig. 5d). To compensate for
these moments, the pressure line "C" must move away from the center of gravity of the
reinforcement (line T) as far as "a", so that the moment of the internal forces is equal to the
moment of the external forces generated by the support reactions (Fig. 5e). In other words,
let “a” equal

a=M/T (2)

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3.1 Primary and Secondary Moments

Simple beam and continuous beam can now be compared with only prestressing. In the
simple beam, the pressure line C and the T line coincide. In a continuous beam, the pressure
line C usually deviates from the T line. The concrete stress distribution at any section in a
simple beam is given by the location of the T line, and in the continuous beam by the
location of the C line. The moment consisting of the eccentricity of the prestressing force is
called the primary moment. The difference between simple and continuous beams is the
support reactions in continuous beams due to prestressing and the presence of moments
resulting therefrom.

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These moments, called secondary moments, occur due to prestressing and do not exist in
isostatic systems. Although these moments are called secondary, they can take great values
and play an important role in determining the stresses and strengths in the beam. Since the
external moment consists of support reactions only and the reactions occur only at the
bearings, the moment varies linearly between two successive supports. If the prestressing
force T remains constant between the bearings, the distance "a" will be directly proportional
to "M", in other words, the change is linear.
The result support moments can be found directly by the moment distribution method.
Secondary moments:

Result moment = Primary moment + Secondary moment (3)

It is calculated from the relation. Likewise, the reactions and moments can be calculated by
taking the support reactions as unknown and from the condition that the displacements in
those supports are zero. This method provides simplicity in the case of a small number of
supports, for example one unknown (see Example -1).

3.2 Continuous beam with constant (P) prestressing force across the beam
The path followed in the analysis:

A diagram of the primary moment (M 1= Pe1) is drawn from the eccentricity of the
prestressing force as if there is no support along the beam. Here, "e1" is the eccentricity of
the prestressing reinforcement from the section center of gravity.
1) The shear force corresponding to this moment diagram and the load diagram that creates
this shear force are drawn. This is the loading applied by the prestressing reinforcement to
the concrete.
2) This load is applied to the continuous beam, and the resulting moment (M) diagram is
drawn by the moment distribution or similar method, including the singular effects at the
beam ends.
3) (C) pressure line at the prestressing reinforcement support alignments

e2 = M / P (4)
It is obtained by linear transformation (linear transformation) to have eccentricities. Since
line (C) deviates linearly from the alignment of the prestressing reinforcement, it has the
same form and can be easily drawn.
4) The secondary moment (M2) is represented by the deviation between the line (C) and the
prestressing reinforcement. M2= M −M1 and the deviation of the line (C) from the
prestressing reinforcement alignment, a is given by the following Eq.5,

a=M2/P=(M-M1)/P (5)

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The path followed in the continuous beam analysis is summarized in Fig. 6.

In the way described above, contrary to the usual, the shear force from the moment diagram
is obtained by deriving the load diagram from the shear force. This process can be simplified
by taking into account the direct tendon layout, using the equivalent load method. Fig. 7
shows a typical guiding example of obtaining the load diagram from prestressing.

The force P from the tendon at the tendon ends to the concrete can be divided into three
components:
a) Axial force at the anchor ends:

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Pcos(1)= P(cos1  1)
This force does not affect the bending moment of the continuous beams if the axial
shortening effect is neglected; but it creates moment in rigid frames.
b) Transverse force acting on the bearing and directly balanced by the vertical reaction:

Psin ()  P tan (1)= P 1

This force does not create a moment in continuous beams. Its effect on the rigid frame is
small.
c) Moment acting at the beam end:

Pcos () e = P e
This moment creates a moment along the continuous beam and must be taken into account
in the moment distribution.

If the strand or section center of gravity lines are curvilinear along the span of the element,
transverse loads are applied to the concrete. Generally, there are two situations:
a) If the moment diagram is in the form of a parabolic or circular curve, a uniformly
distributed load is applied to the concrete along the curve length. The total force for each
curve is given by the change between the tangents at the two ends of the curve. Hence, for a
“2” angle change, W= Psin (2)= P2

b) If the moment diagram changes sharply, the force acts singularly at the point where the
slope changes. For example, for 4 , Psin (4) = P4 In internal bearings where the direction

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of the moment diagram changes, the load is directly applied to that support. Here, too, there
are usually two situations:
i) If the moment diagram curve changes smoothly on the bearings, a uniformly distributed
load is applied again (for example, as in 3). This affects the moments in the beam and
should be taken into account in the calculation of the loading moment distribution.
ii) If the moment diagram curve changes suddenly on the bearings, a single load is applied to
the bearing. Such a single load is directly borne by the support reactions and does not create
any moment in the beam. It can be neglected in the moment distribution.
After calculating the loads acting on the concrete (Fig.7c), the bending moments in the
continuous beam can be found by any method, for example moment distribution. In this
method based on elastic theory, it is assumed that Hooke's law, Bernoulli-Navier hypothesis
and superposition principle are valid. An application of the method mentioned above is
given in Example 2.

Example 1:
Find the location of the pressure center for the constant "e" eccentricity in the continuous
beam given in Fig. 8a (If it was a simple beam, the center of gravity would be the center of
gravity of the cable).

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Solution:
The isostatic basic system has been obtained by placing a joint at B point. The hyperstatic
unknown is found by writing the X1 continuity equation. Isostatic base system for unit
loading and external loading the diagrams of the are shown in Fig 8b. The coefficients of the
continuity equation, the X1 unknown and the resulting moment values are calculated below,
and the final moment diagram and pressure line are given in Fig.8c.

Example 2:
Eccentric in pre-stressed two-span continuous beam cable A shown in Figure 9a; It has sharp
angular shape in D and B and parabolic shape at BC span. Regardless of the intrinsic weight
of the beam, place the pressure line (line C) in the longitudinal section, which is formed in
the concrete due to the pretension only. The prestressing force is 1100 kN.

Solution:

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Example 3:
For the prestressing force Pe = 2000 kN in post-tensioned three-span symmetrical
continuous beam shown in Fig. 10a
a) Calculate the equivalent loads.
b) Draw M1 primary, M final and M2 secondary moment diagrams.
c) Find the support reactions for all three states.

d) Place the pressure line C in the longitudinal section in Fig. 10a.

e) Calculate the concrete stresses on the B support due to the prestressing.

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b) Primary moments are found by M1= Pe e relation and shown in Fig.10c. Moment
distribution will be made for ultimate moment calculation. For this purpose, by considering
the symmetry below, the unit displacement constants and distribution numbers and the
moments of the built-in are calculated, and the support moment B is found with the Cross
Method. The final moment M diagram is shown in Fig. 10d, while the M2 secondary
moment diagram formed by the support reactions can be easily obtained with the relation
(M−M1) and shown in Fig. 10e.

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The ultimate moment from prestressing at point B was found to be 1008.5 kNm (under
tension).
c) Support reactions are shown in Fig. 10e.

d) The distances of the pressure line from the axis are calculated with the relation M / Pe in
the supports and considering that it goes straight to the other supports, the deviations from
the axis in the support and clearance are easily found and shown in Fig. 10a.

In B, M/Pe = 1008.5 / 2000 = 0.50425 m 504 mm

Deviation from prestressing reinforcement in the middle of the AB /CD span: (504-400) ×
(10/20) = 52 mm

Eccentricity of line C = 250-52 = 198 mm

Deviation from prestressing reinforcement in the middle of span BC: (504-400) = 104 mm

Eccentricity of line C = 400-104 = 296 mm

The line C is shown with a dashed line in Fig. 10a

e) The stresses in the support B, consisting of Pe = 2000 kN, MB = + 1008.5 kNm moment,
are calculated in two different ways below.

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Example 4:
In the beam given in Example 3, the outer load q = 25 kN / m is applied uniformly distributed
over all spans, keeping the cable form and strength the same. In this case, draw the bending
moment diagram and calculate the ultimate concrete stresses at the B support and the B-C
span.

Solution:
In this case, loads equivalent to external load should be summed with their signs and
moment distribution should be made for final loading. The loading diagram of this state is
shown in Fig. 11a, the built-in moments and Cross balancing are shown below, and the final
moment diagram is shown in Fig. 11b.

The final moment of the total loads on the B support was found to be -275.5 kNm (tensile
on top).

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The stresses in the support B, consisting of Pe = 2000 kN, MB = -275.5 kNm moment, are
calculated in two different ways below.

or can be calculated as follows.

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Example 5:
Find the smallest prestressing force to balance the given loads on the continuous beam
shown in Figure 12. Calculate the cable eccentricities. The cable profile is required to remain
at least 150mm from the upper and lower surfaces of the section. Cross-section dimensions
are b / h = 400 / 1200mm.

Solution:
Equivalent load method will be used in the solution. For each span, the largest eccentricity
and the lowest prestressing force will be found, with the largest value among them, the
eccentricities in each span will be calculated.
The greatest eccentricities that can be taken in all spans and supports are 600-150 = 450mm
(Fig. 13). With these values, emax and Pmin values at the A-B span.

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Accordingly, P=1389 kN value will be taken as basis. Let e=450mm be taken at the B support.
Eccentricities:

The resulting values are shown in Figure 14.

3.3 Design with Actual Cable Layout

The simple parabolic cable curves used in the load balancing method are idealized in such a
way that there will be fracture in the supports and an approximate calculation is made. This
is an approach that allows us to make a faster and simpler calculation. In reality cables are a
smooth transition
It consists of parabola parts that provide and curvature centers are on different sides. This
situation is explained in detail and the approximate and actual calculation is given in the
Example 6.

Example 6:
In the continuous beam shown in Figure 15.
a) Find the prestressing force P, which will balance the 15kN / m uniform load with the help
of the idealized cable form, using the most economical cable layout. The cable profile is
required to remain at least 80mm from the upper and lower surfaces of the section. Cross-
section dimensions are b / h = 300 / 700mm.

b) Calculate the concrete stresses in the middle of the support (B) and the opening (AB) for
additional vertical load with a uniform distribution of 20kN /m with the idealized cable form.
c) Find the actual cable form in the same beam. Calculate the support and mid-span
moments corresponding to this state and compare it with the values of the idealized state.
d) Calculate the support (B) and (AB) mid-span concrete stresses of the actual cable form.

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Solution:

a) For the most economical cable layout, the middle of the span and the largest
eccentricities that can be taken on the support are shown in the figure. Accordingly,
the prestressing force balancing the eccentricity of "e = 270 + 270/2 = 405mm" with
a uniformly distributed load of 15kN / m at the beam span and the moment value in
the support (B) are given below:

b) Support and mid-span final moments for an additional load of 20 kN/m in idealized
cable form

is calculated as. Its cross-sectional area is Ac=21x104mm4, Moment of strength is

W=24.5*106mm3. With these values, the upper and lower stresses in the support
and in the span are calculated below:

c) For the actual cable placement, the parabola (3) to the right of the (AB) opening will
pass through the bend point close to the support and the center of curvature will

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change direction (Figure 16a). The distance of the bending point (B) to the support is
between 1/8 and 1/12 of the span and 1/10 can be taken as an average value.

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The vertical distance 2h of the bending point, which is calculated by considering the
horizontal tangent of the cable on the support, has been given with the related relation
before using the defined symbols. According to this

and the radius of curvature of the parabola no. (3) at the inflection point (eX),
respectively, are calculated below with the help of the related relations:

These calculated magnitudes of the real situation (Figure 16b) are also shown closely. In
this case (Figure 16a), the equivalent loads of the half parabola segments called 1, 2 and
3 are calculated with the help of the equations given in the previous sections and shown
in (Figure 16c).

The support moment (MB) corresponding to each partial load is calculated. Support
moments of partially distributed uniform load are calculated with the symbols in
(Fig.16d) as follows.
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Accordingly, for q1, q2 and q3, respectively

MB,1=140 kNm, MB,2=421.1 kNm, MB,3=-115.5 kNm and

MB= 140+421.1-115.5= 445.6 kNm (prestressed moment) are computed.
This value was found to be 480kNm in idealized cable form. The relative difference
between the actual cable state and the idealized state is, for this example, 7.7%. In case
of 20 kN/m external load, the final moment on the support (B) is calculated as
MB=-194.4 kNm as shown below.

Moment calculation in the middle of the span:

(B) primary moment= 1185*0.27= 320 kNm,

secondary moment=445.6-320=125.6 kNm

and (B) the translation amount of the pressure line at its support = 125.6/1185 =
0.106m. The offset of the pressure line in the middle of the span = 106/2 = 53mm, the
distance of the pressure line to the beam axis at the same place = 270-53 = 217mm
(Figure 16e).
Therefore, the moment in the middle of the span is calculated as =1185x0.217=257.15
kNm due to prestressing in the case of real cable. Moment of 20kN/m distributed load in
the same section = 20x162/16= 320 kNm. Accordingly, the final moment in the middle of
the span

MAB= -257.15+320= 62.85 kNm.

d) With the values given in the previous paragraph, the upper and lower concrete
stresses at the support and in the middle of the span are calculated as follows

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