LOSSES IN

PRESTRESS
 INTRODUCTION

 Prestressing is applying compressive stress to

concrete to mitigate tensile strains caused by a load.
 The various reductions of the prestressing force
have termed the losses in prestressing.
 Losses in prestressing are the slow lowering of the
induced compressive stress in a prestressed part
due to various factors.
 PRESTRESS LOSSES

IMMIDIATE
LONG TERM
LOSSES
LOSSES
(TIME DEPENDANT)

Losses
Losses due Losses due to
Losses due to Losses due to Losses due to
to creep or
due to elastic creep of shrinkage of
anchorage relaxation of
friction. shortenin concrete. concrete.
slip. steel.
g of
concrete.
 Loss in Prestress Due to the Friction
 During stretching a curved tendon in a post-tensioned part, friction is formed at the
interface of concrete and steel.
 There is a reduction in prestress along with the member from the stretched end.
 The stretching must also overcome the tendon’s wobbling in addition to friction.
 The change in location of the tendon along the duct is referred to as the wobble.
 Friction and wobbling losses are grouped together under friction.
 Frictional losses do not arise in pre-tensioned members since the tendon is not
Kw= wobbles friction loss
concretely tensioned in pre-tensioned members. X = L: When jacking from one end
X = L/2: when jacking from both
Loss of prestress due to the friction (σf) PX= P0 e(μα + kx) the ends
α=Angle of a tendon (Radian)
μ=Coefficient of friction
 Losses in Prestress Due to Anchored Slip
 Anchorage is a component that is used to attach the tendons to the concrete while
terminating them.
 When the stressing process is over, the major role of anchorage is to transfer the
stressing force to the concrete.
 Tendons are provided inside the ducts of a precast concrete member in the case of a
post-tensioning system. To transfer the stressing force to the concrete, anchoring is
supplied at both ends of the tendon.
 If the anchorage moves from its original position, the tendons loosen, resulting in
prestress loss.
 The loss of stress due to anchorage slip does not occur in the pre-tensioned concrete.
 The tendons are monolithically implanted in the concrete when pre-tensioning.

The loss due to anchorage slip (σa)= (Δl/l)Es

where,
Δl = anchorage slip in mm
l = Length of cable in mm
Es= Young’s modulus of steel (N/mm2)
 Losses in Prestress Due to Elastic Shortening of Concrete

 The loss is only encountered in the Pre-tension member; when the tendons are cut, and
the prestressing force is transferred to the member, the concrete undergoes immediate
shortening due to the prestress.
 In addition, the tendon shortens by the same amount.
 This results in a loss of prestress.
 Whereas if there is only one tendon, there is no loss because the applied prestress is
recorded in the Post-tensioned member after the elastic shortening of the member.
 When more than one tendon is stretched sequentially, a tendon is lost during the
successive stretching of the other tendons.

Loss of prestress due to elastic shortening of concrete (σe)= mσc

where:
m = Modular ratio
σc= Stress in the concrete at the level of a steel tendon
 Losses in Prestress Due to Creep of Concrete

 Creep is the deformation that occurs over time due to a constant force.
 Prestress is a permanent force in prestressed concrete that causes compressive stress at
the steel level.
 As a result, the member is under stress.
 Loss of prestress due to concrete creep occurs in both the pretension and post-tension
member.

Loss of prestress due to creep of concrete (σcr)= θmσc

where, Creep Coefficient

Age of loading
m = Modular ratio (θ)
σc= stress in the concrete at the level of a steel tendon 7 days 2.2
θ = Creep coefficient (depends on the age of loading)
28 days 1.6

1 year 1.1
 Losses in Prestress Due to Shrinkage of Concrete
 The stress loss is aided by the shortening of tensioned wires caused by concrete shrinkage in
prestressed members.
 In the case of pre-tensioned members, moist curing is usually used to keep them from
shrinking until they are transferred.
 As a result, the total residual shrinkage strain in pre-tensioned members after prestress
transfer will be greater than in post-tensioned members, where a portion of shrinkage will
have already occurred at the time of stress transfer.

Loss of prestress due to Shrinkage of concrete (σsh)= εshEs

Where,
εsh = Strain due to shrinkage of concrete

Es = modulus of elasticity of steel

Shrinkage strain varies from 0.0002-0.0003 (as per IS 1343:

 FOR POST TENSIONED MEMBER:-

Higher value is adopted i.e
Strain due to shrinkage of concrete (εsh)= 0.0003

Stress due to shrinkage of concrete (σsh)= 0.0003Es

 FOR PRE TENSIONED CONCRETE :-
Strain due to shrinkage of concrete (εsh)= 0.0002/[ln(T+2)]
T= time of prestressing in days (normally 28 days)
loss of stress due to shrinkage is more in pre-tension members.
 Losses in Prestress Due to Creep or Relaxation of Steel
 Steel relaxation is described as a decrease in stress over time when under constant tension
 Due to the relaxation of steel, the pressure in the tendon is reduced with time.
 The stress loss due to relaxation depends on the types of steel, initial pressure, and
temperature.
 Based on the observation, about 2 per cent loss occurs in pre-tensioned members.
 Whereas about 3 per cent loss of stress occurs in post-tension members.
THANK YOU