1.

d) Creep in steel (Relaxation of steel):

2. When the stresses in steel is more than half of its yield stress there is
creep in steel also. Force of prestress falls as a result of creep in steel.
Then there is a loss of prestress. Percentage creep varies from 1 to
5%. Creep in steel is also termed as relaxation of steel. Relaxation loss
may be estimated using table below:

Initial Stress Relaxation loss ( )

0.5 0
0.6 35
0.7 70
0.8 90
3. is the characteristic strength of steel.
4. There are several means of reducing or balancing the loss of prestress
due to creep.
5. In the post tensioned beams several cables are provided. The
cables are stretched in succession. When a cable is stretched,
this cable suffers no loss, but the cable stretched before suffers
a loss due to prestress in the cable being stretched. Thus the
cable which is stretched first will suffer maximum loss due to
stretching of (n – 1) cables where n is the total number of
cables. The cable stretched last will not suffer any loss. To
calculate the loss due to elastic shortening, loss in the first
cable is calculated and half of this value is taken as the average
loss of all the cables.
6. girders By AASHTO specifications, an allowable concrete stress of fc = 0.40 fc ’ = 1200 psi And an
allowable steel stress of fs = 0.5 fy = 20,If prestress is measured at the time of
pulling the wire, the stress is termed as the jacking stress. Deducting
the loss due to anchorage take-up and friction, initial prestress is
obtained. Effective stress is usually the initial stress minus other four
losses namely:
7. Loss due to
 8. girders By AASHTO specifications, an allowable concrete stress of fc = 0.40 fc ’ = 1200 psi And an
allowable steel stress of fs = 0.5 fy = 20,If prestress is measured at the time of
pulling the wire, the stress is termed as the jacking stress. Deducting
the loss due to anchorage take-up and friction, initial prestress is
obtained. Effective stress is usually the initial stress minus other four
losses namely:
9. Loss due to
10.
11. vc) Creep of Concrete:
12. Creep is the time dependent deformation due to permanent
force. In prestressed concrete, prestress is the permanent force in the
member, causing compressive stress at the level of steel. Hence there
is creep strain in the member.

13. relaxation of steel

TOTAL LOSS OF PRESTRESS:

14. elastic shortening

15. shrinkage of concrete

16. creep of concrete

17. relaxation of steel

and Specifications Clear Span 48 ft Clear width 29 ft Live Loading HS20 Concrete strength fc ’ 3000 psi
Future protective cover 15 pf Grade 40 reinforcement The bridge will consist of six c girders By AASHTO
specifications, an allowable concrete stress of fc = 0.40 fc ’ = 1200 psi And an allowable steel stress of fs
= 0.5 fy = 20,If prestress is measured at the time of pulling the wire, the stress
is termed as the jacking stress. Deducting the loss due to anchorage take-up
and friction, initial prestress is obtained. Effective stress is usually the initial
stress minus other four losses namely:

Loss due to

girders By AASHTO specifications, an allowable concrete stress of fc = 0.40 fc ’ = 1200 psi And an
allowable steel stress of fs = 0.5 fy = 20,If prestress is measured at the time of pulling
the wire, the stress is termed as the jacking stress. Deducting the loss due
to anchorage take-up and friction, initial prestress is obtained. Effective
stress is usually the initial stress minus other four losses namely:

Loss due to

Elastic strain =

is the stress in concrete at the level of steel.

Loss in prestress = creep strain x