Question Bank for the Units – I & II

SE00 7thSemester – B.E. / B.Tech.

BR00 Civil Engineering

SU00 CE 6702- Prestressed Concrete Structures

Part-A (6 x 2 = 12 Marks)

1. Write two advantages of prestressed concrete.

1. Why high strength concrete and high strength tensile steel is needed for prestressed
concrete construction?

1. List the advantages of prestressed concrete over reinforced cement concrete.

1. Why high strength steel is essential for prestressed concrete?

2. What are the classifications of prestressed concrete structures?

2. Write the applications of prestressed concrete.

2. What are the various methods of prestressing?

2. Define axial prestressing .

2. Explain concordant prestressing

3. Define Load balancing concept

3. Define pressure line

3. When circular prestressing is is done?

3. What is meant by partial prestressing?

4. What are the systems of prestressing?

4. What are the applications of Post tensioning?

4. What are the types of devices used for Post tensioning?

4. Distinguish between pre tensioned and post tensioned concrete members

5. List the loss of prestress.

5. Explain the effect of length and curvature of the cable in calculating the loss of
prestress.

5. How the loss of stress due to friction is calculated?

5. How the loss due to anchorage slip is calculated?

6. Write the minimum concrete strength requirements prescribed for prestressed concrete
members in IS: 1343 code

6. What is strain compatibility method?

6. What are the assumptions made in the strain compatibility method?

7. What is effective reinforcement ratio?

7. How will you classify a structure as Type II or class II structure?

7. What do you understand by un bonded tendon?

8. What are the stages to be considered in the design of prestressed section under flexure?

8. State the difference between in load carrying capacity mechanism in flexure under
working condition between RCC and PSC

8. Explain with neat sketches the IS1343 code method of computing the moment of
resistance of rectangular section.

9. Brief the over reinforced failures in prestressed concrete

9. What are the various types of flexural failures encountered in prestressed concrete
members

9. Define fracture of steel in tension.

10. What are the different ways of improving the shear resistance of structural concrete
members by prestressing technique?

10. Outline the effect of prestressing force in shear resistance in PSC beam

10. How to calculate ultimate shear strength of un cracked section in flexure as per IS
1343?

10. Enumerate failure due to web –shear cracks

10. List the factors influencing the ultimate shear resistance of PSC members.

Part – B ( 3 x 16 = 48 Marks)

11.a. An Unsymmetrical I-section beam is used to support an imposed load of 2kN/m over a
span of 8m. The sectional details are top flange, 300 mm wide and 60 mm thick:
bottom flange 100 mm wide and 60 mm thick: Thickness of the web =80mm: overall
depth of the beam = 400 mm. At the centre of the span, the effective prestressing force
of 100 kN is located at 50 mm from the soffit of the beam. Estimate the stresses at the
centre-of- span section of the beam for the following load conditions. a) Prestress +
Self Weight b)Prestress + Self weight + live load

11.a. A rectangular concrete beam of cross section 30 cm deep and 20cm wide is prestressed
by means of 15 wires of 5mm diameter located 6.5cm from the bottom of the beam and
3 wires of diameter of 5mm, 2.5cm from the top. Assuming the prestress in the steel as
840N/mm2, calculate the stresses at the extreme fibres of the mid-span section when the
beam is supporting its own weight over a span of 6 m. If a uniformly distributed live
load of 6kN/m is imposed, evaluate the maximum working stress in concrete. The
density of concrete is 24kN /m3.

11.a. A prestressed concrete beam supports a live load of 4kN/m over a simply supported
span of 8m.The beam has a symmetrical I section with an overall depth of 400 mm.
The thickness of the flanges and web are 60 and 80mm respectively. The width of the
flange is 200 mm.The beam is to be prestressed by an effective prestressing force of
235 kN at a suitable eccentricity such that the resultant stresses at the soffit of the
beam at the centre of span is zero.
a. Find the eccentricity required for the force.
b. If the tendon is concentric, What should be the magnitude of the prestressing
force for the resultant stress to be zero at the bottom fiber of the central span
section.

11.a. A rectangular concrete beam 100mm wide by 250 mm deep spanning over 8 m is
prestressed by a straight cable carrying an effective prestressing force of 250 kN
located at an eccentricity of 40mm. The beam supports a live load of 1.2kN/m.
Calculate the resultant stress distribution for the centre-of –span cross section of the
 beam assuming the density of concrete as 24kN/m 3. Find the magnitude of the
prestressing force with an eccentricity of 40 mm which can balance the stresses due to
dead load and live loads at the soffit of the centre span section.

11.a. A prestressed concrete beam of section 200 mm wide by 300 mm deep is loaded over
an effective span of 6m to support an imposed load of 4kN/m. The density of concrete
is 24kN/m3. At the mid span section of the beam find the magnitude of a) The
concentric prestressing force necessary for zero fibre stress at the soffit when the beam
is fully loaded: and b) The concentric prestressing force located 100 mm from the
bottom of the beam which would nullify the bottom fibre stresses due to loading.

11.b. Explain in detail about various losses of prestress in Pretensioned and Post tensioned
Concrete.

11.b. Explain the various types of post tensioning devices used in prestressed concrete

11.b. (i) Recall strength and load balancing concept

(ii) What are the factors influencing the creep and shrinkage of Concrete? Explain.

11.b. Explain the development of prestressed concrete and enumerate the advantages of
prestressed concrete.

11.b. Explain in detail about the basic concepts, advantages, materials required and methods
of prestressing.

12.a. A Prestressed concrete beam with a rectangular section 120mm wide by 300 mm
deep supports a uniformly distributed load of 4kN/m , which includes the self –
weight of the beam. The effective span of the beam is 6m. The beam is
concentrically prestressed by a cable carrying a force of 180kN . Locate the
position of the pressure line in the beam.

12.a. A PSC beam of 230mm wide and 450mm deep is used over a span of 4m is prestressed
by a cable carrying a force of 650kN & located at an eccentricity of 75mm. The beam
supports three concentrated loads of 25kN at each quarter span points. Determine the
location of the pressure line in beam at centre, quarter & support sections. Neglect the
moment due to self weight of the beam.

12.a. A rectangular concrete beam 250 mm wide by 300 mm deep is prestressed by a force of
540kN at a constant eccentricity of 60 mm. The beam supports a concentrated load of
68kN at the centre of span of 3m. Determine the location of the pressure line at the
centre, quarter span and support sections of the beam. Neglect the self – weight of the
beam.

12.b. A rectangular prestressed beam 150 mm wide and 300 mm deep is used over an
effective span of 10m. The cable with zero eccentricity at the supports, and linearly
varying to 50 mm at the centre, carries an effective prestressing force of 500kN. (a)
 Find the magnitude of the concentrated load Q located at the centre of the span for the
following conditions at the centre of span section. (b) If the load counteracts the
bending effect of the prestressing force(neglecting self –weight of beam and If the
pressure line passes through the upper kern of the section under the action of the
external load, self-weight and prestress

12.b. A prestressed concrete beam 300 mm wide and 800 mm deep supports two
concentrated loads of 20kN each at the third point of a span of 9m.
(a) Suggest a suitable cable profile. If the eccentricity of the cable profile is 100
mm for the middle third portion of the beam. Calculate the prestressing force
required to balance the bending effect of the concentrated loads (neglect the
self-weight of the beam)
(b) For the same cable profile , find the effective force in the cable if the
resultant stress due to self weight , imposed loads and prestressing force is
zero at the bottom fibre of the mid-span section.

12.b. A prestressed concrete beam of rectangular cross section 200 mm wide by 600 mm
deep supports a live loads of 8kN/m spanning over 8m. Find the effective prestressing
force in the parabolic cable having an eccentricity of 80mm at centre of span and
concentric at the supports for the following loading conditions
(a) If the bending effect of the prestressing force is nullified by the imposed load
for the mid-span section (neglecting the self weight of the beam)
(b) If the resultant stress due to self weight, live load and prestressing force is zero
at the soffit of the beam at centre –of-span section.

12.b. A concrete beam with a single overhang is simply supported at A and B over a span
of 8m and the overhang BC is 2m. The bam is of rectangular section 300mm wide
by 900 mm deep and supports a uniformly distributed live load of 3.52 kN/m over
the entire length in addition to its self weight. Determine the profile of the
prestressing cable with an effective force of 500kN which can balance the dead nd
live loads on the beam. Sketch the profile of the cable along the length of the beam.

13.a. A pretensioned beam of rectangular section 150 mm wide by 350 deep has an effective
cover of 50 mm,. If f ck = 40 N/mm2 , fp= 1600 N/mm2, and the area of prestressing steel
Ap = 461 mm2, calculate the ultimate flexural strength of the section as per IS 1343
code provisions.

13.a. A prestensioned , T-section has a flange which is 300 mm wide 200 mm thick . The rib
is 150 mm wide by 350 mm deep. The effective depth of the cross section is 500mm.
Given Ap = 200 mm2. If fck = 40 N/mm2 , fp= 1600 N/mm2 Estimate the ultimate
moment capapcity of the T-section using IS 1343 code provisions.

13.a. A pre tensioned T section has a flange 1200mm wide and 150 mm thick. The width and
depth of the rib are 300 and 1500 mm respectively. The high – tensile steel has an area
of 4700 mm2 and is located at an effective depth of 1600mm. If the Characteristic cube
strength of the concrete and the tensile strength of steel are 40 and 1600 N/mm 2.
 respectively, estimate flexural strength of the section as per IS 1343 code provisions.

13.b. A post tensioned prestressed concrete Tee beam having a flange width of 1200mm and
flange thickness of 200 mm thickness of web being 300 mm is prestressed by
2000mm2 of high –tensile steel located at an effective depth of 1600mm. If fck = 40
N/mm2 , fp= 1600 N/mm2, estimate the ultimate flexural strength of the unbounded T
section, assuming span/depth ratio as 20 and fpe = 1000 N/mm2

13.b. A post tensioned bridge girder with unbonded tendon is of box section overall
dimension 1200 mm wide by 1800 mm deep, with wall thickness of 150 mm. The
high –tensile steel has an area of 4000 mm2 at an effective depth of 1600 mm. The
effective prestress in steel after all losses is 1000N/ mm 2 and the effective span of
the girder is 24m.. If fck = 40 N/mm2 , fp= 1600 N/mm2, estimate the ultimate
flexural strength of the section as per IS 1343 code provisions.

13.b. A double T section has a flange 1200 mm wide and 150 mm thick is prestressed by
4700 mm2 of high tensile steel located at an effective depth of 1600mm. The ribs have
thickness of 150 mm each. If the cube strength of concrete is 40 and 1600N/mm 2,
respectively, calculate the flexural strength of double tee- girder using IS 1343 code
provisions.

13.b. A post – tensioned prestressed concrete tee – beam with unbonded tendon is made up
of a flange 300 mm wide by 150 mm thick and thickness of rib is 150 mm. The beam
is prestressed by 24 H.T wires of 5mm diameter with an effective stress of 65
percent of ultimate tensile strength of wires. The wires are located at an effective
depth of 320mm.Loss ratio is 0.80. If fck = 56 N/mm 2 and fp= 1650 N/mm2 , estimate
the flexural strength of the section assuming the span/depth ratio of the beam as 20.

14.a. A prestressed girder has to be designed to cover a span of 12m, to support an

uniformly distributed load of 15kN/m M-45 grade concrete is used for casting the
girder. The permissible stress in compression may be assumed as 14N/mm 2 and 1.4
N/mm2 in tension. Assume 15 % losses in prestress during service load conditions. The
preliminary section proposed for the girder consisits of a symmetrical I-section with
flanges 300 mm wide and 150 mm thick.The web is 120 mm wide by 450mm deep.
(a) Check the adequacy of the section provided to resist the service loads.
(b) Design the minimum prestressing force and the corresponding eccentricity for
the section.

14.a. A post-tensioned prestressed beam of rectangular section 250 mm wide is to be

designed for an imposed load of 12kN/m , uniformly distributed on a span of 12m. The
stress in the concrete must not exceed 17N/mm 2 in compression or 1.4N/mm 2 in
tension at any time and the loss of prestress may be assumed to be 15 percent.
Calculate (a) the minimum possible depth of the beam (b) for the section provided the
minimum prestressing force and the corresponding eccentricity.

14.a. A prestressed concrete T beam is to be designed to support an imposed load of 4.4kN/m

over an effective span of 5m. The T beam is made up of a flange 400 mm wide and 40
 mm thick. The rib is 100 mm wide and 200 mm deep. The stress in the concrete must
not exceed 15N/mm2 in compression and zero in tension at any stage . Check for the
adequacy of the section provided, and calculate the minimum prestressing force
necessary and corresponding eccentricity . Assume 20% loss of prestress.

14.a. A prestressed concrete beam of rectangular section, 90 mm wide and 180 mm deep,
is to be designed to support two imposed loads of 3.5kN each located at one third
points over a span of 3m. If there is to be no tensile stress in the concrete at transfer
and service loads, calculate the minimum prestressing force and the corresponding
eccentricity. Loss ratio = 0.8

14.b. Design a simply supported slab for a bridge deck using the following data.span =
10m, permissible compressive strength in concrete transfer = fct = 16.5 N/mm 2 type -1
members (no tensile stress at any stage) safe stress in steel = 950 N/mm 2, live load on
slab is 10kN/m2 loss of stress =18% . Design the prestressing force and eccentricity.

14.b. A prestressed beam has an unsymmetrical I-section with an overall depth of 1840
mm .The top and bottom flange widths are 1800 and 820 mm, respectively. The
thickness of the top flange is 180 mm The thickness of the bottom flange is 150 mm.
The width of rib is 150mm. The beam is designed for a simply supported span of
40m. The permissible compressive stress at the transfer and working load is limited to
16 N /mm2, While the tensile stress at the transfer and working load is limited to zero
and 1.4N/mm2, respectively. The loss ratio is 0.80 Calculate (a) The permissible
uniformly distributed imposed load.
(b) The magnitude of the prestressing force if at the mid-span section it is
located 130 mm from the soffit, and
(c) The vertical limits within which the cable must lie at mid-span and support
sections.

14.b. The cross- sectional area of an unsymmetrical prestressed I-beam designed to carry a
central point load on a simply supported span of 15m is 194000mm 2. The Second
moment of area is equal to 197 x10 8 mm4.The overall depth of the section is 900
mm, with the centroid located at 520 mm from the soffit. The maximum permissible
stresses are 14N//mm2 in compression and zero in tension. The loss ratio is o.8.
Calculate (a) the breadth of a rectangular section, having the same depth designed for
the same loading.(b) the Value of the point load.( c) the maximum eccentricities of the
cable at mid- span for the two sections.

15.a. Explain various types of flexural failures in prestressed concrete members.

15.a. Explain in detail the various steps involved in design of Type I pretensioned flexural
members

15.a. Explain Strain compatibility method of stress block.

15.b. A pre-stressed concrete bridge deck comprises unsymmetrical I – section spanning over
 20m. The cross sectional details are top flange – 1200mm x 200mm, bottom flange –
500mm x 400mm, web – 200mm x 900mm. The beam is pre-stressed by 7 cables each
carrying an effective pre-stressing force of 600kN located at 200mm from the soffit of
the beam at the mid-span section. If the total maximum bending moment at the mid-
span section is estimated to be 3600kN. Determine the magnitude of resultant stresses
developed at the mid-span section using internal resistance coupling method

15.b. A box girder of pre-stressed concrete bridge of span 40m has overall dimensions of
1200x1800. The uniform thickness of the wall is 200mm. The live load analysis
indicates maximum live load moment of 2000kNm at the center of the span. The beam
is pre-stressed by a parabolic cable with an effective pre-stressing force of 7000kN. The
cables are concentric at the supports and having an eccentricity of 800mm at the center
of the mid-span section. Determine the resultant stress at the mid-span section using
internal resistance couple method. Also draw the thrust line along the longitudinal axis.

15.b. A simply supported PSC beam of cross section 500mm wide and 800mm deep is
loaded with uniformly distributed load of magnitude 50kN/m on a span of 10m.obtain
the stress distribution at mid span by stress and strength concept, if the prestressing
force is 1200kN applied eccentrically all along with its centre of gravity at 100 mm
from bottom.

Part – C ( 1 x 16 = 16 Marks)

16.a. A pre-stressed concrete beam 200 mm wide and 300 mm deep is pre-stressedwith wires
(A=320mm2) located at a constant eccentricity of 50mm and carrying on initial stress of
1000N/mm2. The span of the beam is 10m. Calculate the percentage loss of stress in
wires if
(i) the beam is pre-tensioned and
(ii) the beam is post-tensioned using the following data:
Es = 210 kN/mm2 and Ec=35kN/mm2, Relaxation of steel stress = 5% of initial stress,
Shrinkage of concrete =300x10-6 for pretensioning and 200x10-6 for post tensioning
.creep co-efficient =1.6, slip at anchorage =1mm.Frictional co-efficient for wave effect
= 0.0015 per m.

16.a. A pretensioned beam 300 mm x 450 mm is pre-tensioned by 12 wires each of 7 mm

diameter, initially stressed to 1200 MPa with their centroids located 100 mm from the
sofit. Estimate the final percentage loss of stress due to elastic deformation,
creep,shrinkage and relaxation. Assume relaxation of steel stress = 90 MPa. Ec = 35
GPa, creep co-efficient = 1.6 and residual shrinkage strain = 3 X10-4.

16.a. A rectangular beam 180 mm wide and 400 mm deep is simply supported over a span of
8m and is reinforced with 3 wires of 8mm diameter.The wires are located at a constant
eccentricity of 80 mm and are subjected to an initial stress of 1200N/mm 2. Calculate the
percentage loss of stress in the wires if the beam is (i) Pre tensioned and ii) Post
tensioned , Es = 210 kN/mm 2, modular ratio is 6, slip at anchorage is 0.8mm, friction
coefficient = 0.002/m, relaxation of steel stress =6%.Adopt creep and shrinkage
 coefficients as per IS 1343.

16.b. A rectangular concrete beam, 300 mm deep and 200 mm deep wide, is prestressed by
means of fifteen 5mm diameter wires located 65mm from the bottom of the beam and
three 5mm wires, located 25mm from the top of the beam. If the wires are initially
tensioned to a stress of 840N/mm2, Calculate the percentage loss of stress in steel
immediately after transfer, allowing for the loss of stess due to elastic deformation of
concrete only Es= 210kN/mm2 and Ec = 31.5N/mm2.

16.b. A concrete beam of 10 m span , 100 mm wide and 300 mm deep is prestressed by three
cables. The area of each cable is 200 mm2 and the initial stress in the cable is
1200N/m2. The first cable is paraobolic with an eccentricity of 50 mm below the
centroidal axis at the centre of span and 50 mm above the centroidal axis at the support
sections. The second cable is parabolic with zero eccentricity at the supports and an
eccentricity of 50 mm at the centre of the span.The third cable is straight with a
uniform eccentricity of 50 mm below the centroidal axis. If the cables are tensioned
from one end only, estimate the percentage loss of stress in each cable due to friction.
Assume u = 0.35 and k= 0.0015 per m.

16.b. A post tensioned concrete beam 10 mm wide and 300 mm deep is prestressed by three
cables each with a cross sectional area of 50mm 2 and an initial stress of 1200 N/mm 2.
All the three cables are straight and located 100 mm from the soffit of the beam.If the
modular ratio is 6, calculate the loss of stress in the three cables due to elastic
deformation of concrete for the following cases i) simultaneous tensioning and
anchoring of all the three cables ii) Sucessive tensioning of the three cables, one at a
time.

16.b. A post- tensioned cable of a beam 10m long is initially tensioned to a stress of
1000N/mm2 at one end. If the tendons are curved so that the slope is 1 in 24 at each
end. With an area of 600mm 2. Calculate the loss of prestress due to friction given the
following data.
Coefficient of friction between duct and cable = 0.55: friction co-efficient between for
wave effect = 0.0015 per m.During anchoring if there is a slip of 3mm at the jacking
end, calculate the final force in the cable and the percentage loss of prestress due to
friction and slip , Es = 210 kN/mm2