International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015

ISSN 2229-5518 139

Analysis and design of two span continuous prestressed

beam
1 2
Siddhartha Ray , Molly Mathew , Sanjay Singh3
1
P.G student, Saraswati College of Engineering,Kharghar,Maharashtra,India.
[email protected]
2
Assistant Professor, Saraswati College of
Engineering,Kharghar,Maharashtra,India. mollybgeorg@
gmail.com
3
Assistant Professor, Saraswati College of Engineering, Kharghar,Maharashtra,India
[email protected]
behavior of continuous

Abstract: This paper discusses, analysis and design of medium

span continuous beams of prestressed concrete, effects of
prestressing continuous beams, its advantages and disadvantages
and how to make cable profile concordant. For continuous post-
tensioned girders, the analysis and research work are comparatively
lesser than segmental girders. Apparently construction of continues
girders seems to be difficult but it is more efficient for heavy
construction practices as in continuous girders curved cables can be
suitably positioned to resist span and support moments and there is
a reduction in the number of anchorages in continuous beams as
compared to simply supported beams. In this paper, two spans

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continuous prestressed beam of uniformly distributed load is design
and analysed. The cable profile and stresses developed at support
and span sections is presented in the results. Finally conclusions
from the results are presented.

Key words : continuous prestressed beam, concordant cable

profile, moment redistribution.

INTRODUCTION
Prestressed concrete is a recent major form of construction
introduced in the structural engineering. Like ordinary
reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete consists of concrete
resisting compression and reinforcement carrying tension.
Prestressing became essential in many applications in order to
fully utilize the compressive strength of reinforced concrete
and to eliminate or control cracking and deflection. Today,
prestressing is used in buildings, underground structures,
communication towers, floating storage and offshore structures,
power stations, nuclear reactor vessels, and numerous types of
bridge systems. In case of prestressed concrete beam bending
moment are more evenly distributed between the centre of
spans and support of members and also reduction in the size of
members results in lighter structures. The prestressed
continuous beam has higher ultimate load carrying capacity
than that of RCC continuous beam. Segmental construction by
using precast units connected by prestressed cables lead to
continuous girders. Sergio et.al[3] described the concept of
redistribution of moments in composite beam and it also gives
a brief note on degree of redistribution of moments. Two point
load was applied at mid span and ultimate load obtained from
experimental data were compared with theoretical one in both
plastic and elastic zone. Tiejiong et al.[2] presented flexural

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015
ISSN 2229-5518 140

externally prestressed concrete beam by using finite element

model and results were compared with experimental value.
The aim of this work is to analyses and design medium
span continuous beams of prestressed concrete, effects of
prestressing continuous beams, its advantages and
disadvantages and how to make a cable profile concordant.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
In prestressed continuous beam the concordant cable
profile studied by using Guyons Theorem of linear
Transformation. For analysis and design of two span
continuous prestressed beam the following parameters are
considered.
Span of beam = AB=BC=12m
uniformly distributed live load = 10KN/m.
Tensile stresses are not to permitted in concrete.
2
Compressive stress in concrete is not to exceed 13N/mm

METHODOLOGY
In addition to the basic assumptions such as, elastic
behaviour of materials and linear strain distribution across
the section, following assumptions are generally made for

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analysis of secondary moments in continuous prestress
concrete beams:
1. The effect of change in the length of the member due
to prestressing force and external loading is
negligible.
2. The cable friction is considered to be negligible so
that the prestressing force is constant at all points
in the cable.
The most commonly used methods to compute the
secondary moments in a secondary prestressed beam are:
1. Three moment theorem.
2. Consistent deformation/Flexibility method.
3. Tendon reaction/Equivalent load method.

THREE MOMENT THEOREM

The classical method of linear structural analysis,

such as three moment theorem can be conveniently used to
analyse the secondary moments developed in continuous
prestressed beam. The equation for three moment theorem is
given below:

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 6, Issue 12, December-2015
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Fig 1 : Three moment diagram

L AB L AB L + M L BC A xAB A x
+ 2M

+
M BC = 6
AB
+
BC BC

A B C
I
L I L I
I I I
BC

AB AB
BC
AB AB BC
BC

CONCORDANT CABLE PROFILE DESIGN APPROACH

Prestressing a statically indeterminate structure generally The design of statically indeterminate prestressed concrete
results in secondary moments due to the redundant reactions beams involves the computations of maximum and minimum
developed at the intermediate supports. However, it is moments at various cross sections of the members so as to
possible to arrange the cable profile in such a way such that obtain the range of moments that determines the cross sectional

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the structure does not deform at the supports or at any other dimensions of the members. The steps involved in the design of
points of restraint. In such a case, the redundant reactions continuous prestressed beams are given below:
and secondary moments are not induced by the prestressing 1. Calculate the maximum positive and negative
cables. moments due to live and dead load at various
Tendons which do not introduce secondary moments are sections of the member and compute the range of
referred to as concordant cable profiles. Any cable profile can
moments, which is the difference of maximum and
be made concordant by linear transformation. minimum moments at a cross section.

GUYONS THEOREM
In a statically indeterminate prestressed concrete beams, it is 2. The overall cross-sectional dimensions are fixed
possible to make simple modifications to a predetermined using the permissible compressive stress in
tendon profile without altering the pressure line in the concrete, f c , by the equation, assuming b=0.4-0.5h
members. This property was first stated by Guyon as follows:
In a continuous prestressed beam, if the tendon profile is
displaced vertically at any of the intermediate supports by any 3. The minimum prestressing force is estimated by the
amount, but without altering its intrinsic shape between the expression,
supports, the resultant line of thrust is unchanged.
The operation of displacing the cable at intermediate
supports while holding the position of the end anchorages 4. The limiting zone for thrust is obtained by plotting
constant without changing the intrinsic shape is also referred (M ma x/P) and (M min /P) at each section measured
to as linear transformation of the cable.
from the upper and lower kern respectively.
In the design of continuous prestressed concrete beams, it
is often necessary to determine a cable profile lying in the 5. The profile of a cable lying within the limiting zone
zone of limiting thrust and also satisfying the conditions of and suitable for a concordant profile is determined.
concordancy. A method based on the principle of virtual 6. The stresses developed at transfer and working
work is used. For the cable to be concordant, the cable must conditions are checked at important sections.
satisfy a condition
7. The cable profile, if necessary, may be linearly
transformed to reduce the slopes at supports with
. where K = dx/I
regard to cover requirements.
dx= length of a segment of the beam
I= Moment of inertia at that section
m= Coefficient of unit moment diagram at that
section e= Eccentricity of the cable at that section

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1. Maximum positive and negative moments under handbook and are shown in the table below. The value in
different combinations of live load. the brackets represents the coefficient values.
The various loading combinations to be considered is 2. Limiting zone for thrust.
shown below The range of moments and the position of the limits of line
of thrust are determined in the table below.
M M 3
= 180 10 = 900kN
max min
P=
h 600
3 3

3. Determination of concordant cable profile.

Fig 2 : Loading pattern

The maximum range of live load moment at support

section B,
2 2
Mqr= 0.125qL = 0.125 X 10 X 12 = 180kNm
Assume b=250mm, the overall depth is obtained by,
2 M 6
250 h qr 180 10
Z= = =
6 fc 13
6
6 180 10 = 570mm

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h= Fig 3 : Unit moment diagram and Limiting zone
13 250 for Thrust and Concordant profile
Adopt a section 250mm wide and 600mm deep.
Self weight of beam = (0.25 X 0.6 X 24) = 3.6kN/m
2 The calculations for the cable profile are shown below.
The moments at each point are expressed as M=kwd L
where k is the moment coefficient obtained from Reynolds

Table 1 : Computation of maximum positive and negative moments

Location Loading Pattern Maximum Dead load

Moments due to moments,
live load, kN/m kN/m
Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Mlp Mln Mg
A (0) (0) (0) - - -
0 0 0 0 0 0
1 (0.048) (0.059) -(0.01) 85 -14.4 25.0
69.0 85.0 14.4

2 (0.07) (0.091) -(0.02) 130 -30.2 36

101 130 30.2
3 (0.062) (0.093) -(0.03) 135 -45 32
90.5 135 45.5
4 (0.033) (0.07) -(0.04) 101 -60.5 17.4
47.5 101 60.5
5 -(0.03) (0.017) -(0.05) 24.5 -75 -18.8
52 24.5 75
B -(0.12) -(0.06) -(0.06) 0 -180 -65
180 90.5 90

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Table 2 : Determination of limiting zone for thrust line

Locatio Mlp Mln Mg Maximum Maximum Range of Eccentricity Eccentricity

n point kNm kNm kNm moments moments moment E2= E1=
M2 -
M 2 =Mlp+Mg M 1 =Mln+Mg M1 (M 2 /P)-100 (M 1 /P)-100
kNm kNm kNm
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 -100 100
1 85 -14.4 25.0 110 10.6 99.4 22 111.8
2 130 -30.2 36 166 5.8 160.2 84 106.4
3 135 -45 32 167 -13 180.2 86 86
4 101 -60.5 17.4 118.4 -43.1 161.5 32 52
5 24.5 -75 -18.8 5.7 -93.8 99.5 -93.7 -4
B 0 -180 -65 -65 -245 180 -172 -172

Table 3 : Determination of Concordant profile

Point I Simpsons D x /3 K=q Unit Km First Kme Second Kme

rule D x /3I moment Trial Trial
Coefficient diagram e 1 cm e 2 cm
q m
A 1 1 2/3 0.67 0 0 0 0 0 0

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1 1 4 2/3 2.67 0.167 0.44 6 2.64 6.7 2.97
2 1 2 2/3 1.34 0.333 0.44 9 3.96 9.7 4.30
3 1 4 2/3 2.67 0.5 1.33 8.6 10.56 8.6 11.50
4 1 2 2/3 1.34 0.67 0.88 4 3.52 4.0 3.52
5 1 4 2/3 2.67 0.834 2.3 -5 -11.15 -4.8 -10.70
B 1 1 2/3 0.6 1 0.6 -17.2 -11.50 -17.2 -11.50
Km Km
e1= e 2 = 0.09
-1.87

4. Check for stresses at section 3 and B.

Section 3
4 2 2
P = 900kN A = 1510 mm P/A = 6 N/mm Section B
6 3 2 4 2 2
Z = 1510 mm e = 86mm Pe/A = 5.16 N/mm P = 900kN A = 1510 mm P/A = 6 N/mm
6 3 2
Mmax = 167 kNm Mmin = -13 kNm Z = 1510 mm e = 172 mm Pe/A = 10.32 N/mm
Mmax = -65 kNm Mmin = -245 kNm

Table 4 : Stresses at Section 3. Table 5 : Stresses at Section B.

2
Stresses in N/mm + Compression - Tension Stresses in + Compression - Tension
2
N/mm
Fibre Prestre Max. load Min. Max. Min.
Fibr Prestress Max. Min. load Max. Min. ss Stress load stress stress
e load stress stress stress stress
stress 6
Top 6+10.3 -6510 / -24510 11.97 0
6 6 6
6 2=16.3 1510 = /1510
Top 6-5.16=0. 167 -1310 / 12.04 -0.03 2 -4.35 = -16.32
6 6
84 10 / 1510 = Bott 6-10.3 4.45 16.32 0.03 12
151 -0.87 om 2=
6
0= -4.32
11.2
Bott 6+5.16=1 -11.2 0.87 -0.04 12.03
om 1.16

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CONCLUTIONS
The above work has shown the different methods of analysis
of prestressed continuous beams. It has also shown the
method of design of a continuous prestressed beam with a
solved example. It has shown a method of making a cable
profile concordant with an example.
From the above work we can conclude that continuous
prestressed beams are more advantageous than simply
supported beams due to moment redistribution thereby
leading to lighter sections, smaller deflections and higher
ultimate load carrying capacity. Also precast beams can be
made continuous by providing cables at suitable locations
thereby providing for segmental construction. There is a
reduction in cost by reducing the number of anchorages as
compared to simply supported beams.

REFERENCES
[1] Teresa, P. Determination of Hyperstatatic moments in Post
Tentioned concrete flat slab, IJERA,3(5),pp.1113-1117,(2013).
[2] Tiejiong,L,Flexural Response of Continues Concrete Beams
Prestressed with external tendons, Journal of Bridge
Engineering,18(6), pp.525-537,( 2013).
[3] Sergio, M. .R. .L. Study of Moment redistribution in Prestressed
concrete Beam, Journal of Structural Engineering, 123(5), pp.561-
566,(1997).
[4] Burgoyne. C. J. Cable Design for Continuous Prestressed concrete
Bridges, Institute of Civil Engineers, 85, pp. 161-184,(1988).

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[5] Basu, P. K. Partially prestressed continuous composite beam,
Journal of Structural Engineering, 113(9), pp.1909-1925,(1987).
[6] Raju, N. K. Prestressed Concrete, Fourth Edition, Tata McGraw-
Hill Publications, pg 454-457, (2015)
[7] T.Y.Lin, Ned H. Burns, Design of Prestressed Concrete Structures,
Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons.(2013)
.

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