Flexural Strength of

Prestressed Concrete
Members With
Unbonded Tendons

Nigel Cooke

Senior Lecturer
Department of Civil
Engineering
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand

Robert Park

Professor of Civil Engineering

Department of Civil
Engineering
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand

he current design practice when

T calculating
the flexural strength of
prestressed concrete members with unbonded tendons is to use an equation
for predicting the stress in the prestressing steel f 8 at the flexural strength
which takes into account a number of
parameters. These are:
p, = A,8 /bd, the ratio of prestressing
reinforcement;
f^ = compressive cylinder strength
of concrete; and
f8e = stress in prestressing steel due
to prestress alone after losses.
52

Philip Yong

Assistant Engineer
Central Laboratories
Ministry of Works and
Development, Gracefield,
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Note that in the formula for p:

A$ = area of prestressing steel
b = width of concrete compression
face
d = depth of centroid of prestressing steel from concrete compression face
The equation used in the 1977 ACI
Building Code' is:
f, = fse + 10,000 +

` (psi) (1a)
100p,
but not greater than fpy nor f^ + 60,000
psi.

Alternatively, in SI units:
fp8

= f8e + 69

+ f"' (MPa) (lb)

loop,

but not greater than f2v nor f8e + 414

MPa.
Eq. (1) does not include a parameter
such as the span/depth ratio to take into
account the effect of slab geometry on
the steel stress at the flexural strength.
It has been recently pointed out in a
technical note by Mojtahedi and Gamble2 that since this equation was based
mainly on test specimens with span/
depth ratios typical of beams, it may
unconservatively predict the steel
stress at the flexural strength when the
span/depth ratio rises to values typical
of slabs. This means that the present
ACI Code approach may over-estimate
the flexural strength of flat plate floors
which commonly have span/depth
ratios of about 45. Mojtahedi and Gamble showed the importance of the span/
depth ratio by means of a simple arch
model as shown in Fig. 1, which is a
conceptual representation of a cracked
unbonded post-tensioned concrete
member. The effect of span/depth ratio
on the increase in steel strain and

hence steel stress, is pronounced.

The span/depth ratio is already used
as a parameter when determining f,, in
the British Concrete Code of Practice
CP1101 which in turn is based upon results of tests and theory published by
Pannell.' The British Code values for
f' indicate a significant reduction in fp8
with increasing span/depth ratio.

0.0014
0.0012
a, 0.0010

c 0.0008
0.0006

Rigid links
Hinge

\
^^y

0.0004
0.0002

0L
0

Tie remains straight

10

20f/a 30

40

50

Fig. 1. Steel strain versus span/depth ratio for deflection of span/200.

PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

53

Table 1. Details of test slabs.

Slab

1p

Ip

No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
B4
B5
B6

Slab

40
40
40
30
30
30
20
20
20
30
30
30

fn
psi

26.7
26.7
26.7
20
20
20
13.3
13.3
13.3
20
20
20

4370
4370
4370
4990
4990
4990
4470
4470
4470
4906
4906
5500

(MPa)
(30.1)
(30.1)
(30.1)
(34.4)
(34.4)
(34.4)
(30.8)
(30.8)
(30.8)
(33.8)
(33.8)
(37.9)

in.'

(mm2)

456
456
456
492
492
492
473
473
473
531
531
517

(3.14)
(3.14)
(3.14)
(3.39)
(3.39)
(3.39)
(3.26)
(3.26)
(3.26)
(3.66) (3.66)
(3.56)

0.432
0.432
0.180
0.432
0.432
0.180
0.432
0.432
0.180
0.432
0.432
0.180

(279)
(279)
(116)
(279)
(279)
(116)
(279)
(279)
(116)
(279)
(279)
(116)

A.J'_
bh

No.

ksi

(MPa)

ksi

(MPa)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
B4
B5
B6

6.58
3.29
0.82
6.58
3.29
0.82
6.58
3.29
0.82
6.58
3.29
0.82

169
166
174
169
167
177
169
169
175
174
169
180

(1163)
(1145)
(1197)
(1163)
(1154)
(1220)
(1164)
(1168)
(1204)
(1197)
(1166)
(1242)

256
256
267
256
256
267
256
256
267
256
256
267

(1765)
(1765)
(1839)
(1765)
(1765)
(1839)
(1765)
(1765)
(1839)
(1765)
(1765)
(1839)

f,,

In view of these considerations, Park

and Gambles have recommended that
until further tests have been conducted
to establish the magnitude of f58 for unbonded post-tensioned slabs, with
span/depth ratios typical of those used
in practice, it would be prudent to use
the more conservative value of f8
which was recommended in the 1963
ACI Code, s namely:
fps = fSe +

15,000 (psi)

(2a)

fps = fse +

100 (MPa)

(2b)

This suggestion has been adopted by

the draft New Zealand code 7 for the design of concrete structures which
specifies Eq. (2b) for unbonded prestressed beams and slabs.
54

(MPa)

p,,
x 10- 3

f8e

A,,,

psi

psi
745
366
95
745
368
97
745
373
96
767
373
99

qe
MPa
(5.14)
(2.52)
(0.66)
(5.14)
(2.54)
(0.67)
(5.1)
(2.57)
(0.66)
(5.22)
(2.57)
(0.68)

0.254
0.125
0.033
0.222
0.111
0.029
0.249
0.125
0.032
0.208
0.114
0.032

It should be noted that when slabs

with unbonded tendons contain
supplementary bonded reinforcement
the error made in the flexural strength
calculation in assuming fp$ for the unbonded tendon to be as given by Eq. (1)
will be reduced. This is because the
flexural strength calculations will also
have a component from the bonded
reinforcement. However, regions of
two-way flat plates with unbonded tendons only are possible. Section 18.9.3.1
of ACI 318-772 for two-way flat plates
states that "Bonded reinforcement shall
not be required in positive moment
areas where computed tensile stress in
concrete at service load (after allowance
for all prestress losses) does not exceed
2 f^.>

MPa I ksi

234.7(1)

229.4 (1
-200

(1)0.2% Proof Stress

(2)Tensile Strength

U)
V)

1000 150
1)

%6 ' (7.9 mm)dia.

j"(12.7mm)dia.
^= 29, 320ksi
(202.1 GPa )

0[
0

=29,520 ksi
(203.5GPa)
0.01

0.02

0.03
Strain

0.04

0.05

Fig. 2. Stress- strain curves of prestressed reinforcement.

This paper describes the results of

tests on nine prestressed concrete
one-way slabs with unbonded tendons
in which the parameters just described
are considered. The tests were conducted in order to study the effects of
those parameters on the stress in the
prestressing steel at the flexural
strength of the members.'
Tests were also carried out on a further three prestressed concrete one-way
slabs with bonded tendons which were
identical in all other respects to three
of the unbonded prestressed slabs.
These further slabs were tested to
provide a comparison of behavior
between the two types, in particular,
to determine the difference in flexural
strength.
PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

Test Slabs
Details of the twelve slabs tested are
listed in Table 1. All slabs were 7^6 in.
(180 mm) thick and were simply supported one-way over a single span. Of
the nine slabs with unbonded tendons,
three were of length 15 ft 9 in. (4800
mm) and span 15 ft 1 1/8 in. (4600 mm);
three were of length 11 ft 9% in. (3600
mm) and span 11 ft 1% in. (3400), three
were of length 7 ft 10 in. (2400 mm)
and span 7 ft 25/8 in. (2200 mm). The
slabs in each group of three had widths
of 1 ft 1 7/s in., 2 ft 31'4 in., and 3 ft 10'
in. (353, 705, and 1182 mm). Each slab
was stressed with three straight strands,
either 1/z or 5/16 in. (12.7 or 7.9 mm) diameter placed at an effective depth d of
55

from 3 1/8 to 41 in. (80 to 120 mm). Ordinary portland cement was used and the
aggregate consisted of an uncrushed,
well rounded, graded river gravel, with
a maximum size of in. (19 mm). The
material strengths are listed in Table 1.
The tensile stress-strain curves for
the 1 and 5/i6 in. (12.7 and 7.9 mm) diameter strands are shown in Fig. 2. The
V2 and 5/16 in. (12.7 and 7.9 mm) diameter strands of the nine unbonded slabs
were greased with a medium, smooth
water insoluble cup grease suitable
where moisture is present and where
temperatures do not exceed 75 C. The
strands were then covered with PVC
sleeving of internal diameters
and
in. (14 and 9.5 mm), respectively, prior
to assembly. The strands were supported off the soffit formwork by small
concrete spacers and also preloaded to
maintain a straight profile while the
concrete was being cast. The tendons of
the three bonded slabs were placed in
3/4 in. (19 mm) diameter corrugated
ducts and after stressing were grouted
with a 1:0.4 cement:water ratio grout.
All the slabs were stressed by jacking
against a stool which straddled the anchorage and rested on the bearing
plate. This had to be done because of
the large pull-in losses that result from
the relatively short lengths of tendons
being stressed. The CCL single strand
steel "barrel and wedges" type of anchor grips were used. Once the wedges
had gripped the strand all further adjustment of the tendon force was
achieved by placing packing shims
between the barrel and the bearing
plate. The aim was to stress all tendons
to 65 percent of the ultimate tensile
stress of the strand.
The prestressing force was measured
by calibrated load cells at the end of
each tendon farthest from the jacking
point, but the average steel stress in the
tendon would only be slightly greater
than the measured values because of
the low wobble losses. The expected
strand extensions were on average 99.2
Y4

/2

%6

Fig. 3. General view of testing

arrangement.

4s in. (120 mm), where d is the depth

of centroid of prestressing steel from
the concrete compression face. Hence,
the tendon length/effective depth ratio,
le/d, of the three groups of unbonded
slabs were 40, 30, and 20, and the three
slabs in each group had a prestressing
steel index q, = pyfSe lff of approximately 0.25, 0.125, and 0.025.
It is important to note that it is the
length of tendon between the anchorages and its distance from the compression face of the slab that are the main
variables affecting the change of steel
stress with slab deflection and not the
span and overall depth. The span/
overall depth ratios for the three groups
of unbonded slabs tested were 26.7,
20.0, and 13.3.
Three bonded slabs were also tested,
and their details are shown in Table 1.
The target strength of the concrete
was 5000 psi (35 MPa) and the proportions by weight of water:cement:aggregate was 0.57:1:6.70 and slumps ranged
/4

56

Mechanical
Strain Gauge
(Demec) points

C)
C-

0
C
z

ein,

Simple
support

(203mm)

CD

4.65in(I18mm)

CD

9.25 in (235mm)

b
A
CD

9.25in(235mm)

Q
CD

Prestressing
load cells

Line load
applied here

::

4.65in(118mm)

Prestressing
tendons

Line load
applied here

PLAN

39.37in
(1000mm)
(100mm1

.^

mm) (100mm1
7.09in
3.94 in

(600mm)
23.62in

Deflection gauges

ELEVATION

Fig. 4. Instrumentation on Slab 5. (Plan and Elevation).

V

080mm1
7.09 in

o'
of

2.5-

rr

2.0

pP
2

or

1.5 I
v
Q
Q

First crack(Slab 2)
First crack (Stab 1)

Ii

P
2

1.0
. First crack (S(ab 3)
0.5

\%

1.05

(PS^ =1.22

Slab 1:

0
1.00

Slab 3:

f
fpe =1.16 1

1.10

1.15

(fps^=1.19
se
1.25

Slab 2:

1.20

fs/fse
Fig. 5. Total applied load versus measured increase in stress of prestressed
reinforcement. Slabs 1, 2, and 3 (l e/d = 40).

percent of the measured extensions

with a standard deviation of 3.63. Some
prestress losses occurred between
stressing and testing but all the tendons
were restressed as close as possible to
65 percent of the ultimate tensile
strength prior to testing.
Table 1 shows the measured values
of fSe prior to testing. The load cells
were calibrated before and after each
test in order to determine the amount of
drift in the readings. The largest drift
was 4.8 percent, but the mean drift for
all the tests was 0.96 percent with a
standard deviation of 1.04.
The test arrangement is shown in
Figs. 3 and 4. The slabs were simply
supported over either 15 ft 1% in. or 11
ft 1 7/s in. or 7 ft 2% in. (4600, 3400 or
2200 mm) spans, and loaded statically
58

at 4 ft 11% 6 in., 3 ft 7%s in., and 2 ft 39/16

in. (1500, 1100, and 700 mm), respectively, from each support point so that
the central region was subjected to a
constant bending moment. Fig. 4 shows
a typical arrangement of deflection
gauges and strain gauges for the slab
tests. During the tests the deflections
and strains were measured at the positions shown and also the force in the
tendons.
The slabs were loaded in increments
to failure. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show the
ratio of measured stress in the prestressing steel to stress in the steel due
to prestress alone (f$lf8e ) plotted against
the total applied (live) load. Fig. 8
shows for all slabs the variation of average longitudinal concrete compressive
strain, measured along the constant

z,
4

of

i ^/

;^
C3.0
zt^

i2.0
Q
Q

First crack (Slab 5)

First crack (Slab 4)

P
2

P
2

.0

(f

1 =1.29

r
Slab 4: /^1.18

fse

0
1.00

P
2

First crack (Stab 6)

Stab 6:

1.05

1.10

Slab 5:
1.20

1.15

as
fse

1.25

1.25
1.30

fs`fse

Fig. 6. Total applied load versus measured increase in stress of prestressed

reinforcement. Slabs 4, 5, and 6 (le/d = 30).

moment zone using a demountable mechanical strain gauge with an 8 in. (203
mm) gauge length, at the cracking load
and near the ultimate load. Each point
plotted in Fig. 8 represents the average
of the longitudinal strains measured
across the slab (see Fig. 4 for strain
gauge positions).
The unbonded slabs with a high prestressing steel index qe = pelf,, Slabs
1, 4 and 7, on being loaded to failure
developed a number of cracks in the
concrete tension zone, none of which
were very wide at failure iii comparison
with the slabs with a low' qe. At failure
of the slabs with a high q,, the concrete
PCl JOURNAL/November-December 1981

crushing zone was deep (see Fig. 9),

and concrete crushing occurred suddenly and explosively and was accompanied by a rapid fall off in load. On
unloading, the slabs almost reverted
back to their original undeflected position, providing that spalled concrete
did not prevent closure of the cracks by
becoming jammed in them.
The flexural strength of the bonded
Slab B4 was 1.6 percent less than the
flexural strength of the unbonded slab
with the most similar qe value and span
(Slab 4). For Slabs B4 and 4 the average
crack spacings were identical at 6/16 in.
(163 mm), but the maximum crack
59

z
(0

of

7.0
8

ti

Sri

21

^a0^/
7
o

First crack (Slab 8)

4.0

First crack (Slab 7) 2

First crack (Slab 9)

3.0 '\

P
2

Ps) =1.34\
Slab 9: se
``
(

\
2.0

^^-

l.o

D
1.00

Slab 7:I_ fa_ = 722

fsel
1.05

7.10

1.15
1.20
fs/fe

Slab 8: ^e
s = 1.27
fsel
1.25

7.30

Fig. 7. Total applied load versus measured increase in stress of prestressed

reinforcement. Slabs 7, 8, and 9 (l e /d = 20).

width of the bonded slab at failure was

0.15 in. (3.8 mm) which was considerably less than 0.27 in. (7.0 mm) for
the unbonded slab. Fig. 8 also illustrates that for Slabs 1, 4, 7 and B4 the
variation of the concrete compressive
strain along the constant moment zone
was not great, with only small peaks in
the crushed zone.
The unbonded slabs with a very low
prestressing steel index q, Slabs 3, 6
and 9, generally developed either one
or two cracks only as illustrated in Fig.
10, and a very shallow concrete crushing zone. For these three slabs, once
cracking occurred, the load dropped off
sharply resulting in flexural instability,
and on further loading one crack would
60

progressively widen with little increase

of load until crushing of the concrete
occurred. The slabs behaved more like
a hinged tied arch than a flexural
member and the inelastic rotation appeared to occur at one crack position
only. Note that Fig. 8 illustrates that for
Slabs 3, 6, 9 and B6 the distribution of
longitudinal strain was indeed sharply
peaked. On unloading, all three unbonded slabs showed full recovery of
deflection. The flexural strength of the
bonded Slab B6 was 33 percent greater
than that of the unbonded slab with the
most similar q, value and span (Slab 6),
and both slabs exhibited flexural instability, which is discussed in the next
section.

Table 2. Experimental and theoretical steel stress and moment details.

JPs

Slab
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
B4
B5
B6

M * (Theo.)
K-ft
15.8
17.2
11.2
17.6
20.6
16.7
18.3
22.2
19.4
18.3
21.5
17.7

(kN-m)
(21.5)
(23.3)
(15.2)
(23.8)
(27.9)
(22.7)
(24.8)
(30.1)
(26.3)
(24.8)
(29.1)
(24.0)
fpa

Slab
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
B4

ACT 318-77

Me,. (Exp)
K-ft
15.2
16.6
8.9
19.3
20.3
14.4
19.4
24.5
17.9
13.9
13.3
16.0

(kN-m)
(20.6)
(22.5)
(12.0)
(26.1)
(27.5)
(19.5)
(26.3)
(33.3)
(24.3)
(18.8)
(18.1)
(21.7)

fna
Pannell

M. (Exp)
K-ft
31.6
33.7
16.2
32.5
35.2
15.4
32.5
34.9
15.2
31.9
36.8
18.7

(kN-m)
(42.8)
(45.7)
(21.9)
(44.0)
(47.7)
(20.8)
(44.1)
(47.4)
(20.6)
(43.3)
(49.9)
(25.3)

M. using fpa
ACT 318-63

(MPa)

Ksi

(MPa)

K-ft

185 (1277)
190 (1306)
234 (1610)
186 (1284)
193 (1327)
237 (1634)
186 (1279)
193 (1330)
235 (1618)

180
183
195
185
190
206
190
202
218

(1237)
(1262)
(1346)
(1273)
(1311)
(1420)
(1306)
(1393)
(1500)

26.1
28.3
13.1
26.7
28.7
13.3
26.2
28.8
13.2

Ksi

B5
B6

fp,

Ksi

qe
0.254
0.125
0.033
0.222
0.111
0.029
0.249
0.125
0.032
0.208
0.114
0.032

196
198
212
200
209
228
206
216
233
-

f,

M using
ACT 318-77

(Exp)

fDa
ae
(MPa) (Exp)

(1351)
(1365)
(1462)
(1376)
(1442)
(1571)
(1418)
(1487)
(1609)
-

1.16
1.19
1.22
1.18
1.25
1.29
1.22
1.27
1.34
-

(MPa)

182 (1257)
181 (1245)
188 (1296)
183 (1262)
182 (1254)
192 (1320)
183 (1264)
184 (1268)
189 (1304)

K-ft

(kN-m)

(35.4) 26.3 (35.7)

(38.3) 29.5 (40.0)
(17.7) 16.1 (21.8)
(36.2) 27.1 (36.7)
(39.0) (30.3) (41.1)
(18.1) 16.4 (22.2)
(35.6) 26.5 (35.9)
(39.0) 30.1 (40.8)
(17.8) 16.2 (22.0)
31.1 (42.2)
37.1 (50.3)
18.3 (24.8)

25.7
28.6
13.6
26.9
29.9
14.3
26.9
31.3
15.1

(34.8)
(38.8)
(18.4)
(36.5)
(40.6)
(19.4)
(36.5)
(42.5)
(20.5)

K-ft

Ksi

M. using f pa
Pannell

(k -m)

(kN-m)

ACI 318-63

Note: Slabs 1 through 9 have unbonded tendons; Slabs B4, B5, and B6 have bonded tendons.

The unbonded slabs with the middle

value of prestressing steel index q,
Slabs 2, 5 and 8 showed good flexural
behavior with fewer cracks than the
slabs with a high q e. The cracks in these
three unbonded slabs had an average
spacing of 7% in. (193 mm). These slabs
exhibited ductile behavior near failure
with plenty of warning before failure
occurred by concrete crushing. Fig. 8
illustrates that for Slabs 2, 5, 8 and B5
the variation of the concrete compressive strain along the constant moment
zone was not great, with only small
peaks in the crushed zone. The flexural
strength of the bonded Slab B5 was 5
percent greater than that of the unbonded slab with the most similar qe
PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

value and span (Slab 5).

For all twelve slabs tested, the
maximum concrete compressive strain
measured when the concrete crushed
ranged between 0.0035 and 0.0046 with
a mean value of 0.0038.
The measured flexural strengths of all
slabs, Mn, from dead plus live load are
given in Table 2. The flexural strength
is defined as that moment at which
crushing of the concrete occurred. For
Slabs 3, 6, 9 and B6 this moment is less
than that at first cracking. The measured f,. values (at M) of all slabs are
also given in Table 2. In general, the
measured f$ increases with decrease in
qe and decrease in the leld ratio, where
le is the length of tendon between an61

2I7 2
(800mm

Crushing
zone
Load points

24.5kN

0.004
0.002

21
(a) Slab 1; qe - 0.254

c
Crushing
zone

8 (203mm) Demec points

0
0.004

24.8kN

0.002

&At cracking load

oAt near maxm
deflection

G
(b)Slab2; q: 0.125

Crushing
zon

0.004
0.002
q^
(c) Slab 3 ; qe = 0.033

Fig. 8 (a)-(c). Concrete extreme fiber compressive strain

distribution in constant moment zone.
62

1115/8
(600mm)l

Crushing
zone

Load points

37.3kN

0.004

0.002

0
(d) Slab 4; q:0.222

ITtr
c

in

0.004

38.3kN

&At first cracking

oAt near ultimate

load

0.002

0
(e)Slab 5; ge=0.111

Crushin^
zon

Wolin

0.002

(f)Slab 6; qe = 0.029

Fig. 8 (d)-(f). Concrete extreme fiber compressive strain

distribution in constant moment zone.
PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

63

t _ Crushing zone
Load points
( 400mm) /

0.004
0.002

60.OkN

0
(g)Slab 7;ge=0,249

Crushing zone'
65.OkN
a, 0.004
U

0.002
it
2

.i,

& At cracking load

oAt near ultimate
load

0
(h) Slab 8; ge-o.125

Crushing
zone
0.004
20.OkN
aoo 2
0
(i) Slab 9 qe 0.032
Fig. 8. (g)-(i). Concrete extreme fiber compressive strain
distribution in constant moment zone.

64

Crushing zone
Load points

1-11 578
(600mm)

74.8kN
0.004
0.002
34.2kN
(j)Slab B4;

ge =0.208
Crushing zone

LO

82.8kN

0.002

b
0

32.9 kN

AAt first cracking

oAt near ultimate
load

qe = 0.114

(k) Slab 85;

0.004'

0.002
0

A32-5kN

(P) Slab B6;

q:0.032

Fig. 8 (j)-(I). Concrete extreme fiber compressive strain

distribution in constant moment zone.
PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

65

Fig. 9. Crushing zone typical of slab with high q e = p jse/ft.

chorages. Therefore, it would appear

that both of these are important parameters in determining f8.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 show the
load-midspan deflection behavior for

the nine unbonded and three bonded

slabs. The experimental relationship
before cracking generally correlates
closely with the theoretical elastic relationship for the gross uncracked see-

Fig. 10. Crushing zone typical of slab with low q e = p,fJC'.

66

Theoretical Elastic Behaviour

for uncracked section

5 (50)

4(40)

/
First crack-2
--First crack-1

3(30)
M

ti

2(20)
First crack-3
1(10)

_ice
Slab N

20 1

40

2 60

100 120 5 140 ( m)

80
3

Deflection

Fig. 11. Total applied load versus midspan deflection for Slabs 1, 2 and 3.

tion using E, = 57,000 Jijj psi (4700

f,' MPa) except for Slabs 7, 8 and 9
which had a smaller shear span/depth
ratio and which may have been influenced by shear deformations. The most
ductile slabs are those with q, of about
0.125 (Slabs 2, 5, 8 and B5), the deflections near ultimate load for those four
slabs being consistently greater than for
the slabs with both higher qe and lower
q e values. The four slabs with the highq e
had a greater neutral axis depth and
therefore smaller deflection, at failure.
The four slabs with the low q e exhibited
flexural instability in all cases and, except for the bonded slab, the deflection
at ultimate load is less than for the slabs
with the high q e This difference in the
deflection at ultimate load is due to the
smaller plastic hinge length of the unbonded slabs with low q e as is illustrated by the strain diagram of Fig. 8.
PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

Table 2 also contains the measured

dead plus live load (experimental) moments at first cracking and the theoretical moments at which the extreme fibre
tensile stress is equal to the modulus of
rupture of the concrete. These moments
were within 10 percent of each other
except for Slabs 3 and 6, which had low
qe and leld of 40 and 30, respectively.
The lightly reinforced slabs (that is,
those with low q e) did not meet the ACI
318-77 requirement that the moment at
the factored load 4M should be greater
than 1.2Mc,. This requirement could
have been met by the inclusion of
bonded untensioned reinforcement, but
this is a parameter which the authors
have intentionally neglected. The
bonded slabs were less predictable
than the unbonded slabs, the cracks
opening at a theoretical tensile stress of
120 psi (0.85 MPa) which infers that the
67

Theoretical Elastic Behaviour

for uncracked section

8 (80)
7(70)
6(60)

5(50)
1

First crack-5
first crack-4

cz

4(40)
zs
0
- 3(30)

First crack-6

II
N-9-

2(20) _
1(10)
ni

10

20 30
1

40
Deflection

50
2

60

7O(mm)
3(ins)

Fig. 12. Total applied load versus midspan deflection for Slabs 4, 5, and 6.

cracks already existed before loading,

possibly because of restraint of concrete
shrinkage before the prestress was
applied.

Theory for Flexural Instability

Flexural instability is defined as that
state when the flexural resistance of the
section in the elastic range after cracking is less than that immediately before
cracking. Rozvany and Woods9 have
shown that flexural instability will
occur when the average prestress,
ApJse/bh, is less than the modulus of
rupture, fr. Under these circumstances,
the first crack which forms will propagate as long as the maximum tensile
68

stress at the tip of the crack, given by

simple elastic theory for flexure, is
greater than the modulus of rupture.
When the tensile stress given by elastic
theory becomes equal to the modulus of
rupture, the crack will stabilize, but the
moment which can be resisted by the
cracked elastic section M,. will be less
than the moment resisted by the uncracked section immediately prior to
the formation of the crack. The amount
by which the moment is decreased depends upon the ratio of the average
stress due to prestress to the modulus of
rupture, Plbhfr , and can be derived as
follows.
Consider the case of a rectangular
section of width b and overall depth h

Theoretical Elastic Behaviour

for uncracked section

14 (140)

8
--

12(120)

)0(100)

i^

2
^

First crack-8

V
)

8(80)

6(60)

'^

4(40)

First crack-7
7
First crack-9

1
1
1

''

_ --- -

a b N=

--_-----

'I

2(20)

0
0

10

0.5

15

25 30
1.0
Deflection
20

35

40(mm)
1.5(ins)

Fig. 13. Total applied load versus midspan deflection for Slabs 7, 8 and 9.

Theoretical Elastic Behaviour

_
for uncracked section
_^ _^ _ ------

8(80)
/
6(60)

^^

84

^ ^^

B6

First crack B6
First crack B4 8 B5

4(40)

__

____-

2(20)

0
0

10

20

30

50
2
Deflection

60

70

80

90(mm)
(ins)

Fig. 14. Total applied load versus midspan deflection for Slabs B4, B5, and B6.
PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

69

at which a crack forms of height c measured from the extreme tension fibre. In
this cracked condition with only unbonded tendons present the cracked
section area is b(h c) and moment of
inertia is b(h c) 3/12. The tensile
stress at the tip of the crack is f,, and can
be written in terms of the stress due to
the prestressing force P and the applied
moment after cracking M r as follows:

fr

_ 6P(e + 0.5c) +

b(h c)
6Mr
b(h c) 2

b(h c)2
(3

Eq. (3) can be arranged to give:

M
r

+ P ) (hc) 2 +
)
6

t bf
r hc
P(e+

2)

(4)

which is the relationship derived by

Rozvany and Woods. 9 Note that this
relationship assumes that the concrete
remains in the elastic range after
cracking.
The stabilized crack height c may be
obtained by first differentiating Eq. (4)
with respect to c:

dr = 3 [

bf,.(h c) Pl

(5)

and then setting Eq. (5) equal to zero,

thus:
c=h

bfr(6)

Eqs. (4) and (6) may be written in

dimensionless form as follows:
M*r

= 6x

f (1c *)2

+P*(1+2c* + 6e *)1

and

c* = 1P*

where c*
70

(7)

= h ; e* = h ;

(8)

P* P/bh M*

fr ;

_ Mr
bh2fr

The dimensionless moment at first

cracking, Mt,, can be obtained from Eq.
(7) by lettingc* = 0, thus:
MC

= 6 [1 + P* (1 + 6e*)]

(9)

In Fig. 15 the solid lines illustrate the

variation of M r with P* and e* according to the relationship in Eqs. (7) and
(8) and the dashed lines illustrate the
variation of moment at first cracking M c
with respect to P* and e* as defined in
Eq. (9). The amount by which the moment resisted by the uncracked section
immediately prior to cracking is reduced when cracking occurs is equal to
the difference between the solid and
dashed lines for particular values of P*
and e *. The experimental results from
the concentrically prestressed (e* = 0)
beams tested by Rozvany and Woods,9
the results from those beam tests of
Warwaruk 10 which exhibited flexural
instability (0.08 _- e* _- 0.15), are plotted in Fig. 15. The moments at first
cracking, M', for all the authors' slab
tests (e* = 0.17) have also been plotted
in Fig. 15 and in addition the moments
M*,. are shown for small values of P*
where flexural instability existed.
It is apparent that there is a considerable amount of scatter in the results but
that Eqs. (7) and (8) do predict with
reasonable accuracy the experimental
moment after cracking for the authors'
slabs which exhibited flexural instability, viz., Slabs 3, 6, 9 and B6. However,
Eqs. (7) and (8) overestimate all but two
of the beams tested by Rozvany and
Woods9 and underestimate all but one
of the experimental resisting moments
from the tests by Warwaruk.10 The authors propose that straight line relationships between the origin and the intersection of the curves defined by Eqs.
(7) and (8) with P = 1 are adequate for
calculating the reduced moment after
cracking.

These straight line approximations

are given by:
M *r

=P

*(3 +e*I for 0P*

3000
(psi)

f r 3+ 12000
=

(10)

or
Mr = PI3+ e

Warwaruk1 obtained the following

relationship between f, and f

for0^

bh

fr

or0' q e

fr =

8e

f,

20.7
82.7
3+ f,

(MPa)

(12b)

hfr
df,

(11)
The limit, P* = 1, is the theoretical
dimensionless prestressing force at
which the average prestress is equal to
the modulus of rupture and above
which flexural instability will not occur.

Eq. (12) and the limits of Eq. (11)

may be used for determining the upper
limit of q e for which flexural instability
may occur. For example, for f, = 4400
psi (30.3 MPa) the upper limit of q e is
0.12h /d. Hence, in order to prevent
flexural instability taking place, the test
slabs 1-3 and 7-9 should have q e greate

oil
0.7

(12a)

--Gross uncracked section, 0.37 e2

Mc (Eq.9)
/
Cracked section,

^*: a17

0.6
0.5

/ x
0.4
*
^ 0.3

5/. reduction in M*
Rozvany & Woods (Unbonded,e*r0)
xWarwaruk et at (Unbonded, 0.08_
e* 0.15)
OAuthor's (Unbonded, e* = 0.17)
(Bonded, a* = 0.17)

0.2
M

Or
0

0.5

A-1

P* = P
bh fr

Fig. 15. Dimensionless plot of resisting moment at first cracking and after cracking

versus prestressing force for unbonded members.

PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

71

than about 0.18. For this value of q e the

average prestress is equal to the modulus of rupture.
There is a considerable scatter in the
results of Warwaruk's tests from which
Eq. (12) was obtained. For example, for
f,' = 4400 psi (30.3 MPa) values of f,
varied from 400 to 650 psi (2.8 to 4.5
MPa) giving upper limits of q e ranging
between 0.09 hld and 0.15 hld which
for Slabs 1-3 and 7-9 would be between
0.13 and 0.23.
The dimensionless moments at first
cracking M*^ for the authors' Slabs 2, 5,
and 8 are plotted in Fig. 15; no flexural
instability was observed in any of these
tests even though the values of P* were
0.80, 0.75, and 0.79, respectively. The
predicted reduction in moment is less
that 3 percent for these values ofP* and
the authors suggest, based on these slab
tests, that a 5 percent reduction in moment, shown in Fig. 15, may usefully
be chosen as the upper limit for flexural
instability. However, small amounts of
flexural instability were exhibited by
the slabs and beams tested by Warwaruk and Rozvany plotted to the right
of this line.

f(le/d)

and

0.81pp
(106) (Units offs, psi)

f(O/d,

(16a)
(Units off,, MPa)
(16b)

In Pannell's equation the authors

have used the following relationship
between cylinder strength and cube
strength in Eqs. (15), (16a), and (16b):
f =0.8u
(17)
It should be noted in Fig. 16 that
when the ACI 318-63 and ACI 318-77
equations are used the values for the
ratio of ff8 (predicted) /fp8 (experimental)
are greatest for slabs with large span/
depth ratios, and the plotted ratios
show a scatter between 0.81 and 1.12
for the various le ld and qe values tested.
However, the ratio of fp$ (predicted)/fP8
(experimental) determined using Pannell's approach varies only between
0.90 and 0.94 for the same range of le/d
and q e values. The smaller variation
with le /d ratio presumably is because
Pannell includes the l e ld ratio as a
parameter in his prediction.
It is of concern that if the ACI 318-77
Theory for Ultimate Moment
value is used the ratio of fp8 (predicted)/fP8 (experimental) becomes very
of Resistance (M)
Table 2, and Figs. 16 and 19, show unconservative for all le /d ratios when
q, is small. This is contrary to ACI
the ratio of the predicted to experimental steel stresses at the ultimate 318-63 for which the ratio of predicted
to experimental steel stress becomes
moment, and the ratio of the predicted
more conservative as q e is reduced.
to experimental ultimate moments, of
Pannell's equations produce ratios for
the slabs.
these stresses which are independent of
The predicted steel stresses have both q e
and le/d. The predictions obbeen calculated using the ACI 318-77
tained from a design table in CP110,3
equation [Eq. (1)], the ACI 318-63 equwhich are largely based upon Pannell's
ation [ Eq. (2)] , and Pannell's equation
tests, is also conservative for leld ratios
which is as follows:
of 20 and 30. No predictions for le/d
fps /f., = q u lq 1
(13) ratio greater than 30 can be made using
the table from CP110.
where
Fig. 17 shows the stress increase in
qi +'A
q1
the prestressing steel due to external
1+2X
(14) loading (f^ f^) plotted against the
q i = 0.8pnfge lfc
(15) ratio pplf f or A P8/bdf f for tests by War72

1.15

ME

9H

zs c
a,

1.0C

U .^

^ a

0.9(

0.8.

0.20 0.25 0.30

0.15
0.05 0.10
Prestressing Steel Index qe

Fig. 16. Maximum steel stress ratio (predicted/experimental) versus prestressing steel
index for ACI 318-63, ACI 318-77, and Pannell's methods for authors' unbonded slabs.
waruk et al,1 Janney et al," Scordelis et the slab tests by Burns 13 which will be
al, 12 Burns et al, 13 and the authors. discussed later. However, the ACI
Superimposed upon these results are 318-771 equation is unconservative for
the predicted relationships using Eqs. the authors' test slabs which had low
(1) and (2), from ACI 318-77' and ACI values of p p/f and also Burns"3 slabs. It
318-63, 6 respectively. The results of is clear that some modification to the
Warwaruk's' and Janney's" tests show ACI 318-77 equation is required if a
considerable scatter but the authors' safe prediction of steel stress for slabs is
test results show a definite trend as in- to be obtained.
It should be noted here that the leld
dicated by the full lines. The trend is
that for all l eld ratios the stress change ratios on which the ACI 318-77 equaincreases as plff decreases, but for any tion is based are typically 14.5 (Janparticular value of p plff, an increase in ney") and 13.3 to 15.0 (Warwaruklo)
These values are associated more with
leld brings about a reduction in stress
increase. The ACI 318-636 equation is beams than with slabs.
The one-way slab tests by Burns13
conservative for all results except for
PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

73

O Warwaruk eta! (One point load) Beams

)

(Two -,
XJanney ' (Beams)
+Scordelis
(1 two way slab, 2 span continuous )
* Burns
(2 one way slabs,3
)
&Author's (one way slabs )
II

If

ACI 318-77, (Eq.1)

(
3
Q-

(600)

(400) 6

EL

(500)

80

(300) 40

20
30

X. XO

40
(200) 20 1,e ^
d
(100)
!
10
0

(5)

X
X

+
ACI 318 63 & DZ3101,(Eq.2)
0.05I
(10)

0.10
(15)

0.15
(20)

(25)

Pp/f^x10 5 , 1/Ksi('/MPa)
Fig. 17. Stress increase in prestressed reinforcement versus plfc'.

0.20 I
(30)

10.25
(35)

I
(40)

0.301
(45)

(50)

-10
f-i07

loads = k/ft.

o Hinges
Hinges from 108
p and 109
0.935

0.442

5 (5)'.
(10)
1 (15)

DEAD LOAD PLUS

APPLIED LOAD PATTERN 108

Q)
0

DEAD LOAD PLUS

APPLIED LOAD PATTERN 109

ii
F

DEAD LOAD PLUS APPLIED LOAD PATTERN 110

Fig. 18. Elastic bending moment diagrams for failure load

patterns 108, 109, and 110 (Burns et al, Slab A).

should be considered in isolation from

all other tests because the slabs are
continuous over three spans. All the
other tests are single span beams or
slabs except for the two-way, two-span
continuous slab tested by Scordelis12
which can be neglected in this discussion because it failed by punching
shear at the central support. Burns13
loaded each of his slabs with three different load patterns so that a partial
collapse of each slab occurred with
each pattern. As an example, the elastic
distribution of bending moment for
each load pattern applied to Slab A is
shown in Fig. 18. Under test load pattern 108, failure occurred in Span CD
when two plastic hinges formed; failure
PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

in Span AB took place under load pattern 109 and finally, collapse of the
central Span BC under load pattern
110.
Obviously, some redistribution of
bending moment will have taken place,
but the elastic bending moment diagrams will serve to indicate that loading
could also be a parameter which affects
the magnitude of stress in the prestressed reinforcement. For example,
consider test load pattern 108 and its
elastic bending moment diagram at
collapse; the central span was subjected
to negative moments and therefore the
concrete strains adjacent to the draped
tendon below the neutral axis would
have been compressive.
75

It is important to note that the strain

in the prestressing steel at the critical
sections for an unbonded tendon is a
function of the total stretch of the tendon along its length and hence is a
function of the variation in the concrete
strain at the level of steel between the
end anchorages. If the slab had been
loaded with applied load on all spans so
that a simultaneous failure of all three
spans took place, then the steel strain
(and hence stress) might have been significantly greater than that measured
experimentally when applied load
existed only on the side spans.
The l eld ratio for both slabs tested by
Burns 13 is approximately 160 but it
would appear that this ratio has less
meaning in the design of multi-span
slabs than single span slabs and that the
combined effect of loading type,
number of plastic hinges formed at
collapse, and the length of tendon between anchorages is more important
than just the leld ratio.
In the absence of theory to take into
account more accurately the increase in
steel strain at the flexural strength for
the general case of an unbonded tendon, the authors recommend that Eq.
(2) from ACI 318-63 6 be used for the
design of all slabs. Further tests need to
be conducted to confirm or deny the
trends indicated by Burns' 13 tests and
the authors' tests.
The flexural strength of a prestressed
concrete section can be predicted from
the following equation:
M = A PJ d (1

0.59 w)

(18)

where
(J)= Pf98(f,

(19)

Fig. 19 shows the ratio of predicted

flexural strength, tabulated in Table 2
using the values of f98 computed from
Eqs. (1), (2), (13)-(17), and the ultimate
moment of resistance measured in the
tests, plotted as a function of q, the
prestressing steel index. The ACI 31876

636 equation is consistently conservative; the moment ratio varies between

0.80 and 0.87 for slabs with low q e and
0.80 to 0.84 for all the other slabs.
However, the ACI 318-77 equation is
unsafe for all leld ratios when the value
ofg e is small.
Pannell' recommended that the following equation was appropriate for
use with his stress equation, Eq. (13):
M n =A 98 f93 d (1 w p )
(20)
However, the authors have used Eq.
(18) in order to provide a consistent
comparison between approaches. All
predictions using Pannell's stress equation are conservative and become
more conservative as l e/d is increased.
Some indication of the accuracy of Pannell's approach may be obtained by
using CP1103 which is largely based on
his method. The predictions are unsafe
for small q e values when the leld ratio is
approximately 20 and conservative for
all other cases; the general trend is towards increasingly conservative predictions with increase in values of qe
and l e/d. The maximum leld ratio for
which predictions can be made is 30.
CP1103 predictions closely follow those
of Pannell4 and give very conservative
predictions of between 0.73 and 0.74
for the larger values of q, to between
0.96 and 1.04 for the very small values
of q e. Pannell's4 predictions excluding
leld ratios of 40, range from between
0.74 and 0.76 to 0.93 and 1.00 for large
and small values of q e , respectively.
The l e ld ratio of 40 reduces the lower
limits of the above ranges to 0.73 and
0.83 respectively.

Suggestions for
Future Research
There appear to be four main issues
to be resolved before accurate predictions of steel stress at the ultimate load
and flexural strength of prestressed
members with unbonded tendons can
be made. These are:

1.70

RAWW9

SI
-0.95
a^
E

^ 4
^' W
Z

0.90
0.85
0.80
0.7
07QL
0

0.20 0.25 0.30

0.05 0.10
0.15
Prestressing Steel Index (qe)

Fig. 19. Ultimate moment ratio (predicted /experimental) versus prestressing steel index
for ACI 318-63, ACI 318-77, and Pannell's methods for authors' unbonded slabs.

1. The steel stress increase at ultimate load for slabs with low prestressing steel index (i.e., q e less than approximately 0.11) but with flexural instability minimized by control of crack
formation by the provision of untensioned bonded reinforcement.
2. The effect of the provision of untensioned bonded reinforcement on the
behavior of slabs with the range of q
greater than approximately 0.11 and
normal l eld values.
3. The effect of the variation of prestressing steel stress fSe on f9 and M.
4. The stress increase at ultimate for
multi-span slabs stressed with continuous draped tendons and thinner slabs
which have l e/d ratios considerably
PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

greater than the test slabs reported

here.
5. The effect of sustained load on
flexural strength and service load
cracking and deflections.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge the
help received from members of the technical
staff of the Civil Engineering Department,
University of Canterbury, Christchurch,
New Zealand. They also wish to acknowledge the financial assistance from the National Roads Board of New Zealand, the
New Zealand Prestressed Concrete Institute, and the technical advice and supply of
strands and anchorages from Stresscrete
(Christchurch) Ltd., New Zealand.
77

CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions may be only be neglected in the design of a
drawn from the authors' test results slab without untensioned reinforcefrom simply supported one-way slabs ment if the average compressive stress
with unbonded prestressing tendons in the concrete due to prestress is
only:
greater than approximately 0.7 times
1. All equations examined predict the modulus of rupture, which means
conservative values of steel stress at the values ofg e greater than about 0.11.
flexural strength, f g, except the equa5. Despite the fact that Pannell's4
tion from ACI 318-77.' For small values method for calculating the flexural
of the prestressing steel index q e = strength takes into account the leld
pgfSe /ff and leld ratios of 20, 30, and 40, ratio, there is still a large scatter of revalues from the ACI 318-77' equation sults using his approach when all the
forff , exceeded the measured values by available test results are considered.
2.4, 8.7, and 11.6 percent, respectively.
This may be caused by different testing
2. The equation derived by Pannell4 techniques such as load arrangement,
for the steel stress at the flexural use of strand or wire enclosed in large
strength, fp$ , takes into account the leld steel ducts or small plastic ducts, preratio and is consistent for all l eld ratios stress load measuring techniques and
and for all q e values.
tendon profiles.
3. All equations examined for f1,
6. The results of two tests carried out
predict conservative values for the by Bums13 on two three-span continuflexural strength M. except the equa- ous slabs indicate that in determining
tions from ACI 318-77 1 and CP110 3 For fp$ not only does the l eld ratio have to
small values of q e and leld ratios of 20, be considered but also the loading ar30, and 40, values from ACI 318-7714 rangement and consequent plastic
equation for M,,, exceeded the measured hinge pattern at failure. The leld ratio
values by 9.9, 6.4, and 7.5 percent, re- may reasonably be redefined as l e/h bespectively. M. calculated from the ta- cause a draped tendon profile makes d
bles in CP1103 exceeded the measured difficult to define and because lelh
value by 3.8 percent for the slab with a more nearly represents the "slendersmall value of q e and leld ratio of 20.
ness of the slab.
4. Unbonded prestressed concrete
7. At present, ACI 318-771 does not
slabs with a prestressing steel index qe provide a completely satisfactory
= p ,fse lfc less than about 0.11 should method for predicting the flexural
contain some untensioned bonded strength of a prestressed concrete slab
reinforcement in order to help carry with unbonded tendons and without
tensile stresses at cracking load which untensioned bonded reinforcement, for
would otherwise be transferred to the any leld ratio. In view of this uncerunbonded prestressing steel resulting tainty it would be prudent to use the
in the formation of a single crack and more conservative equation for f,,, from
flexural instability (that is, the moment the ACI 318-63 Code,6 even though the
carried by a section in the elastic range test by Burns13 indicates that even this
after cracking is smaller than the mo- Code equation is not conservative for
ment at first cracking). Flexural insta- multi-span slabs where the l eld ratio is
bility can result in smaller ductility at as high as 160. It should be noted that
failure, because of the reduced length an leld ratio of 40 can mean a span/
of the plastic hinge region due to the depth ratio of only about 30 and hence
inelastic deformations concentrating most flat plate floors will be affected by
over the crack. Flexural instability may this recommendation.
78

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of this study
plus an assessment of previous studies,
the following design recommendations
are suggested for calculating the
flexural strength of prestressed concrete
flat plate or flat slab structures with unbonded tendons:
1. The stress in the prestressing steel

at the nominal flexural strength should

not exceed:
fps = f e + 15,000 psi
fp$ = f8e +

100 MPa

2. When pp fSe lf, is less than 0.11, untensioned bonded reinforcement

should always be present.

REFERENCES
1. ACI Committe 318, "Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete
(ACI 318-77)," American Concrete Institute, Detroit, Michigan, 1977, pp.
68-71.
2. Mojtahedi, S., and Gamble, W. L., "Ultimate Steel Stresses in Unbonded Prestressed Concrete," Journal ASCE, V.
104, No. ST7, July 1978, pp. 1159-1165.
3. "Code of Practice for the Structural Use
of Concrete, Part 1, Design, Materials
and Workmanship, CP110," British
Standards Institute, 1972, p. 70.
4. Pannell, F. N., "The Ultimate Moment
of Resistance of Unbonded Prestressed
Concrete Beams," Magazine of Concrete
Research (London), V. 21, No. 66, March
1969, pp. 43-54.
5. Park, R., 'and Gamble, W. L., Reinforced
Concrete Slabs, John Wiley, New York,
1980, pp. 559.
6. ACI Committee 318, "Building code
Requirements for Reinforced Concrete
(ACI 318-63)," American Concrete Institute, Detroit, Michigan, 1963, p. 118.
7. "Draft Standard Code of Practice for the
Design of Concrete Structures, DZ
3101," Standards Association of New
Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand,
1980, p. 13-2.
8. Yong, M. F., Cooke, N., and Park, R.,
"The Use of Unbonded Tendons in Design of Prestressed Concrete Beams and
PCI JOURNAL/November-December 1981

Slabs," Department of Civil Engineering, Research Report 80-15, University

of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1980.
9. Rozvany, G. I. N., and Woods, J. F.,
"Sudden Collapse of Unbonded Underprestressed Structures," ACI Journal, V.
66, No. 2, February 1969, pp. 129-135.
10. Warwaruk, J., Sozen, M. A., and Siess,
C. P., "Strength and Behavior in Flexure
of Prestressed Concrete Beams," University of Illinois, Experiment Station,
Bulletin No. 464, University of Illinois,
Urbana, Illinois, 1962.
11. Janney, J. R., Hognestad, E., and
McHenry, D., "Ultimate Flexural
Strength of Prestressed and Conventionally Reinforced Concrete Beams,"
ACI Journal, V. 52, No. 6, February
1956, pp. 601-620.
12. Scordelis, A. C., Lin, T. Y., and Itaya, R.
"Behavior of a Continuous Slab Prestressed in Two Directions," ACI Journal, V. 56, December 1959, pp. 441-459.
13. Burns, N. H., Charney, F. A., and Vines,
W. R., "Tests of One-Way Posttensioned Slabs With Unbonded Tendons," PCI JOURNAL, SeptemberOctober 1978, pp. 67-83.
14. ACI Committee 318, "Commentary on
Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-77)," American Concrete Institute, Detroit, Michigan, 1977, p. 107.
79

APPENDIX - NOTATION
A 3 = area of prestressed reinforcement

ment
b = width of concrete compression
face of member
c = height of crack measured from
the soffit of the member in a
perpendicular direction
c* = clh
d = distance from extreme compres-

sion fibre to centroid of prestressed reinforcement

E g = elastic modulus of the prestressed reinforcement
E c = elastic modulus of the concrete
e = eccentricity of prestressed reinforcement from centroid of uncracked section
e* = elh

= compressive strength of concrete

fp8 = stress in prestressed reinforcement at the flexural strength
fpy = ultimate stress of prestressed
reinforcement
py = yield stress of prestressed reinforcement
f8 = measured stress in prestressed
reinforcement
fSe = stress in prestressed reinforcement due to prestress alone prior
to loading concrete member to

flexural failure
Jr = modulus of rupture of concrete
h = overall depth of slab
l e = effective length of prestressing

tendon measured between anchorages

M c , = bending moment to produce first
crack
M* = Me,.lbh2f,
Mr = reduced moment of resistance

less than the cracking moment

M = Mr/bh2fr
M. = nominal moment strength of

section (assumes 0 = 1)
P = steel force
P* = Plbhfr

W = total applied load

9e = Pnfse %fc
q u = (q 1 + X)/(1 + 2X)
q 1 =0.8ge

u = compressive cube (6 in. = 152

mm) strength of concrete
A = 0.81 p, x 106/ff (le/d) (f units
psi)
or 5600 p, /f' (l e /d) (ff units
MPa)
pp = A8/bd

=
= strength reduction factor = 0.9
for flexure
(Op

NOTE: Discussion of this paper is invited. Please submit

your discussion to PCI Headquarters by July 1, 1982.
80

DEXTER LAKE SOUTH BRIDGEThirty-two 48 x 48-in. (1219 x 1219 mm) precast

prestressed box beams were used for this vehicular county road bridge crossing Dexter
Lake near the city of Lowell in Oregon. The structure has four spans at 105 ft (32 m)
each, giving an overall length of 420 ft (128 m). It replaces an obsolete wood covered
bridge in a very scenic part of the county. Cast-in-place fascia beams attached to the
exterior precast box beams satisfy the aesthetic requirements while utilizing the economy of precast components.
Owner: Lane County, Oregon.
Engineer: OBEC Consulting Engineers, Eugene, Oregon.
General Contractor: Hoist Construction Co., Oakridge, Oregon.
Precast Prestressed Concrete Manufacturer: Morse Bros. Prestress, Inc., Harrisburg, Oregon.

PCI JOURNAUNovember-December 1981

81