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MAE 1183
Design of Prestressed Concrete

End Block Design

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Introduction

In post-tensioned construction, the prestressing force is

transferred to the concrete through relatively small anchorage
plates behind the anchorage by bearing. This results in a very
high concrete bearing stress behind the anchorage plate.
In post-tensioned beams, the cables are anchored at the ends of
the beams. Even in flanged beams, the end part of the beam
where the cables are anchored are often thickened to create a
rectangular section
Anchorage zones failures always due to uncontrolled cracking or
splitting of the concrete from insufficient transverse
reinforcement.
Bearing failures immediately behind the anchorage plate are also
common, therefore the reinforcement in the form of links or
spirals are required at the face of end block
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End Block - Failure

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End Block Dimension

End Block

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End Block

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Stress Distribution

The prestressing force in a tendon is applied through the

anchorages as a concentrated force
By St Venants principle, the stress distribution in a member is
reasonably uniform away from the anchorage, but in the
region of the anchorage itself (DRegion) the stress
distribution within the concrete is complex
The most significant effect for design is that the tensile
stresses are set up transverse to the axis of the member,
tending to split this concrete apart (Refer to figures on the
following slides)
Reinforcement must be provided to contain these tensile
stresses
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Stress Distribution

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Stress Distribution
0.2yo

2yo

Fbst Bursting Force

Pi

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Stress Distribution

Eurocode 2 suggests that a strut-tie model can be used to

calculate the bursting force.
The force P can be assumed to disperse at an angle of 2 where
tan = 2/3 = 33.7. The force F in the concrete strut = 0.5 P sec
= 0.6P and the tie force will be F sin = 0.33P

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Design for Bursting Force

If the dimensions of the anchor plate are (A x A), the dimensions

(C x C) of the associate rectangle are approximately 1.25 times (A
x A)
It is important that the associated rectangle should remain inside
the concrete of the beam.
Where an end block contains several anchorages, it should be
divided into a series of symmetrically loaded prisms and then each
prism treated as a separate end block. Additional reinforcement
should be provided around the whole group of anchorages to
maintain overall equilibrium

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Example 26
Design the end block reinforcement for the following bonded posttensioned beam. A prestressing force of 1839 kN is applied by a single
tendon.

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Solution to e.g. 26
Try the size of bearing plate = 280 mm x 280 mm
The first check is about the bearing stress.
(Pmax / Area of associated rectangle) 0.6fck(t)
0.6fck(t) = concrete cylinder strength at the time of stressing
Pmax = cross sectional are of cables x MIN {0.8fpk 0.9fp 0.1k }
fpk = 1862 N/mm2 , for 19 nos 13mm 7-wire strands (A = 1839 mm2
Pmax = 1839 x 0.77 fpk = 2637 kN
Dimension for associate rectangle = 1.25 x 280 = 350 mm square
Bearing stress = 2637 x 103 / (350 x 350) = 21.5 N/mm2 0.6fck(t)
Where fck(t) = 35.9 N/mm2

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Solution to e.g. 26
The minimum amounts of reinforcement to prevent bursting is:
As 0.15 Pmax / fyd = 0.15 x 2637000 / 217.4 = 1819 mm2
Assuming 12 mm bar as links, area for two legs = 226 mm2
Approximately 9 links are enough distributed over a length of
1.2 x 350 = 420 mm
Reinforcement to prevent spalling:
As 0.03 Pmax / fyd = 0.03 x 2637000 / 217.4 = 364 mm2
Assuming 8 mm bar as links, area for two legs = 100.4 mm2
Approximately 4 links are enough distributed over a length of
350

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