RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8 Prestressing Strand

Different strand sizes can be defined in this view along with the basic data need to define strand properties. When the
tree folder associated with strand is opened, a branch is available for each of the strand sizes defined in this table.
Each branch then allows the designer sub-branches to define different types of tendons. These are

1. 6.8.1 Bonded Monostrand

2. 6.8.2 Bonded Multistrand
3. 6.8.3 Unbonded Monostrand
4. 6.8.4 Unbonded Multistrand
5. 6.8.5 Pretensioned

Toolbar

Add an new prestress strand size. If an existing size is selected, the new size will be inserted at that location
and the size at this location will me shifted down, otherwise the new size will be added after of the existing types.

Delete the selected strand sizes.

Data Definition
Diameter
The diameter of this strand size.

Area
The area of this strand size.

Breaking Load
The breaking load of this strand size.

Proof Stress
The percentage of the breaking stress at the proof strain. Depending on the design code being used, this could be
either .1% or .2% proof stress.

6.8 Materials: Prestressing Strand 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
1% Stress
The percentage of the breaking stress at 1% strain.

Breaking Strain
The breaking strain for this strand size.

Elastic Modulus
The elastic modulus of the strand. This defines the slope of the straight portion of the stress/strain curve shown below
from the origin.

Plastic Modulus
The plastic modulus of the strand. This defines the slope of the near horizontal straight portion of the stress/strain
curve to the breaking strain shown below.

Basic Relaxation
The basic relaxation is normally defined as the strand relaxation after 1000 hours and at a load of 70% or breaking
load at a standard temperature of 20 degrees Celsius

Weight
The weight of the strand per unit length.

Set as default
The strand size to be used as the default size in setting up new runs.

Description
A text description of the strand size.

Graphic View
The graphic view shows the curvilinear force/strain diagram developed from the data defined above for the current
wire size. This curve will be used for the determination of the prestress force in the strain compatibility calculations for
design codes that allow its use. For BS8110, SABS0100, CP65 and Eurocode 2, the stress/strain curves defined in
those codes are used.

6.8 Materials: Prestressing Strand 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.1 Bonded Monostrand Anchorage Sizes

Monostrand anchorages are anchorages where the strands are stressed individually, are rectangular in shape and the
strands lie side by side in a rectangular duct. Sometimes the strands in round duct tendons are stressed individually
also but they are still referred to as multistrand tendons in RAPT.

For each strand size the designer can define a range of anchorages to accommodate different numbers of strands. For
each anchorage, the basic information to define the anchorage can be edited in this Control data screen. As well, for
each anchorage size in the Control data (each row of the grid), there are two further screens of data, accessed via the
View Tabs at the bottom of the Child Views, to define

1. 6.8.1.1 Anchorage properties

2. 6.8.1.2 Tendon properties

Toolbar

Add a monostrand prestress anchor size for this strand size. If an anchor size is selected before adding, the
new size will be inserted at the location of the selected size, otherwise it will be added at the end of the list. The
following dialog will be presented to allow RAPT to automatically create the tendon data for this anchor size.

6.8.1 Materials: Bonded Monostrand Anchorage Sizes 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

The data required in the dialog is

Minimum number of cables
The minimum number of strands that would be placed in this duct.
Maximum number of cables
The maximum number of strands that would be placed in this duct. In doing the calculations for strand centroid etc, if
the number of strands nominated will not fit into the duct, RAPT will not create tendon data for the tendon sizes with
more strands than can be physically fitted into the duct.
Duct Depth
The depth of the duct (external dimension)
Duct Width
The width of the duct (external dimension)
Duct Wall thickness
The thickness of the duct wall material.
Duct Friction
The duct friction factor.
Duct Wobble
The duct wobble factor consistent with the 6.2.1 wobble type defined in the Materials->Defaults->General data view.

Using this information RAPT will create the anchorage and tendon data for this anchorage size. This data can then be
edited by the designer.

Delete selected anchorage sizes. All data associated with a deleted anchorage size will be lost.

Data Definition
Anchorage Size
The size of this anchorage in terms of the maximum number of strands that can be accommodated.

Description
A text description of this anchorage.

Transfer Concrete Strength

The minimum concrete strength required for full force application to this anchorage.

Anchor Friction
The friction loss experienced by the strand in the anchorage. Most anchorages (single strand anchorages normally do
not) force the strand to change angle over the length of the anchorage and so induce friction forces which reduce the
force that can be achieved in the strand past the anchorage.

Draw-in
The distance the strand slips through the anchorage when the jack is released.

Maximum Jacking Force

The maximum jacking force that can be used with this anchorage as a percentage of the breaking load of the strand in
the anchorage. This is normally defined by Design Standards.
Set as default
Set this anchorage size as the default size when this tendon type is selected.

6.8.1 Materials: Bonded Monostrand Anchorage Sizes 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.1.1 Anchorage Properties

For each anchorage size in the control grid, RAPT provides one screen of Anchorage Properties data as defined below.

RAPT defines four types of anchorage. These are

1. Live End:- Stressing End

2. Deformed Strand Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via a
splayed section of strand at the end of the strand and a bonded length of strand. Sometimes called an Onion
anchorage. The force is not transmitted through a plate, it is transmitted through bond along the length of
bonded strand (nominally 60%) and by mechanical anchorage in the deformed "onion" strand at the end
(nominally 40%) , though a thin plate is sometimes provided to space the strands.
3. Nominal Swaged Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via an end
attached swage or barrel and wedge assembly which rests against a nominal thickness plate (in the order of 5
to 10mm thick) (nominally 50%) and also a bonded length of strand (nominally 50%).
4. Full Swaged Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via an end
attached swage or barrel and wedge assembly which rests against a full bearing plate designed to distribute
the load to the concrete (100%) and with the strand leading from the end of the duct debonded to allow the
full force to reach the bearing plate.

For each of these anchorage types, RAPT allows the definition of four parameters defined below and shown graphically.

6.8.1.1 Materials: Anchorage Properties 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
Ineffective Length
The length from the end of the strand to the first point at which the strand develops stress.

Force at Start of Transition

The maximum force as a percentage of the breaking force that can be developed in the tendon at the first point at
which the strand develops stress.
Transition Length
The length over which the development of force in the strand increases.
Force at End of Transition
The maximum force as a percentage of the breaking force that can be developed in the tendon at the end of the
Transition Length. From this point onwards the tendon can develop the full breaking force in the tendon.

6.8.1.1 Materials: Anchorage Properties 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.1.2 Tendon Data

For each anchorage size in the control grid, RAPT provides one screen of Tendon data which allows designers to
nominate tendon sizes for the current anchorage in terms of a number of strands as defined below.
The default tendon size selected will be the last one in the list.

Toolbar

Add a new tendon size for the current anchorage. If a tendon size is selected, the new tendon size will be
inserted in the list at the location of the selected tendon size and the tendon sizes at and below that location will be
moved downwards. Otherwise, the new tendon size will be added at the end of the list of current sizes.

Delete the selected tendon sizes.

Data Definition
Number of Cables
The number of strands in this tendon.
Duct depth
The outside depth of the duct used for this tendon size.
Duct Width
The outside width of the duct used for this tendon size.

Duct Wall Thickness

The thickness of the wall of the duct used for this tendon size.
Centroid Distance
The duct is deeper than the strand diameter so there is room for the strands to move vertically in the duct. When the
strands sit on the surface of the duct, they will be eccentric from the centre of the duct. This value is the distance from
the centroid of the duct to the centroid of the strands in this situation.
Duct Friction
The duct friction factor.

6.8.1.2 Materials: Tendon Data 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
Duct Wobble
The duct wobble factor consistent with the 6.2.1 wobble type defined in the Materials->Defaults->General data view.
Different design codes use one of two different methods to define wobble. Some define it as Unintentional Friction -
K, which is an angle change multiplied by the duct friction factor. Others define it purely as an angle
change, Unintentional Angle Change - ß, which must be multiplied by the duct friction factor in the friction
equations. So K = u * ß.

Minimum Reverse Curve Radius

The minimum reverse curve radius that can be used with this tendon size. This size is available from prestressing
companies and is set to limit the stresses induced in the concrete due to the bearing forces and resulting bursting
stresses and also the wearing of the duct within the curve.

RAPT will allow a smaller radius to be used if the designer can ensure that the tendons can be constructed properly
and also if the designer allows for the increased bearing stress in the curve and the bursting forces induced in the
concrete inside the curve. Special thicker duct may be needed and bursting reinforcement may be required in these
areas where the duct curvature is less than this figure. This also could apply in the main parabola section as well as in
transition curves.

6.8.1.2 Materials: Tendon Data 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.2 Bonded Multistrand Anchorage Sizes

Multistrand anchorages are anchorages where the strands are stressed as a group, are generally square in shape with
round duct and the strands bunch together. Sometimes the strands in round duct tendons are stressed individually
also but they are still referred to as multistrand tendons in RAPT.

For each strand size the designer can define a range of anchorages to accommodate different numbers of strands. For
each anchorage, the basic information to define the anchorage can be edited in this Control data screen. As well, for
each anchorage size in the Control data (each row of the grid), there are two further screens of data, accessed via the
View Tabs at the bottom of the Child Views, to define

1. 6.8.2.1 Anchorage properties

2. 6.8.2.2 Tendon properties

Toolbar

Add a multistrand prestress anchor size for this strand size. If an anchor size is selected before adding, the new
size will be inserted at the location of the selected size, otherwise it will be added at the end of the list. The following
dialog will be presented to allow RAPT to automatically create the tendon data for this anchor size.

6.8.2 Materials: Bonded Multistrand Anchorage Sizes 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

The data required in the dialog is

Minimum number of cables
The minimum number of strands that would be placed in this duct.
Maximum number of cables
The maximum number of strands that would be placed in this duct. In doing the calculations for strand centroid etc, if
the number of strands nominated will not fit into the duct, RAPT will not create tendon data for the tendon sizes with
more strands than can be physically fitted into the duct.
Duct Diameter
The diameter of the duct (external dimension)
Duct Wall thickness
The thickness of the duct wall material.
Duct Friction
The duct friction factor.
Duct Wobble
The duct wobble factor consistent with the 6.2.1 wobble type defined in the Materials->Defaults->General data view.
Using this information RAPT will create the anchorage and tendon data for this anchorage size. This data can then be
edited by the designer.

Delete selected anchorage sizes. All data associated with a deleted anchorage size will be lost.

Data Definition
Anchorage Size
The size of this anchorage in terms of the maximum number of strands that can be accommodated.

Description
A text description of this anchorage.

Transfer Concrete Strength

The minimum concrete strength required for full force application to this anchorage.

Anchor Friction
The friction loss experienced by the strand in the anchorage. Most anchorages (single strand anchorages normally do
not) force the strand to change angle over the length of the anchorage and so induce friction forces which reduce the
force that can be achieved in the strand past the anchorage.

Draw-in
The distance the strand slips through the anchorage when the jack is released.

Maximum Jacking Force

The maximum jacking force that can be used with this anchorage as a percentage of the breaking load of the strand in
the anchorage. This is normally defined by Design Standards.
Set as default
Set this anchorage size as the default size when this tendon type is selected.

6.8.2 Materials: Bonded Multistrand Anchorage Sizes 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.2.1 Anchorage Properties

For each anchorage size in the control grid, RAPT provides one screen of Anchorage Properties data as defined below.

RAPT defines four types of anchorage. These are

1. Live End:- Stressing End

2. Deformed Strand Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via a
splayed section of strand at the end of the strand and a bonded length of strand. Sometimes called an Onion
anchorage. The force is not transmitted through a plate, it is transmitted through bond along the length of
bonded strand (nominally 60%) and by mechanical anchorage in the deformed "onion" strand at the end
(nominally 40%) , though a thin plate is sometimes provided to space the strands.
3. Nominal Swaged Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via an end
attached swage or barrel and wedge assembly which rests against a nominal thickness plate (in the order of 5
to 10mm thick) (nominally 50%) and also a bonded length of strand (nominally 50%).
4. Full Swaged Dead End:- Non stressing end in which the force is transferred to the concrete via an end
attached swage or barrel and wedge assembly which rests against a full bearing plate designed to distribute
the load to the concrete (100%) and with the strand leading from the end of the duct debonded to allow the
full force to reach the bearing plate.

For each of these anchorage types, RAPT allows the definition of four parameters defined below and shown graphically.

6.8.2.1 Materials: Anchorage Properties 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
Ineffective Length
The length from the end of the strand to the first point at which the strand develops stress.

Force at Start of Transition

The maximum force as a percentage of the breaking force that can be developed in the tendon at the first point at
which the strand develops stress.
Transition Length
The length over which the development of force in the strand increases. The lengths shown here assume that a square
arrangement of strands is being used at the anchorage. For other arrangements a longer length may be required.
Refer to specialist literature for further information.
Force at End of Transition
The maximum force as a percentage of the breaking force that can be developed in the tendon at the end of the
Transition Length. From this point onwards the tendon can develop the full breaking force in the tendon.

6.8.2.1 Materials: Anchorage Properties 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.2.2 Tendon Data

For each anchorage size in the control grid, RAPT provides one screen of Tendon data which allows designers to
nominate tendon sizes for the current anchorage in terms of a number of strands as defined below.
The default tendon size selected will be the last one in the list.

Toolbar

Add a new tendon size for the current anchorage. If a tendon size is selected, the new tendon size will be
inserted in the list at the location of the selected tendon size and the tendon sizes at and below that location will be
moved downwards. Otherwise, the new tendon size will be added at the end of the list of current sizes.

Delete the selected tendon sizes.

Data Definition
Number of Cables
The number of strands in this tendon.
Duct Diameter
The outside diameter of the duct used for this tendon size.
Duct Wall Thickness
The thickness of the wall of the duct used for this tendon size.
Centroid Distance
The duct is deeper than the strand diameter so there is room for the strands to move vertically in the duct. When the
strands sit on the surface of the duct, they will be eccentric from the centre of the duct. This value is the distance from
the centroid of the duct to the centroid of the strands in this situation.

Duct Friction
The duct friction factor.

Duct Wobble
The duct wobble factor consistent with the 6.2.1 wobble type defined in the Materials->Defaults->General data view.
Different design codes use one of two different methods to define wobble. Some define it as Unintentional Friction -
6.8.2.2 Materials: Tendon Data 1
RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
K, which is an angle change multiplied by the duct friction factor. Others define it purely as an angle
change, Unintentional Angle Change - ß, which must be multiplied by the duct friction factor in the friction
equations. So K = u * ß.
Minimum Reverse Curve Radius
The minimum reverse curve radius that can be used with this tendon size. This size is available from prestressing
companies and is set to limit the stresses induced in the concrete due to the bearing forces and resulting bursting
stresses and also the wearing of the duct within the curve.
RAPT will allow a smaller radius to be used if the designer can ensure that the tendons can be constructed properly
and also if the designer allows for the increased bearing stress in the curve and the bursting forces induced in the
concrete inside the curve. Special thicker duct may be needed and bursting reinforcement may be required in these
areas where the duct curvature is less than this figure. This also could apply in the main parabola section as well as in
transition curves.

6.8.2.2 Materials: Tendon Data 2

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC

6.8.3 Unbonded Monostrand

Duct Diameter
The outside diameter of the duct used for this tendon size.
Centroid Distance
The duct is deeper than the strand diameter so there is room for the strands to move vertically in the duct. When the
strands sit on the surface of the duct, they will be eccentric from the centre of the duct. This value is the distance from
the centroid of the duct to the centroid of the strands in this situation.
Duct Friction
The duct friction factor.
Duct Wobble
The duct wobble factor consistent with the 6.2.1 wobble type defined in the Materials->Defaults->General data view.
Different design codes use one of two different methods to define wobble. Some define it as Unintentional Friction -
K, which is an angle change multiplied by the duct friction factor. Others define it purely as an angle
change, Unintentional Angle Change - ß, which must be multiplied by the duct friction factor in the friction
equations. So K = u * ß.
Transfer Concrete Strength
The minimum concrete strength required for full force application to this anchorage.
Anchor Friction
The friction loss experienced by the strand in the anchorage. Most anchorages (single strand anchorages normally do
not) force the strand to change angle over the length of the anchorage and so induce friction forces which reduce the
force that can be achieved in the strand past the anchorage.
Draw-in
The distance the strand slips through the anchorage when the jack is released.
Maximum Jacking Force
The maximum jacking force that can be used with this anchorage as a percentage of the breaking load of the strand in
the anchorage. This is normally defined by Design Standards.

Minimum Reverse Curve Radius

The minimum reverse curve radius that can be used with this tendon size. This size is available from prestressing
companies and is set to limit the stresses induced in the concrete due to the bearing forces and resulting bursting
stresses and also the wearing of the duct within the curve.

6.8.3 Materials: Unbonded Monostrand 1

RAPT User Manual Copyright PCDC
RAPT will allow a smaller radius to be used if the designer can ensure that the tendons can be constructed properly
and also if the designer allows for the increased bearing stress in the curve and the bursting forces induced in the
concrete inside the curve. Special thicker duct may be needed and bursting reinforcement may be required in these
areas where the duct curvature is less than this figure. This also could apply in the main parabola section as well as in
transition curves.

6.8.3 Materials: Unbonded Monostrand 2