CONCRETE BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY

Design Considerations for

Unbonded Post-Tensioning Tendons
by R. Kent Montgomery, FIGG

Post-tensioned concrete structures result in any bond at the deviators (see and tendon paths to achieve concrete
are economical and durable solutions the Concrete Bridge Technology article in stresses within the limits of the American
for bridges and buildings. Although the Fall 2015 issue of ASPIRE®). Association of State Highway and
most designs use internal bonded post- Transportation Officials’ AASHTO LRFD
tensioning tendons, unbonded external Tendons internal to the cross section are Bridge Design Specifications.1
and internal tendons can also be utilized. typically grouted and bonded, but they can
However, structures with unbonded also be unbonded. For decades, building However, at the strength limit state, there
tendons exhibit fundamentally different elements have used unbonded sheathed are fundamental differences between
behavior s that mus t be correc tly strands and, more recently, the Florida bonded and unbonded tendon designs.
addressed to produce reliable designs. Department of Transportation has used For internal tendons bonded to the
This article discusses these differences flexible filler for internal ducts rather than cross section, strain compatibility is a
while focusing on current bridge design cementitious grout. The flexible filler does reasonable assumption and the stress
provisions in the United States. not bond the strands to the cross section increase in the tendons after the section
but does provide corrosion resistance of cracks can be calculated from strain
Types of Unbonded Tendons the PT tendons (see the Concrete Bridge compatibility and material properties.
For bridges, the most common type of Technology article in the Winter 2017 Article 5.6.3.1.1 of the AASHTO LRFD
unbonded tendon is external to the cross issue of ASPIRE). specifications presents simplified design
section, anchored at each end of a span, equations that were developed using the
and deviated within the span to achieve Flexural Design previous considerations. These equations
the desired profile. In the United States, Considerations estimate the stress in bonded tendons at
this type of tendon typically uses bare At the service limit state, the designs the strength limit state. Once the stress
strands within ducts filled with grout to for bonded and unbonded tendons are in the tendons is determined, the nominal
provide corrosion protection. However, essentially the same. The tendons are flexural resistance is easily calculated
in other countries, external tendons with tensioned, and forces are transferred from equations in Article 5.6.3.2 and
ungrouted epoxy-coated strands and to the cross section at the anchorages compared to the strength limit state
individually sheathed strands have been and tendon deviations. Whether the moment demands.
used. Ducts have also been filled with a tendon is bonded or unbonded makes
flexible filler, such as wax or grease, to no appreciable difference for either Fo r u n b o n d e d t e n d o n s , s t ra in
provide corrosion protection. Details at the tendon forces or concrete stresses. compatibility is not valid and the stress
the deviators include rigid steel pipe ducts Designing for the service limit state for in the tendons is primarily governed by
bonded to the diaphragm and diabolos, both bonded and unbonded tendons global displacements of the cracked
which are radiused openings that do not involves selection of the tendon forces structure between bonded sections of the
External tendons in grouted ducts inside the U.S. Route 181 Harbor Bridge in Ungrouted epoxy-coated strands inside the Matoba Viaduct, which crosses
Corpus Christi, Tex. Photo: FIGG. the Matoba River in Japan. Photo: DYWIDAG-Systems International.

26 | ASPIRE Summer 2019

Tendon using flexible filler. Flexible filler can be used in both external and internal tendons. Photo: University of Florida.

tendons. Computation of tendon stresses tendons, while using the bonded tendon For post-tensioned structures, either
from global displacements is sufficiently equations in the AASHTO LRFD method assumes that the forces in
complex that Article 5.6.3.1.2 of the specifications to compute the ultimate the inclined compressive struts are
AASHTO LRFD specifications includes stress in the bonded tendons. For this equilibrated by differential forces in the
simplified equations for predicting the method, the size of the compression block longitudinal tendons. However, if the
ultimate stress in unbonded tendons. is computed using both the bonded and tendons are not bonded, the force in the
Once the ultimate tendon stress is unbonded tendons. It is this author’s tendons essentially remains constant
calculated, the nominal flexural resistance opinion that this is a reasonable method if between bonded sections of the tendons,
is computed using the same equations the stress in the unbonded tendons at the which is contrary to the conceptual
as for bonded tendons. The equations in strength limit state is limited to fpe. models used for shear design. By using a
Article 5.6.3.1.2 are based on research 45-degree inclination of the compressive
at the University of Texas that tested a It should be noted that when both bonded struts, the alternative method puts
scale model of a three-span segmental and unbonded tendons are present at the less demand on the longitudinal force
bridge with external unbonded tendons.2 same section, calculating stress increases transfer. The research by MacGregor
The test model used grouted external in the unbonded tendons above the and colleagues at the University of
tendons running through rigid pipes in service level needs to be approached with Texas 2 did not directly address this
deviators to achieve the draped profile. caution. This is because the magnitude anomaly, but the investigators did not
It should be noted that, although the of displacements, especially the local note any shear capacity deficiencies in
tendons were grouted within the pipes, rotations at hinge locations, required to the model structure. For the primary
some slip between the pipe and deviators increase the stress in unbonded tendons AASHTO LRFD method, the angle of
was observed. Therefore, the equations could possibly result in the rupture of the compressive struts in the conceptual
are based on the tendon length between the bonded internal tendons prior to the truss is typically much less than 45
anchorages, with the effective tendon stress in unbonded tendons reaching degrees for prestressed concrete members
length being further dependent on the the level predicted by the equations in and a greater demand is placed on the
number of hinges expected to form within the AASHTO LRFD specifications. longitudinal force in the tendons for
a given span. While the testing that was This phenomenon has been noted by equilibrium. The increased demand raises
used to develop the current AASHTO Brenkus and colleagues and Megally and questions, at least conceptually, regarding
LRFD specifications equations was associates and appears to be dependent the use of these provisions in conjunction
specific to a typical span-by-span bridge on the ratio of bonded to unbonded with unbonded tendons. Some research
of the time, it is this author’s opinion tendons.3,4 into this conceptual discrepancy has been
that these equations provide a reasonable undertaken by Vecchio and coauthors,
estimate for ultimate tendon stresses for Shear Design who concluded that the primary AASHTO
most situations involving 100% unbonded Two methods for shear design are LRFD specifications shear design
tendons, including external tendons and in c l u d e d in t h e A A S H TO L R F D procedure is conservative. 6 Further
internal tendons using flexible filler. specifications. Neither has a requirement research regarding the shear behavior
for the tendons to be bonded. The primary of members with unbonded tendons is
The AASHTO LRFD specifications do not method, which is presented in Article underway at the University of Florida
provide detailed equations for cases in 5.7, uses a variable angle for the inclined and will also be studied as a part of the
which both bonded and unbonded tendons compressive stresses. The second method, National Cooperative Highway Research
exist at the same section. Rather, Article which is found in Article 5.12.5.3.8, is Program Project NCHRP 12-118.
5.6.3.1.3 provides two forms of guidance. based on a method discussed by Ramirez
The first is a description of a detailed and is an alternative procedure for Conclusions and
analysis approach, which is conceptually segmental bridges.5 It uses a simplifying Recommendations
correct but relatively complex. The second approach of a 45-degree truss diagonal The behavior of bridges using unbonded
method conservatively uses the service and does not require a check of the post-tensioning tendons is fundamentally
level stress fpe in unbonded tendons for longitudinal tension reinforcement for different than that of bridges with
the ultimate stress in the unbonded shear design. bonded tendons. Designers must take

ASPIRE Summer 2019 | 27

 2. MacGregor, R.J.G, M.E. Kreger, and
J.E. Breen. 1989. “Strength and
M V TV V M + dM ductility of a three-span externally
CD
p o s t - t e n s io n e d s e g m e n t a l b ox
girder bridge model.” Center for
TL Ө
TL+ CDcosӨ Transportation Research Report 365-
3F. Austin: University of Texas.
3. Brenkus, N. R., H.R. Hamilton, and W.
CD Diagonal Compression Force A. Potter. 2017. “Flexural Strength
TV Vertical Tension Force and Hinge Behavior of Internally
(Typically Resisted by Web Reinforcement)
TL Longitudinal Tension Force Post-Tensioned Members with Mixed
(Resisted by Post-Tensioning) Bonded and Unbonded Tendons.” PTI
Forces in conceptual truss model illustrating differential tendon forces to equilibrate diagonal strut Journal 13(2): 5–18.
forces. Figure: R. Kent Montgomery. 4. Megally, S., F. Seible, and R. K.
Dowell. 2003. “Seismic Performance
these fundamental differences into unbonded tendons at the strength limit
of Precas t Segmental Bridges:
account to correctly design structures state is taken as fpe is conservative,
S e g m e n t - t o - S e g m e n t Join t s
with unbonded tendons. refining this assumption would lead to
Subjected to High Flexural Moments
more efficient designs.
and Low Shears.” PCI Journal 48(2):
While the AASHTO LRFD specifications • Research to confirm the validity of the
80-96.
provide a method for predicting the shear design methods in the AASHTO
5. Ramirez, J. 1995. “Shear and Torsion
flexural strength of bridges with 100% LRFD specifications for bridges with
Design Provisions for Segmental
bonded or 100% unbonded tendons, unbonded tendons, both external
Concrete Bridges,” ASBI Newsletter.
several issues have not been fully and internal, including any required
6. Vecchio, F. J., P. Gauvreau, and K. Liu.
addressed, including the following: modifications to the current provisions.
2006. “Modeling of Unbonded Post-
• More detailed provisions in the
Tensioned Concrete Beams Critical
A A S H TO L R F D s p e ci fi c a t io n s References in Shear.” ACI Structural Journal
regarding the flexural resistance of 1. American Association of State
103(1): 57–64.
sections containing both bonded and Highway and Transportation Officials
_____________
unbonded tendons. It is this author’s (AASHTO). 2017. AASHTO LRFD
opinion that, although the simplified Bridge Design Specifications, 8th ed. R. Kent Montgomery is senior project director
procedure wherein the stress in Washington, DC: AASHTO. with FIGG in Englewood, Colo.

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