Influence of lateral loads on the fatigue of prestressing steel in post-tensioned concrete

The fatigue strength of prestressing steel in post-tensioned concrete structures can be reduced significantly in regions of high curvature caused by high lateral contact loads and friction stresses in the contact zone between prestressing steel and duct. Since the lateral loads in these contact zone depend on the amount and arrangement of steel in the duct, initially approved tendon configurations were investigated with regard to the local contact loads between prestressing steel and duct (k-factor). In order to determine the effects of the resulting lateral loads on the fatigue strength of the prestressing steel, fatigue tests were evaluated at the iBMB, Division of Concrete Construction of the TU Braunschweig. It could be shown that both the amount and the arrangement of steel in the duct and the lateral loads have a significant influence on the fatigue behavior of curved tendons. In this article the results of investigations are summarized and a modified verification approach reflecting the fatigue strength of curved tendons is formulated in consideration of the lateral loads.