C-LINE METHOD (COMPRESSION LINE METHOD)

Prestressing for combination of High-Strength steel with concrete or C-Line Method (CLM)
This Concept is to consider prestressed concrete as a combination of steel and concrete,
similar to reinforced concrete w/ steel taking tension and concrete taking compression so that
the two materials form a resisting couple against the external moment.

a Where C = T MT = Cb Note:
C
MC = Tb If a is above cg;
N.A. d
d-a “a” is positive and +moment
Since C = T = P
T MT = Cb = Pb
MC = Tb = Pb (-)C

(+)T
C =P from MT =Pb
N.A. a If a is below cg;
b M
e b= T
P “a” is negative and -moment
T =P
(+)T
Where b = a + e (-)C
Where C = T = P a=b-e
M
a= −e
P
 −P −Pac
A I
(-) (-) If a is positive; +M
C =P
N.A. a +
b
e
T =P (-) (+)
(-)C

−P (+)T
+Pac
A I

−P +Pac
A I If a is negative; -M
(-) (+)
(+)T
N.A. +
a C =P
(-)C
e b
T =P (-) (-)

−P −Pac
A I

Axial Bending of prestressing

force force and loadings
PROBLEM
Calculate for the top and bottom midspan section. Deadload stress felt by the prestressed concrete
beam under initial and final state at = 24.8kN/m, Live load= 11.4kN/m, P=1950kN, %loss=8%

P
P For initial state(beam weight only):

e =175mm M
a= −e
P

L=10m 117.725x10 6
a= −175
1950x10 3
Weight of beam:
γcr γcr a = −114.628mm
sg = ; 2.4= γcr = 23.544 kN/m3
γw 9.81

wb = γcr A = 23.544(0.5)(0.8) = 9.418kN/m Therefore a is below cg;

“a” is negative and -moment
ωL2 9.418(10) 2
(+)T

M= = = 117.725 kN.m (-)C

8 8
 −P +Pac
A I
If a is negative; -M
(-) (+)
(+)T
N.A
a
+ (-)C
. e b C =P
T =P (-) (-)

−P −Pac
A I

−P Pac Pac
ftop = + fbot = −
A I I

−P 6Pa −P 6Pa
ftop = + fbot = −
A bd2 A bd2
3
3
−1950x10 3 6 1950x10 (114.628) −1950x10 3 6 1950x10 (114.628)
ftop = + fbot = −
500(800) 500(800 2 )
500(800) 500(800 2 )

ftop = − 0.684 MPa (Compression) fbot = − 9.066 MPa (Compression)

 For final state (including losses on force and all sources of load)

WDL =24.8kN/m WLL =11.4kN/m

P P For final state(beam weight and loadings):

e M
a= −e
P
570.225x10 6
L=10m a= −175
1794x10 3
Pf = P(1−%loss)
a =142.851 mm
Pf = 1950(1−0.08)
Pf = 1794kN
Therefore a is above cg;
wT = wb + wDL + wLL “a” is positive and +moment
wT = 9.418 + 24.8+11.4
wT = 45.618 kN/m
(-)C
(+)T
ωL2 45.618(10) 2
M= = =570.225 kN.m
8 8
 −P −Pac
A I
C =P (-) (-) If a is positive; +M
N.A. a +
b
e T =P (-)C
(-) (+)

−P (+)T
+Pac
A I
−P Pac
ftop = − −P Pac
A I fbot = +
A I
−P 6Pa −P 6Pa
ftop = − fbot = −
A bd2 A bd2
3 3
−1794x10 3 6 1794x10 (142.851) −1794x10 3 6 1794x10 (142.851)
ftop = − fbot = +
500(800) 500(800 2 ) 500(800) 500(800 2 )

ftop = −9.290MPa (Compression) fbot = +0.320 MPa (Tension)