Mechanical & Civil Engineering
Prestressed Concrete Tendon Loss Calculator
Estimate total prestress losses in a post-tensioned tendon from elastic shortening, friction, and long-term effects.
Your inputs
Change any value to update the result instantly.
Effective prestress
1,180 MPa
Total loss
220 MPa
Loss percentage
15.7 %
Initial jacking stress
1,400 MPa
What this calculator does
Prestressed Concrete Tendon Loss Calculator: Applies the standard civil and geotechnical relationship for this problem so the flow, pressure, settlement or capacity can be worked out from measured site inputs.
What your result means
The headline figure is the hydraulic or geotechnical quantity implied by your site inputs. Compare it against the design criteria in the applicable code before acting on it.
Formula and working
Total loss = elastic shortening + friction + anchorage + creep + shrinkage + relaxation
- 1
Collect the inputs
Initial jacking stress = 1,400 MPa; Elastic shortening loss = 40 MPa; Friction & wobble loss = 60 MPa; Creep & shrinkage loss = 90 MPa; Steel relaxation loss = 30 MPa
- 2
Apply the formula
Total loss = elastic shortening + friction + anchorage + creep + shrinkage + relaxation
- 3
Result
Effective prestress = 1,180 MPa
Frequently asked questions
Symbols and assumptions
- initialStress
- Initial jacking stress (MPa)
- elasticShorteningLoss
- Elastic shortening loss (MPa)
- frictionLoss
- Friction & wobble loss (MPa)
- creepShrinkageLoss
- Creep & shrinkage loss (MPa)
- relaxationLoss
- Steel relaxation loss (MPa)
- • Steady-state, single-phase conditions are assumed unless the page says otherwise.
- • Site inputs (soil properties, flow, roughness) come from the user's own survey or testing.
Sources and review
Reviewed 2026-09-22 · Next review 2027-09-22
- • This is an educational estimate for learning and checking, not a design deliverable.
- • Real design must follow the governing code or standard for your jurisdiction and be reviewed and signed off by a qualified engineer.
- • Safety factors, load combinations and material certification are the responsibility of the designer, not of this page.
Important limitation
This is an educational estimate based only on the values and formula shown. Verify current rates, rules, units, and professional standards before relying on the result. It is not personalized financial or investment advice.
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