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Numerical analysis of externally prestressed concrete beams and parametric study of factors affecting their flexural performance

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Abstract

External prestressing approach is currently adopted in strengthening the existing structures, particularly bridge systems. This practice can also be implemented in the construction of newly designed beam inventories. It is a technique bearing numerous advantages on account of the availability of tendons. However, the analysis procedure of beams externally prestressed with tendons is rather strenuous due to the bond devoid between the concrete and tendons as opposed to beams with bonded tendons. The assessment is, though, feasible by considering the overall deformation of the beam. A concerted effort has already been made in this respect based on distinct experiments, contributing to the proposal of empirical relationships. This paper, per se, covers two study phases in the numerical analysis of the flexural response of reinforced concrete beam specimens externally prestressed with tendons. In the first stage, a set of three simply supported concrete prisms were modeled and analyzed via the efficient finite element software Abaqus. The predictions were then compared with those of the existing data within the technical literature. The verification results demonstrated a reasonable accord of the modeling specifics with the experimental measures. In the second stage, multiple variables embracing the cross-sectional non-prestressed reinforcement ratio, yield strength of the reinforcement, concrete compressive strength, tendon eccentricity, and the initial effective stress of tendons were modified for the purpose of conducting a parametric analysis. Therefore, two beams were modeled in Abaqus, each containing 5 variables and each variable comprised of 4 values to make up a total of 40 numerical models. The models were then analyzed for their strength, stiffness, and ductility. The findings revealed that the ultimate strength and the energy absorption capacity gain value by either increasing the cross-sectional area, the yield stress of non-prestressed steel, or the tendon eccentricity, while ductility is reduced. On the contrary, increasing either the compressive strength of concrete or the initial effective stress of tendons slightly affects the ultimate strength and energy absorption capacity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the faculty members at Faculty of Civil Engineering at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology for their helpful comments.

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  1. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Mazandaran, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Ghasem M. Omran, Morteza H. A. Beygi & Mehdi Dehestani

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  1. Ghasem M. Omran
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  2. Morteza H. A. Beygi
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  3. Mehdi Dehestani
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Correspondence to Mehdi Dehestani.

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Omran, G.M., Beygi, M.H.A. & Dehestani, M. Numerical analysis of externally prestressed concrete beams and parametric study of factors affecting their flexural performance. Int J Adv Eng Sci Appl Math 12, 142–157 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-020-00284-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-020-00284-4

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