• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.615-642
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• 2013

In this paper a study on prestressed concrete slab bridges is presented. A design philosophy based on the concept of load balancing through prestressing is proposed in order to minimize the effects of delayed deformations due to creep. Aspects related to the stress redistribution inside these bridges for time-dependent phenomena are analyzed and discussed, by applying the principles of aging linear visco-elasticity. Prestressing is seen as an equivalent external load which counterbalances the permanent loads applied to the bridge, nullifying the elastic deflections due to sustained loads, and thus avoiding the related delayed deformations. An optimization of the structural behavior through the use of one-way prestressing is achieved. The determination of a convenient variable depth of slab bridges and the correspondent layout of tendons is considered as a useful means for applying the load balancing concept in actual cases of structures like long cantilevers or bridge decks. A case-study related to the slab bridges built 30 years ago at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is presented and discussed, in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach to the conceptual design of prestressed concrete bridges.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.625-633
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• 2003

For the construction of open-topped steel box girder bridges, prefabricated concrete slab could offer several advantages over cast-in-situ deck including good quality control, fast construction, and elimination of the formwork for concrete slab casting. However, precast decks without reinforcements at transverse joints between precast slabs should be designed to prevent the initiation of cracking at the joints, because the performance of the joint is especially crucial for the integrity of a structural system. Several prestressing methods are available to introduce proper compression at the joints, such as internal tendons, external tendons and support lowering after shear connection. In this paper, experimental results from a continuous composite bridge model with precast decks are presented. Internal tendons and external tendons were used to prevent cracking at the joints. Judging from the tests, precast decks in negative moment regions have the whole contribution to the flexural stiffness of composite section under service loads if appropriate prestressing is introduced. The validity of the calculation of a cracking load fur serviceability was presented by comparing an observed cracking load and the calculated value. Flexural behavior of the continuous composite beam with external prestressing before and after cracking was discussed by using the deflection and strain data.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.605-619
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• 2009

This paper presents the details of finite element (FE) modeling and analysis of an external prestressing technique to strengthen a prestressed concrete (PSC) end block. Various methods of external prestressing techniques have been discussed. In the proposed technique, transfer of external force is in shear mode on the end block creating a complex stress distribution. The proposed technique is useful when the ends of the PSC girders are not accessible. Finite element modeling issues have been outlined. Brief description about material nonlinearity including key aspects in modeling inelastic behaviour has been provided. Finite element (FE) modeling including material, loading has been explained in depth. FE analysis for linear and nonlinear static analysis has been conducted for varying external loadings. Various responses such as out-of-plane deformation and slip have been computed and compared with the corresponding experimental observations. From the study, it has been observed that the computed slope and slip of the steel bracket under external loading is in good agreement with the corresponding experimental observations.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.327-334
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• 2003

Thermal Prestressing Method for continuous composite girder bridges is a new design and construction method developed to induce initial composite stresses in the concrete slab at negative bending regions. Due to the induced initial stresses, prevention of tensile cracks at concrete slab, reduction of steel girder section, and reduction of reinforcing bars are possible. Thus, economical and construction efficiency can be improved. Method for determining optimum heating region of Thermal Prestressing Method, has not been established although such method is essential for increasing efficiency of the designing process. Trial-and-error method used in previous studies is far from efficient and more rational method for computing optimal heating region is required. In this study, efficient method for determining optimum heating region in the use of Thermal Prestressing Method is developed based on artificial neural network algorithm, which is widely adopted to pattern recognition, optimization, diagnosis, and estimation problems in various fields. Back-propagation algorithm, which is commonly used as a learning algorithm in neural network problems, is used for training of the neural network. Through case studies of 2-span continuous and 3-span continuous composite girder bridges using the developed process, the optimal heating regions are obtained.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2010

It has been verified that there is an effect of diminishing in section bringing in internal core section reinforcement and external prestressing rather than general plate-girder bridge as a consequence of analysis. In particular, positive effect was seen in the aspect of usability when external prestressing was in application as rises gained from it minimized the hanging down of a bridge. Based on the result of analysis, a sectional diagram applicable per number of girder has been illustrated which made it possible to estimate the intensity of internal stress in the futurewhere number of girder is limited to 4 and regression equation is presented after regression analysis has been carried out.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.497-507
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• 2020

This paper presents a numerical method for evaluating fire performance of prestressed concrete (PC) T shaped bridge girders under combined effect of structural loading and hydrocarbon fire exposure conditions. A numerical model, developed using the computer program ANSYS, is employed to investigate fire response of PC T shaped bridge girders by taking into consideration structural inherent parameters, namely; arrangement of prestressing strands with in the girder section, thickness of concrete cover over prestressing strands, effective degree of prestress and content of prestressing strands. Then, a sequential thermo-mechanical analysis is performed to predict cross sectional temperature followed by mechanical response of T shaped bridge girders. The validity of the numerical model is established by comparing temperatures, deflections and failure time generated from fire tests. Through numerical studies, it is shown that thickness of concrete cover and arrangement of prestressing strands in girder section have significant influence on the fire resistance of PC T shaped bridge girders. Increase in effective degree of prestress in strands with triangular shaped layout and content in prestressing strands can slow down the progression of deflections in PC T shaped bridge girder towards the final stages of fire exposure, to thereby preventing sudden collapse of the girder. Rate of deflection based failure criterion governs failure in PC T shaped bridge girders under most hydrocarbon fire exposure conditions. Structural inherent parameters incorporated into sectional configuration can significantly enhance fire resistance of PC bridge girders; thus mitigating fire induced collapse of these bridge girders.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.133-139
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• 1985

The purpese of this research is to experimentally verify the effect of prestressing on the control of cracks and on the possible increase of load capacity of the members by testing five beams with same cross section and same reinforcement ratio but with different amounts of prestressing. The test results indicate that the ultimate strength of prestressed concrete beams is only slightly higher than that of unprestressed concrete beams. It may be however need more experimental results to come to this conclusion. But it can be clearly seen that the effect of prestressing on the crack width is remarkable and that the reduction of about to 50% in crack width under service loads can be easily achieved by introducing small prestressing (about 25% of a fully prestressing).

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2002

Recently, prestressed H-Beam bridges with external unbonded Tendons are increasingly built. The mechanical behavior of prestressed steel H-beams is different from that of normal bonded PSC beams in a point of the slip of tendons at deviators and the change of tendon eccentricity that occurs, when service load are applied in external unbonded steel H-beams. The concept of prestressing steel structures has been widely considered, in spite of long and successful history of prestressing concrete members. In the study, The flexural test on prestressed steel H-beams has been performed in the various aspects of prestressed H-beam including the tendon type and profile. The load was plotted against the deflection and the strain respectively in the steel beam and prestressing bars. The value expected with the equation of internal force equilibrium and compatibility between the deflection of the bars and the H-beam was found to correlate well with the measured data.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.47-52
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• 2017

PSC (Prestressed Concrete) structures have been used widely for its engineering advantage with using total concrete area as effective compressive section. However tendon inside is exposed to such a high tensile stress that and more attentions should be paid for corrosion control. This work is for changing corrosion current and ultimate strength in tendon with increasing prestressing force in a constant corrosive condition. With increasing prestressing force, corrosion current, corrosion amount, and ultimate load are changed linearly. When prestressing force increases from 20.0 % to 40.0 %, corrosion current increases to 124.4 % and 168.0 % and ultimate load decreases to 87.8 % and 78.4 %, respectively. With inducing constant electrical potential, increasing corrosion current and reduction of strength are evaluated to be linearly related with increasing prestressing load.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2009

This paper presents the details of a novel external prestressing technique for strengthening of concrete members. In the proposed technique, transfer of external force is in shear mode on the end block thus creating a complex stress distribution and the required transverse prestressing force is lesser compared to conventional techniques. Steel brackets are provided on either side of the end block for transferring external prestressing force and these are connected to the anchor blocks by expansion type anchor bolts. In order to validate the technique, an experimental investigation has been carried out on post-tensioned end blocks. Performance of the end blocks have been studied for design, cracking and ultimate loads. Slip and slope of steel bracket have been recorded at various stages during the experiment. Finite element analysis has been carried out by simulating the test conditions and the responses have been compared. From the analysis, it has been observed that the computed slope and slip of the steel bracket are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental observations. A simplified analytical model has been proposed to compute load-deformation of the loaded steel bracket with respect to the end block. Yield and ultimate loads have been arrived at based on force/moment equilibrium equations at critical sections. Deformation analysis has been carried out based on the assumption that the ratio of axial deformation to vertical deformation of anchor bolt would follow the same ratio at the corresponding forces such as yield and ultimate. It is observed that the computed forces, slip and slopes are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental observations.