Ductility analysis of prestressed concrete beams with unbonded tendons

J.S. Du, Francis T.K. Au, Y.K. Cheung, Albert K.H. Kwan
Received 27 October 2006; received in revised form 21 February 2007; accepted 22 February 2007
Available online 6 April 2007

Parametric studies for numerical methods

1. influence of loading type,

2. span–depth ratio,
3. combined reinforcement index (CRI),
4. partial prestressing ratio, concrete
5. compressive strength,
6. ratio of compressive reinforcement,

Verification of numerical results with literature problems

1. Du and Tao

on simply supported unbonded and bonded partially prestressed concrete beams, all the test
beams were 160 mm × 280 mm in cross section and were tested with third point loading over a
4200 mm span. The span–depth ratio was 19.1. The unbonded prestressed concrete beams were
divided into three categories and each beam was designed for the nonprestressed steel to carry
about 30%, 50% and 70% of the total ultimate load.
 2. Campbell and Chouinard

In the study by Campbell and Chouinard [10], six partially prestressed concrete beams with
unbonded tendons having a section of 160 mm × 280 mm and overall length of 3600 mm were
tested under third-point loading. The span length was 3300 mm, and the span–depth ratio was 15.
The study focused on the influence of non-prestressed steel on the strength.

Example problem consider for parametric study:

Parametric studies were conducted on simply supported rectangular beams. Emphasis is placed
on the parameters that may influence the stress increase in prestressing tendons together with the
curvature ductility factor at mid-span.

1. They include a wide range of span–depth ratios (L/dp = 5–45),

2. Three different load applications (central point, third-point and uniform),
3. Three tendon profiles (straight, harped and parabolic),
4. Numerous reinforcement and strength parameters.

The partial prestressing ratio (PPR) and the compression steel index γc defined as follows were
adopted:

Combined reinforcement index

Partial prestressing ratio & compression steel index

Conclusions of the parametric study

1. Influence of concrete compressive strength

To study the influence of concrete compressive strength on the curvature ductility factor of
prestressed concrete members with unbonded tendons, a beam of span–depth ratio equal to with
straight tendon profile and loaded with third-point loading is chosen.
 a) It is generally observed that at a given CRI q0, the curvature ductility factor μ_ decreases
as the concrete compressive strength increases.
b) However, the trend is less significant for the higher range of CRI and concrete
compressive strength, such as when the CRI is greater than 0.15 and the concrete
compressive strength is greater than 60 MPa.

2. Effect of effective prestress and PPR on ductility

A beam of span–depth ratio equal to 10, with straight tendon profile and loaded with third-point
loading is again chosen.
3. Influence of span–depth ratio, type of loading and tendon profiles on ductility
4. Influence of span–depth ratio, type of loading and tendon
5. profiles on ductility