Nonlinear Analysis of Pretensioned Bridge Girder Ends to Understand and Control Cracking at Prestress Release

Download or read book Nonlinear Analysis of Pretensioned Bridge Girder Ends to Understand and Control Cracking at Prestress Release written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hundreds of prestressed concrete girders are used each year for building bridges. Prestressed concrete girders are preferred due to their effective span to depth ratios, and higher durability characteristics. The prestress transfer from the prestressing strands to concrete takes place at the girder ends. Characteristic cracks form in this end region during or immediately after detensioning. These cracks are more severe for the heavily prestressed deep bulb tee girders with thin webs, creating durability concerns. The problem can be structurally hazardous if cracks form paths for corrosion agents to reach the steel strands. Cracks in the bottom flange closer to the strands can easily form such paths. This research primarily focused on the analyses of nonlinear prestressed girder end regions to understand and recommend control methods for girder end cracking. The behavior of the pretensioned girder ends was simulated using nonlinear finite element analysis. The accuracy of the models was ensured by including the concrete nonlinearity, strain softening and stress redistribution upon cracking. The finite element modeling techniques were verified by test data. The principal tensile strain patterns correlating with cracking were used to explain the reasons behind each type of crack. Potential solutions to control end cracking were examined via finite element models. The impact of end zone reinforcement pattern, debonding of strands, strand cutting order, draped strand pattern, and lifting of the girder on the cracks were evaluated. The reduction in principal tensile strains associated with cracking was quantified for each crack control method. The analysis results showed that debonding strands can effectively control cracking. Other methods improve the end zone strains however are not sufficient to eliminate cracking alone. Combining the solutions involving debonding, extra reinforcing in the web, and a controlled sequence of strand detensioning should lead to elimination of end cracking.