European Journal of Scientific Research

ISSN 1450-216X Vol.30 No.1 (2009), pp.177-186

EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2009
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Finite Element Modeling of Continuous Reinforced Concrete

Beam with External Pre-stressed
Amer M. Ibrahim
Asst. prof, College of engineering
Diyala University, Iraq
Huda M. Mubarak
Structure Engineering, Huda Mohammed
Diyala University, Iraq
Abstract
This paper deals with the behavior of externally pre-stressed continuous concrete
beams, subjected to symmetrically static loading. A numerical model based on the finite
element method using computer program ANSYS (version 10.0). The behavior of the
beam- tendon system is ruled by the nonlinearity of materials and by geometric nonlinear
effects. The relevance of the geometric effects in evaluating the failure load of externally
pre-stressed concrete continuous beams by considering the tendon eccentricity variation.
The comparison between the experimental tests from previous researches and numerical
analyses is showing good agreement.
Keywords: ANSYS, Externally pre-stressed; Finite element; Nonlinear behavior;
Reinforced concrete continuous beam.

1. Introduction
External post-tensioning has long recognized as effective means of strengthening existing concrete
structures. External pre-stressing as a strengthening method for beams or girders has become popular
due to advantages such as construction speed and the possibility of monitoring, future re-tensioning,
and replacement of tendons, reduction in web thickness due to elimination of tendons within the
concrete, resulting in reduced construction cost and light weight structures, and enhanced construction
processes combined with the precast segmental method of construction.
The behavior of externally pre-stressed members is conceptually similar to the behavior of
members with internal unbounded tendons, except for one major difference. When beams with internal
unbonded tendons deflect under applied load, the internal tendons remain in contact with the
surrounding concrete, and hence, their eccentricity practically does not change throughout the
response. On the other hand, in externally pre-stressed members, the external tendons are able to
displace freely relative to the beam axis with increasing deflection, giving rise to second- order effects.
The second- order effects may lead to inferior flexural strength capacities in externally pre-stressed
members as compared with internally unbonded ones, and become particularly significant when no
deviators are used in the critical region of the member.
An experimental investigation carried out to study the flexural behavior and strength
characteristics of continuous concrete beams pre-stressed using external tendons. Aravinthan et al.,

Finite Element Modeling of Continuous Reinforced Concrete Beam with External Pre-stressed

178

carried out an experimental study on two- span continuous beams with highly eccentric external
tendons. The results of this investigation discuss the effect of tendon layout, loading pattern, casting
method, and confinement reinforcements on the flexural strength and stress in external tendons. Harajli
et al., examine the behavior of continuous externally pre-stressed members experimentally, and
develop analytical approach to predicate their ultimate flexural response, taking into consideration the
influence of the second- order effects, rotation capacity in the plastic region, Tan and Tjandra, test four
two- span continuous beams externally pre-stressed T-beams, the results demonstrated that the
strengthened beam could fail in shear particularly at the high- shear region near the interior support,
due to the limited increase in shear capacity. An analytical study is presented to explain and further
examine the phenomenon in beams strengthened with eight variations of tendon profiles.
This study was carried out to investigate the behavior of continuous externally pre-stressed
members by develop analytical model to predict the ultimate flexural response, taking into
consideration the influence of the second- order effects using computer program ANSYS 10.0.
Finite Element Model
In this study, the ANSYS computer program was used for analyzing the continuous pre-stressed
concrete beams with external tendon. A three dimensional element was used to representation the
structure.

2. Finite Element Model of concrete

The three dimensional 8-node brick element (Solid 65 reinforced concrete solids) is used for model of
concrete. The element has eight corner nodes, and each node has three degree of freedom translation in
the (X, Y and Z direction). The concrete is assumed to be homogeneous and initially isotropic. The
compressive uniaxial stress-strain relationship for concrete model is obtained by using the following
equations to compute the multi-linear isotropic stress-strain curve for the concrete as shown in figure 1.
The multi-linear curves were used to help with convergence of the nonlinear solution algorithm. The
crack modeling depends on smeared cracking modeling.
f c = Ec
0 1
for
(1)
fc =

Ec

1 +

1
=
where

for
for

cu

(2)
(3)

'
c

2f
Ec

(4)

c= stress at any strain , N/mm2

=strain at the ultimate compressive strength fc.
cu= ultimate compressive strain
'
1=strain corresponding to 0.3 f c

The multi-linear isotropic stress- strain implemented requires the first point of the curve to be
defined by the user. It must satisfy Hookes law:
E = /
(5)
'
= 0.3 f c
(6)

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Amer M. Ibrahim and Huda M. Mubarak

Figure 1: Simplified Compressive Uniaxial Stress- Strain Curve for Concrete

3. Finite Element Model of Reinforcement

In the present study, the discrete representation is used to model the steel reinforcements by using the
(3D spar Link8 element). The reinforcement in the discrete model uses bar or beam elements that are
connected to concrete mesh nodes. The stress-strain relationship for ordinary reinforcing steel is a
bilinear relationship assumed to be elastic- perfectly plastic as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Constitutive Law for Steel Reinforcement

3.1. External Pre-stressed Tendon

The pre-stress in finite element is applying as real pre-stress to the tendon with initial conditions. The
pre-stressing stress was taken as the initial value and equal to the effective stress and appears in the
analysis as initial strain in link element. For pre-stressing tendons, bilinear elastic-plastic with
hardening is the relationship of stress-strain, as shown in Figure (3). The modulus of the strainhardening portion is assumed to (2%) of the modulus of elasticity of steel.

Finite Element Modeling of Continuous Reinforced Concrete Beam with External Pre-stressed

180

Figure 3: Constitutive Law for Pre-stressing Steel

3.2. Anchorages and Steel Plates

The anchorage zone used as the steel plate the tendon element is connected to it. Also steel plates are
added at the support and loading location to avoid stress concentration problems. The solid element
(solid 45) was used for the steel plates. The element is defined with 8-nodes and at each node three
degrees of freedom, translations in X, Y, and Z directions.
3.3. Analytical Model

Nine specimens, continuous over two spans, were tested by Harajli, M., Mabsout, M., Al- Haji, J.. In
this study, five specimens were selected to investigate the behavior of continuous externally prestressed members, by develop a general analytical approach to predict the ultimate flexural response,
taking into consideration the influence of the second -order effect. The accuracy and validity of the
finite element models is determined by ensuring that failure modes are correct, the ultimate load is
reasonably predicted in comparison with the available experimental investigations.
The test variables included the areas of the external pre-stressing steel and ordinary bonded
reinforcement, the profile of the external tendons, and the configuration of the deviators. The typical
dimensions and reinforcement details of the test specimen are shown in Figure (4). Small concrete
blocks were cast monolithically with the specimen to serve as deviators for the external tendons. A
summary of the materials properties of the selected specimens are listed in Table (1).
The external pre-stressing steel consisted of 5 mm wires or 8mm seven- wire strands. The
ultimate strength, yield strength and modulus of elasticity were 1607, 1400, and 206850 N/mm2
respectively, for the 5 mm wires; and 1986, 1669, and 195129 N/mm2 respectively, for the 8 mm
strands. The ordinary bonded steel consisted of 6, 10, 12 mm bars having yield strengths of 347, 568,
and 582 N/mm2, respectively. The shear reinforcement in the outer shear spans (Av in Figure (4))
consisted of 6 mm stirrups spaced at 150 mm for specimen B6D2 and at 100 mm for the remaining
specimens. The specimens B6D1, B6D2, B12D2 and B10S1A are with deviators at their mid-spans,
and the specimen B10S1B is without deviators at their mid-spans. The specimens were loaded with
two concentrated point loads applied simultaneously at the middle of the spans.

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Amer M. Ibrahim and Huda M. Mubarak

Figure 4: Typical dimensions and reinforcement details

Table 1:

Beam
B6D1
B6D2
B12D2
B10S1A
B10S1B

Summary of Material properties

As mid-span and
internal support mm2
2(6 mm) 56
2(6 mm) 56
2(12 mm) 226
2(10 mm) 157
2(10 mm) 157

External pre-stressing steel

Ap mm2

fpe N/mm2

2(5mm)38.8
2(8mm)74.8
2(8mm)74.8
2(5mm)38.8
2(5mm)38.8

932
1112
1056
916
921

dp midspan mm
142
142
142
100
100

dp internal
support mm
150
150
150
100
100

c N/mm2
38.4
37.7
41.9
41.1
42

By taking advantage of symmetry, only one half of the beam in longitudinal direction has been
used in the finite element analysis. The boundary conditions need to be applied at points of symmetry
and where the supports and loading exist. The finite element mesh, boundary condition and loading
arrangement are shown in Figure (5).

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182

Figure 5: Finite Element Mesh, Boundary conditions and loading arrangement

4. Discussion Results of the Analysis

The results include the total ultimate applied load and average measured mid-span deflection. The
experimental and numerical load- deflection curves obtained for five beams are shown in Figures (6, 7,
8, 9, 10). These figures show good agreement in finite element analysis with the experimental results
(3) throughout the entire range of behavior and failure mode. For all beams, good agreement is in loaddeflection relation prior to cracking load. The first flexural cracks in all of the specimens developed at
the interior support on either side of the deviator (3). It was found that the first flexural cracks occurred
at approximately (49.5, 55, 30, 25, 25) percent of the ultimate load for beams (B6D1, B6D2, B12D2,
B10S1A, B10S1B) respectively. Figure (11) show the first crack in beam B6D2.
Figure 6: Load- Deflection Curve for B6D1

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Amer M. Ibrahim and Huda M. Mubarak

Figure 7: Load- Deflection Curve for B6D2

Figure 8: Load- Deflection Curve for B12D2

Figure 9: Load- Deflection Curve for B10S1A

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184

Figure 10: Load- Deflection Curve for B10S1B

Figure 11: First Crack in Beam B6D2

As the load increased, additional cracks developed simultaneously at the interior support and
mid-span sections as shown in Figure (12). For the specimens B12D2, B10S1A and B10S1B, the load
deflection response from finite element analysis was stiff comparison to experimental data, and
approximately linear post-cracking stage up to yield of the internal bonded reinforcement, and a post
yield stage until the ultimate load. After the yield of internal reinforcing bars, the deflection increased
nonlinearly with the slight increase in load until the ultimate resistance. The numerical load for all
beams is slightly smaller than experimental load.

Figure 12: Crack Pattern in Beam B6D1

The summary of measured resistance of all beams from the cracking to the ultimate together
with average mid-span deformation is summarized in Table (2). The specimen with straight tendon
profiles and without deviators at its mid-spans (B10S1B) experienced a reduction in the eccentricity (or
depth) of the external tendons with increasing deflection as shown in Figure (13). The corresponding
reduction was practically equal the magnitude of the mid-span deflection at all loads levels during the
response.

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Amer M. Ibrahim and Huda M. Mubarak

Figure 13: Deflected Shape for Beam B10S1B at Ultimate load

Table 2:
Beams
B6D1
B6D2
B12D2
B10S1A
B10S1B

Summary of Experimental and Analytical Results

Pcrack kN
60
100
83.3
49
50

Experimental Results
P yield kN Pu kN Max.def mm
100
130
23
178.7
208
20
264
307
9
169.3
191
28
168.7
194
19

Pcrack kN
58.4
96
96
47.7
47.8

Analytical Results
P yield kN Pu kN
97.8
118
155.2
174.4
289.5
320
166.4
190.8
166
188.8

Max.def mm
15.4
7.1
8.5
10.4
15.17

5. Conclusions
This study was carried out to evaluate the behavior of continuous concrete beams pre-stressed using
eternal tendons. Finite element model was develop based on computer program ANSYS (10.0) to
predict the ultimate load and maximum deflection at mid-span for two spans of beam. This model
accounts for the influence of the second- order effects in externally pre-stressed members. The results
predicted by the model were in good agreement with experimental data. As a consequence of the
second-order effects associated with the change in depth of the pre-stressed steel with increasing
deflection, member with undeviated external tendons (B10S1B) mobilized lower deflections at failure
load than those with deviated tendons.

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186

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