Simulating RC beams with unbonded FRP and steel prestressing tendons

A partial interaction based analysis to simulate the behaviour of RC beams with prestressed unbonded tendons is proposed. Unlike bonded reinforcement, the strain developed in unbonded reinforcing tendons under bending is uniform along the length of the member and is thus member dependant. Conventional analysis techniques incorporate correction factors and empirical components in defining the strain developed in both the unbonded and bonded reinforcement. Being semi-empirical, the post-cracking analysis cannot directly simulate the effects of tension-stiffening on the untensioned bonded reinforcement. Accordingly, this paper presents a segmental moment–rotation approach for simulating the behaviour of RC beams with unbonded prestressed reinforcement, such that the mechanics of the approach removes the reliance on empiricisms in defining the reinforcement and unbonded tendon behaviour. Validated against experimental results, the approach is shown to accommodate concrete creep, shrinkage and reinforcement relaxation, thus enabling prestressing losses to be quantified.