Pretensioned concrete box beams have been used in highway bridges for more than half a century. Due to their geometry, they have often been used as a viable alternative to the classic I-shaped girders. Box beams are highly effective in cases where speed of construction is a priority. However, the detailing and design of box beams are more complicated than that of I-shaped girders. The flow of forces at the beam’s end blocks must be understood in order to detail reinforcement adequately. The following were the objectives of this research study: (i) quantify the demands placed on box beam end blocks upon prestress transfer, (ii) characterize the demands placed on box beam end blocks upon the application of superimposed loads, (iii) evaluate the effects of alternative void geometries at skewed ends of box beams on curing temperatures, (iv) based on the knowledge gained in (i), (ii) and (iii), improve the box beam end blocks, (v) test the improved end block under worst case scenario demands at prestress transfer and under extreme loading conditions, and (vi) validate currently used shear strength design methodologies in their application to pretensioned box beams. In order to achieve these objectives, an experimental program was conducted. The experimental program included the load testing of ten 4B28 and five 5B40 box beams, for a total of twenty nine load tests. The influence of several factors that distinguish box beam behavior from the better-understood I-shaped girder behavior was studied. Additionally, the experimental program included the fabrication, instrumentation and early-age behavior study of five 5B40 box beams. The first three beams were used to vii assess the behavior of box beams fabricated with the current TxDOT standard details (from December 2006). The fourth beam incorporated modifications to the standard reinforcement details based on the observations made through the study of the first three 5B40 box beams. The last specimen corresponded to a new box beam cross section (5XB40) optimized to be used in a spread-box beams configuration. / text

O presente trabalho trata da avaliação da confiabilidade de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido em relação ao estado limite último de flexão, segundo as recomendações da norma brasileira NBR 6118:2014. O crescimento da utilização de vigas protendidas nas edificações se justifica cada vez mais com o emprego de materiais mais eficientes e pela necessidade de estruturas mais leves e esbeltas. Esta pesquisa se limita à avaliação de vigas simplesmente apoiadas com seções retangulares e T e carregamento uniformemente distribuído ao longo do vão. Para a avaliação da capacidade resistente, foi utilizado um modelo simplificado que analisa a seção mais solicitada do elemento através de equações de equilíbrio, propriedades dos materiais e compatibilidade de deformações. A validação foi realizada a partir de ensaios experimentais e o modelo foi julgado adequado para a determinação do momento resistente de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido. O índice de confiabilidade  das vigas em estudo foi determinado através do método de confiabilidade de primeira ordem (First Order Reliability Method – FORM), consolidado e bastante utilizado na obtenção da probabilidade de falha de estruturas. O valor de  é obtido a partir do cálculo da distância mínima entre a superfície de falha e a origem das variáveis aleatórias padronizadas utilizando-se os recursos de minimização de uma planilha eletrônica. A verificação da influência que alguns parâmetros que regem o dimensionamento das vigas protendidas com aderência inicial exercem sobre o índice de confiabilidade foi realizada. Foram avaliados a resistência característica à compressão do concreto, a resistência característica de ruptura à tração da armadura de protensão, a esbeltez da viga e a relação entre o carregamento permanente e a carga total atribuída à viga. Também foi estabelecido um valor para o índice de confiabilidade considerado seguro igual a 3,8. Diante dos resultados, foi observado que a variação do índice de confiabilidade ocorreu de forma mais acentuada quando estudada juntamente com a variação da relação entre o carregamento. Porém vale destacar que em certos casos o índice de confiabilidade pode reduzir com o crescimento da resistência característica de ruptura à tração do aço de protensão e a consequente redução da área de armadura ativa. / The present work deals with the evaluation of the reliability of pretensioned prestressed concrete beams regarding to the ultimate flexural limit state according to the recommendations of the Brazilian standard NBR 6118:2014. The increasing usage of prestressed beams in buildings is more and more justified by the usage of more efficient materials and the necessity of lighter weight and more slender structures. The research is limited in the evaluation of simply supported beams with rectangular and T cross sections and uniformly distributed loading. For the evaluation of the load capacity of the beams, it was used a simplified model that analyzes the maximum bending moment section of the element through equilibrium equations, material properties and compatibility of deformations. The validation was performed from experimental data and the model was judged suitable for the determination of the resistant moment of pre-tensioned prestressed concrete beams. The evaluation of the reliability index  for each beam was carried out using the First Order Reliability Method - FORM, which is already consolidated and widely used when obtaining the probability of failure of structures. The value of  is obtained from the calculation of the minimum distance between the surface of the failure and origin of standard random variables through the resource of minimization tools of a digital spreadsheet. The evaluation of the influence that some parameters, which govern the design of pretensioned prestressed beams, exercise on the reliability index was performed. The characteristic concrete compressive strength, the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement, the slenderness ratio of the beam and the ratio between dead load and total load were evaluated. It was also established a minimum acceptable value to the reliability index equal to 3.8. Given the results, it was observed that the variation of the reliability index occurred, in a more sharply way, when studied along with the variation of the ratio between the dead load and total load. But, in some cases, the reliability index can be reduced with the increasing of the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement and the consequent prestressed steel cross sectional area reduction.

O presente trabalho trata da avaliação da confiabilidade de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido em relação ao estado limite último de flexão, segundo as recomendações da norma brasileira NBR 6118:2014. O crescimento da utilização de vigas protendidas nas edificações se justifica cada vez mais com o emprego de materiais mais eficientes e pela necessidade de estruturas mais leves e esbeltas. Esta pesquisa se limita à avaliação de vigas simplesmente apoiadas com seções retangulares e T e carregamento uniformemente distribuído ao longo do vão. Para a avaliação da capacidade resistente, foi utilizado um modelo simplificado que analisa a seção mais solicitada do elemento através de equações de equilíbrio, propriedades dos materiais e compatibilidade de deformações. A validação foi realizada a partir de ensaios experimentais e o modelo foi julgado adequado para a determinação do momento resistente de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido. O índice de confiabilidade  das vigas em estudo foi determinado através do método de confiabilidade de primeira ordem (First Order Reliability Method – FORM), consolidado e bastante utilizado na obtenção da probabilidade de falha de estruturas. O valor de  é obtido a partir do cálculo da distância mínima entre a superfície de falha e a origem das variáveis aleatórias padronizadas utilizando-se os recursos de minimização de uma planilha eletrônica. A verificação da influência que alguns parâmetros que regem o dimensionamento das vigas protendidas com aderência inicial exercem sobre o índice de confiabilidade foi realizada. Foram avaliados a resistência característica à compressão do concreto, a resistência característica de ruptura à tração da armadura de protensão, a esbeltez da viga e a relação entre o carregamento permanente e a carga total atribuída à viga. Também foi estabelecido um valor para o índice de confiabilidade considerado seguro igual a 3,8. Diante dos resultados, foi observado que a variação do índice de confiabilidade ocorreu de forma mais acentuada quando estudada juntamente com a variação da relação entre o carregamento. Porém vale destacar que em certos casos o índice de confiabilidade pode reduzir com o crescimento da resistência característica de ruptura à tração do aço de protensão e a consequente redução da área de armadura ativa. / The present work deals with the evaluation of the reliability of pretensioned prestressed concrete beams regarding to the ultimate flexural limit state according to the recommendations of the Brazilian standard NBR 6118:2014. The increasing usage of prestressed beams in buildings is more and more justified by the usage of more efficient materials and the necessity of lighter weight and more slender structures. The research is limited in the evaluation of simply supported beams with rectangular and T cross sections and uniformly distributed loading. For the evaluation of the load capacity of the beams, it was used a simplified model that analyzes the maximum bending moment section of the element through equilibrium equations, material properties and compatibility of deformations. The validation was performed from experimental data and the model was judged suitable for the determination of the resistant moment of pre-tensioned prestressed concrete beams. The evaluation of the reliability index  for each beam was carried out using the First Order Reliability Method - FORM, which is already consolidated and widely used when obtaining the probability of failure of structures. The value of  is obtained from the calculation of the minimum distance between the surface of the failure and origin of standard random variables through the resource of minimization tools of a digital spreadsheet. The evaluation of the influence that some parameters, which govern the design of pretensioned prestressed beams, exercise on the reliability index was performed. The characteristic concrete compressive strength, the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement, the slenderness ratio of the beam and the ratio between dead load and total load were evaluated. It was also established a minimum acceptable value to the reliability index equal to 3.8. Given the results, it was observed that the variation of the reliability index occurred, in a more sharply way, when studied along with the variation of the ratio between the dead load and total load. But, in some cases, the reliability index can be reduced with the increasing of the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement and the consequent prestressed steel cross sectional area reduction.

O presente trabalho trata da avaliação da confiabilidade de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido em relação ao estado limite último de flexão, segundo as recomendações da norma brasileira NBR 6118:2014. O crescimento da utilização de vigas protendidas nas edificações se justifica cada vez mais com o emprego de materiais mais eficientes e pela necessidade de estruturas mais leves e esbeltas. Esta pesquisa se limita à avaliação de vigas simplesmente apoiadas com seções retangulares e T e carregamento uniformemente distribuído ao longo do vão. Para a avaliação da capacidade resistente, foi utilizado um modelo simplificado que analisa a seção mais solicitada do elemento através de equações de equilíbrio, propriedades dos materiais e compatibilidade de deformações. A validação foi realizada a partir de ensaios experimentais e o modelo foi julgado adequado para a determinação do momento resistente de vigas pré-tracionadas de concreto protendido. O índice de confiabilidade  das vigas em estudo foi determinado através do método de confiabilidade de primeira ordem (First Order Reliability Method – FORM), consolidado e bastante utilizado na obtenção da probabilidade de falha de estruturas. O valor de  é obtido a partir do cálculo da distância mínima entre a superfície de falha e a origem das variáveis aleatórias padronizadas utilizando-se os recursos de minimização de uma planilha eletrônica. A verificação da influência que alguns parâmetros que regem o dimensionamento das vigas protendidas com aderência inicial exercem sobre o índice de confiabilidade foi realizada. Foram avaliados a resistência característica à compressão do concreto, a resistência característica de ruptura à tração da armadura de protensão, a esbeltez da viga e a relação entre o carregamento permanente e a carga total atribuída à viga. Também foi estabelecido um valor para o índice de confiabilidade considerado seguro igual a 3,8. Diante dos resultados, foi observado que a variação do índice de confiabilidade ocorreu de forma mais acentuada quando estudada juntamente com a variação da relação entre o carregamento. Porém vale destacar que em certos casos o índice de confiabilidade pode reduzir com o crescimento da resistência característica de ruptura à tração do aço de protensão e a consequente redução da área de armadura ativa. / The present work deals with the evaluation of the reliability of pretensioned prestressed concrete beams regarding to the ultimate flexural limit state according to the recommendations of the Brazilian standard NBR 6118:2014. The increasing usage of prestressed beams in buildings is more and more justified by the usage of more efficient materials and the necessity of lighter weight and more slender structures. The research is limited in the evaluation of simply supported beams with rectangular and T cross sections and uniformly distributed loading. For the evaluation of the load capacity of the beams, it was used a simplified model that analyzes the maximum bending moment section of the element through equilibrium equations, material properties and compatibility of deformations. The validation was performed from experimental data and the model was judged suitable for the determination of the resistant moment of pre-tensioned prestressed concrete beams. The evaluation of the reliability index  for each beam was carried out using the First Order Reliability Method - FORM, which is already consolidated and widely used when obtaining the probability of failure of structures. The value of  is obtained from the calculation of the minimum distance between the surface of the failure and origin of standard random variables through the resource of minimization tools of a digital spreadsheet. The evaluation of the influence that some parameters, which govern the design of pretensioned prestressed beams, exercise on the reliability index was performed. The characteristic concrete compressive strength, the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement, the slenderness ratio of the beam and the ratio between dead load and total load were evaluated. It was also established a minimum acceptable value to the reliability index equal to 3.8. Given the results, it was observed that the variation of the reliability index occurred, in a more sharply way, when studied along with the variation of the ratio between the dead load and total load. But, in some cases, the reliability index can be reduced with the increasing of the characteristic tensile strength of the prestressed reinforcement and the consequent prestressed steel cross sectional area reduction.

Precast/Prestressed concrete girders are commonly used in bridge construction in the United States. The application and diffusion of the prestress force in a pretensioned girder causes a vertical tension force to develop near the end of the beam. Field surveys of the beam ends of pretensioned bridge girders indicate that many of the PCBT beams used in the Commonwealth of Virginia develop cracks within the anchorage zone region. The lengths and widths of these cracks range from acceptable to poor and in need of repair. Field observations also indicate deeper cross sections, very heavily prestressed sections, and girders with lightweight concrete tend to be most susceptible to crack formation. This research examined a new strut-and-tie based design approach to the anchorage zone design of the PCBT bridge girders used in Virginia. Case study girders surveyed during site visits are discussed and used to illustrate the nature of the problem and support the calibration of the strut-and-tie based model. A parametric study was conducted using this proposed design model and the results of this study were consolidated into anchorage zone design tables. The results of the parametric study were compared to the results obtained using existing anchorage zone design models, international bridge codes, and standard anchorage zone details used by other states. A set of new standard details was developed for the PCBT girders which incorporates elements of the new design approach and is compatible with the anchorage zone design aids. A 65 ft PCBT-53 girder was fabricated to verify the new strut-and-tie based design model. This girder contained anchorage zone details designed with the new model. The new anchorage zone details were successful at controlling the development of anchorage zone cracks. The new design approach is recommended for implementation by the Virginia Department of Transportation. / Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy / Civil Engineering / Robert J. Peterman / A study was conducted to determine the effect of different concrete properties and prestressing steel indentation types on development length and flexural capacity of pretensioned members. Wires and strands commonly used in the manufacturing of prestressed concrete railroad ties worldwide were selected for the study. Thirteen different 5.32-mm-diameter prestressing wire types and six different strands (four, seven-wire strands and two, three-wire strands) were used to cast prisms with a square cross section. The ratio of concrete to prestressed steel in the test prism’s cross section was representable of typical concrete railroad ties. Thus, geometrical and mechanical properties of test prisms were representative of actual ties in the railroad industry. To understand the effect of concrete-release strengths and slumps on development length, all parameters were kept constant in the prisms except concrete-release strength and slump. To manufacture prisms with different release strengths, all four wires/strands were pulled and detensioned gradually when the concrete compressive strength reached 3500 (24.13 MPa), 4500 (31.03 MPa), and 6000 (41.37 MPa) psi. To determine the effect of different slumps on development length, prisms with different slumps of 3 in. (7.6 cm), 6 in. (15.2 cm), and 9 in. (22.9 cm) were manufactured and all other parameters were kept constant in prisms. All prisms were tested in three-point bending at different spans to obtain estimations of development length based on type of reinforcement, concrete-release strength, and concrete slump. Lastly, a design equation was developed based on experimental data for prediction of development length. In the last phase of load tests, cyclic-loading tests were conducted on the prisms manufactured with wires to evaluate the bond performance of wires with different indentation types under cyclic loading. A total of 210 load tests, including 14 cyclic tests, were conducted. The monotonic-load tests revealed a large difference in the development length of pretensioned concrete members manufactured with different wire/strand types and different concrete-release strengths. Also, the cyclic-load tests revealed a significant difference in bond performance of different wire types under cyclic loading compared to monotonic loading.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF

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Diese Forschung zielte darauf ab, die vorgespannten und versteiften Membranstrukturen unter Verwendung eines experimentellen Ansatzes und einer Computersimulation konzeptionell zu entwickeln. Die physikalische Methode der Formfindung beinhaltete das vorgespannte Gewebe mit dem verleimten Gitter aus den Holzstäben. Die Relaxation der belasteten Membran trug zur Bildung der spezifischen antiklastischen hyparischen Oberfläche durch Energiefreisetzung bei. Der Einfluss der starren Elemente Muster, Intensität und Richtung der Vorspannung auf die Endform wurde untersucht. Auch die Tensegrity-Strukturen wurden nach dem gleichen Formfindungsweg gebaut. Diese Experimente führten zur Modellierung der resultierenden Proben mit parametrischen Entwurfswerkzeugen, nämlich Rhino und Grasshopper. Die Optimierung der endgültigen Form erfolgte durch Änderung von Parametern wie der Versteifungskonfiguration und der Membranfestigkeit. Dieser digitale Ansatz demonstrierte die erfolgreiche Simulation und Rationalisierung der betrachteten Strukturen. Darüber hinaus können die endgültigen Modelle für weitere Statik und BIM verwendet werden. Berücksichtigte Membranstrukturen weisen ein sehr effizientes Tragverhalten auf. Sie zeichnen sich durch geringes Gewicht, hohe Lichtdurchlässigkeit und die Möglichkeit aus, große, säulenfreie Nutzräume zu schaffen. Die gefährlichsten Belastungen für Membrankonstruktionen sind Wind und Seewasser. In der Praxis sind PTFE-beschichtete Glasfasergewebe und PVC-beschichtete Polyestergewebe für vorgespannte und versteifte Membrankonstruktionen am besten geeignet. Die Rolle steifer Elemente können Stahlprofile oder Metallrohre spielen. Die durchschnittliche Zeit für den Bau einer Membrankonstruktion beträgt 6-15 Monate. Die resultierenden vorgespannten und versteiften Membrankonstruktionen können als Pavillons, Dächer und Markisen verwendet werden. Sie zeichnen sich durch eine spektakuläre architektonische Aussicht und ein sehr effektives Struktursystem aus. Darüber hinaus zeichnen sich Membranzugtragwerke durch eine hohe Ökoeffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit im Vergleich zu anderen Bauweisen aus. / This research aimed to develop conceptually the pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures, using an experimental approach and computer simulation. The physical method of form finding included the pretensioned fabric with the glued grid made of the wooden sticks. Relaxation of the stressed membrane contributed to forming the specific anticlastic hyparic surface by energy release. The influence of the rigid elements pattern, intensity and direction of pretensioning on the final shape was investigated. The tensegrity structures were also built applying the same form finding way. These experiments led to the modelling of resulting samples with parametric design tools, namely Rhino and Grasshopper. Optimization of the final shape was carried out by changing parameters such as stiffenings configuration and membrane strength. This digital approach demonstrated successful simulation and rationalization of considered structures. Moreover, the final models can be used for further structural analysis and BIM. Considered membrane structures have very efficient load-bearing behavior. They are characterized by small weight, high light transmission and the ability to create large usable spaces free from columns. The most dangerous loads for membrane structures are wind and ponding. In practice, PTFE coated glass-fibre fabric and PVC coated polyester fabric are most suitable for pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures. The role of stiff elements can be played by steel profiles or metal tubes. The average time for the construction of a membrane structure is 6-15 months. Resulted pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures can be used as pavilions, roofs and awnings. They are distinguished by spectacular architectural view and very effective structural system. In addition, membrane tensile structures are characterized by high eco-efficiency and sustainability compared to other types of construction.

The use of high compressive strengths in prestressed bridge girders can lower costs by allowing for longer spans, increased girder spacing, and smaller cross-sections. If high strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC) is used, these advantages are further enhanced due to the corresponding reduction in self-weight. Additional benefits can then be realized in the form of more traffic lanes, increased load capacity, smaller substructures, reduced crane capacity requirements, and lower shipping costs. Despite the possible economic savings, HSLWC has been used infrequently in prestressed bridge girder applications across the nation. While recent research has been performed to extend the applicability of current bridge design specifications to normal weight concretes with strengths as high as 18 ksi, little has been done by comparison with regards to HSLWC. The purpose of the research in this report was to assess whether current bridge design specifications for transfer length, development length, prestress loss, camber, and flexural capacity are satisfactory for use with fully-bonded, pretensioned flexural members consisting of HSLWC and to make recommendations for improvements where necessary. Twelve high strength pretensioned beams of variable unit weight (eight lightweight beams and four normal weight beams) and strand size (eight beams with 0.5-in. strand and four beams with 0.6-in. strand) were cast at the Thomas M. Murray Structural Engineering Laboratory at Virginia Tech. These beams were allowed to sit for a period of several months after fabrication while measurements were taken regarding transfer length, prestress loss, and camber. After this period, the beams were load tested to collect development length data, flexural data, and further data related to prestress loss. In addition to the laboratory cast beams, prestress loss and camber data from six full-size bridge beams (five lightweight beams and one normal weight beam) cast as part of a separate project at Virginia Tech was examined. Analysis of the results for all beams shows that with a few caveats, the current AASHTO LRFD Specifications and other design methods examined regarding the topics under consideration are satisfactory for use in the design of HSLWC pretensioned bridge girders with properties similar to those of the beams studied. / Ph. D.