Comparative study of modeling methods used to simulate initial stresses in prestressed beams towards manual analysis

Beirut Arab University, Civil Engineering Department, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract

Numerical modeling of the prestressing element that generates prestressed effect in beams has always been considered a big challenge. This research compares two methods of modeling; In the first method we used initial stresses predefined stress and in the second method we used the temperature strain. Concrete damage plasticity model (CDP) was used to model the non-linear behavior of concrete material and an elasto-plastic behavior was applied to ordinary and prestressed reinforcement. Truss elements were used to model ordinary and prestressed reinforcement embedded inside the concrete. As a result, Initial Temperature load method showed less error in bottom and top stresses and cambering of beam in comparison with the basic concept method, than predefined method.