Temporal Evolution Of Cracking In Prestressed Concrete Studied Using A Continuous-Damage Approach

Abstract

■ The tool developed using a three-dimensional finiteelement method model will allow better understanding of the behavior of these members. Concrete is a common construction material, owing to the low costs of its materials, production, and maintenance. Concrete is known to have high compressive strength but low tensile strength, which necessitates the use of strengthening steel in the tension zones of concrete structures. Modern concrete structures can be strengthened either passively with mild-steel reinforcing bars, which is known as reinforced concrete, or actively with high-strength prestressing tendons (or alloy bars), which is known as prestressed concrete. Although the uses of prestressed concrete members aim to minimize tensile cracking of concrete, reinforced concrete members often work with cracks allowed in tension zones. Moreover, newer construction practices tend to use prestressed concrete members more economically by including reinforcing bars in tension areas to control concrete cracking, producing partially prestressed concrete members.