Categorization of formulas for calculation of crack width and spacing in reinforced concrete elements

Over the last century, over one hundred crack width formulas have been developed to calculate the width and spacing of cracks in reinforced and prestressed concrete elements. It is unclear which formulas are the most accurate. An extensive comparison study is required to determine which formulas accurately describe the crack patterns,...

Finite Element Modeling of Shear Failure in Prestressed Girders with a Continuous Cast-In-Situ Deck Slab

For structures whose structural safety cannot be demonstrated using the applicable code regulations, a nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) can be used to investigate the structural behavior and maximum load capacity. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management uses a dedicated guideline for NLFEA in such an assessment....

Challenges on the shear behavior of existing continuous precast girder bridges

There are a large number of precast girder bridges in the Netherlands that are made continuous utilizing cast in situ layers and cross beams. When controlled by the Eurocode minimum shear reinforcement requirement, the majority of these bridges that were constructed before the 1970s have insufficient amount of transverse reinforcement, which...

A closed-form shear resistance model for regions of prestressed beams without flexural cracks

When the shear resistance of prestressed beams with stirrups is determined with the current Eurocode, no distinction is made between regions with and without flexural cracks. This while it may be expected that a region without flexural cracks will have a higher shear resistance. This is due to the lower longitudinal strains and the narrow...

Shear failure of prestressed girders in regions without flexural cracks

In the design process of prestressed bridges and viaducts, the required amount of shear reinforcement is determined with a model that assumes the presence of flexural cracks. In order to keep the design process simple, this model is also prescribed to determine the amount of shear reinforcement for the regions of the structure in which, at the...

Shear strengthening of prestressed concrete beams with UHPFRC – a numerical study