ANALYSES OF THE EFFECTIVE SLAB WIDTH IN REINFORCED AND PRESTRESSED CONCRETE ELEMENTS

Abstract

An experimental program was realized on 11 girders in natural size followed by theoretical analyses in order to investigate the behaviour of T-beams from reinforced and prestressed concrete under service load and ultimate loading. The investigation aim was to prove the applicability of the elasticity theory in designing of these girders. The effect of edge cross webs, the girder geometry, and the quantity of tensile reinforcement on the behaviour of the reinforced concrete beams was investigated as well as. The effect of strengthening with the additional concrete layer on the slab for prestressed T-beams. Simplified expressions for the determination of effective slab width were obtained by comparison of the theoretical and experimental results. The expressions in linear and exponential form are presented, as well as the simplified mathematical model which connects the geometrical properties of beams and the state of stresses by the parameter of effective width.