Title:
Evaluation of the Performance of Welded Grid Reinforcement as Crack Control in End Zones of Pretensioned Bulb-Tee Beams
Author(s):
Carnes
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F24_Carnes.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
11/3/2024
Abstract:
In pretensioned concrete bulb-tee beams (PCBTs), cracking in the end zones often occurs due to the spreading of forces from the prestressed strands, posing a durability concern. This study investigated the efficacy of welded grid reinforcement (WGR) as a means to control end zone cracking in PCBTs compared to traditional rebar stirrups. Two testing protocols were conducted. The first consisted of testing specimens mimicking half the width of a PCBT web in tension with each specimen containing various configurations of WGR or traditional rebar (Fig. 1a,b). Specimens containing WGR exhibited similar crack widths and spacings to those containing rebar. The second testing protocol consisted of constructing six PCBTs with varying amounts of rebar stirrups and/or WGR as end zone reinforcement and monitoring the cracks that occurred after prestress release (Fig, 1c,d). PCBTs containing WGR exhibited slightly more cracking than those containing traditional stirrups as end zone reinforcement.