Title: Direct Method for Strengthening Continuous RC Beams with External Tendons

Author(s): K.H. Tan and D. Kong

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 272

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 45-68

Keywords: collapse mechanism; continuous beam; equivalent loads; external tendons; load-carrying capacity.

DOI: 10.14359/51664085

Date: 10/1/2010

Abstract:
This paper presents a simple direct method to determine the external tendon configuration required for a desired increase in load-carrying capacity of continuous beams. The tendon layout is selected based on the concept of equivalent loads, but need not be concordant. By considering the collapse mechanism of the beam, the increase in load-carrying capacity can be related directly to the tendon force. It is shown that the increase in load-carrying capacity is partly due to an increase in the force in the compression zone arising from the horizontal component of the prestressing force, and partly due to the upward components of the prestressing force. The method was verified with a test program on six two-span continuous beams, in which the tendon profile and loading pattern were varied. Comparison of the test results and those available in the literature showed that the proposed method gives a reasonably conservative design. A simplified method based on the direct balancing of increased loads is also proposed.