EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL EVALUATION OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE BEAMS WITH WEB OPENNING

Resumo

In the construction of either small or large buildings, we often find problematic openings in
beams of the structure, due to the need of passing of different kinds of pipes.
The present study aims to investigate the influence of lateral openings in beams of prestressed concrete
that were not design to resist this disturbance. Four combinations of openings where selected with height
equal to the half of the total deep of the beam. The height/long rates studied are 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 y 1:4. Three
beams where tested for every configuration of opening, as well as three beams without openings, by
flexural test until the beams reach total collapse.
Once the failure loading was obtained, a numerical model was built that represents the observed and
measure phenomenon in the load test. With the experimental and numerical results, the failure
mechanism for every single configuration of beams was found.
Similar results were identified regarding the ultimate bearing capacity, however, the beams with
openings tend to form cracks in an earlier station.