Analysis of Prestressed Concrete Behavior under Partial Strand Failure

Resumo

This study presents a technical investigation into the structural behavior of prestressed concrete elements under partial failure scenarios involving strands rupture. The research combines a literature review of typical failure mechanisms—such as prestress losses, localized cracking, and the consequences of strand rupture—with a numerical simulation performed using the TQS, a structural analysis software. In the computational phase, a prestressed concrete slab is modeled with realistic loading conditions, material properties, and prestressing profiles. The model simulates the abrupt rupture of one or more strands in critical regions to evaluate the structural response. The results indicate that the failure of a single strand promotes internal force redistribution and discrete alterations in deflection behavior, without significant impacts. Conversely, the rupture of multiple strands in the same slab notably compromises the structural performance, with redistribution of efforts and sharper deflections. The numerical model proved effective in visualizing and quantifying these vulnerabilities.