Load--deflection performance of partially prestressed concrete T-beams with steel fibres in partial and full depth.

A total of twelve partially prestressed concrete T-beams were cast without and with fibres in partial and full depth. These beams were tested to assess the effect of fibre addition in different zones in the cross-section, namely, flange, web or the entire cross-section, on the load-deflection performance of the flexure critical beam specimens. An attempt has been made to predict the load-deflection characteristics of the beam specimens utilising the tension softening effects in the stress-strain behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete. The proposed model accounts for the interaction of the matrix with the fibre pull-out mechanism. The details of the constitutive material properties used and the proposed layer-based analysis are presented in this paper. Comparisons with test data show good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]