Bending, torsion and distortion of prestressed concrete box beams of deformable cross-section: a compression of experimental and theoretical results

TLDR: In this article, three large-scale prestressed concrete box beams of deformable cross-section were tested in a service load range under concentric and eccentric loading, and results of bending tests i.e. deflections, longitudinal and transverse normal stresses, and shear stresses were compared with finite element predictions and also hand calculations based on simple beam theory.

Abstract: Three large-scale prestressed concrete box beams of deformable cross-section were tested in a service load range under concentric and eccentric loading. Results of bending tests i. e. deflections, longitudinal and transverse normal stresses, and shear stresses are compared with finite element predictions and also hand calculations based on simple beam theory. Similarly, results of torsion tests are compared with finite element predictions and calculations made by the appropriate hand method. The limitations of these calculation methods are discussed and recommendations are made concerning the limits of their applicability. (Author/TRRL)