Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Fracture in Prestressed Concrete

This work examines the crack initiation and propagation in Prestressed Concrete (PC) beams by a combined experimental numerical approach. Four-point bending tests performed on PC sleepers lead to formation of multiple cracks, number that depends specimen. The location each fracture its growth with time is monitored Digital Image Correlation (DIC). experiments are simulated finite element approach, reproducing concrete response smeared model. model parameters calibrated match moment deflection curve. In this study, only beam segment enclosing one discretized. effect external load applying horizontal displacements returned DIC at vertical boundaries analyzed region. Thus, uncertainties reduced since there no need discretize whole length, include supports loading plates, simulate interactions between different components.