Experimental Study of End Region Detailing and Shear Behavior of Concrete I-Girders

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental program conducted to evaluate the effects of end region detailing on the capacity and behavior of pretensioned concrete I-girders. The program was conducted using six Florida I-Beam specimens, 1,372 mm (54 in.) in depth, which were load-tested in three-point bending at a shear span/depth of 2.0. Variables in the program included confinement reinforcement configuration, presence/lack of steel bearing plate, strand shielding pattern, and strand layout. Specimen behavior and capacity were found to be significantly affected by end region detailing, especially placement of fully bonded strands. Experimental results were compared with theoretical models for web-shear, bond-shear, and lateral-splitting capacity. By considering multiple models, calculations were able to accurately identify the failure mode of each test specimen.