Estimation of Tendon Force Distribution in Prestressed Concrete Girders Using Smart Strand

Abstract

The recently developed smart strand offers the possibility of measuring the prestress force of the tendon from jacking and all along its service life. In the present study, a method estimating the force distribution in all the tendons of a prestressed concrete (PSC) girder installed with one smart strand is proposed. The force distribution in the prestressed tendons is formulated by the friction and the anchorage slip, and is obtained through an optimization process with respect to the compatibility conditions and equilibrium of the forces in the section of the PSC girder. The validation of the proposed method through a numerical example and experiment shows that it can be used to estimate the force developed in the tendon.

Keywords

• smart strand
• strand
• tendon
• prestress
• force distribution
• optical fiber sensor