NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF PRECAST L-SHAPED BEAMS

Abstract

The main target of the research, spotted in this thesis, is to investigate the behavior of precast L-shaped slender beams under effects of typical loading sequences. While the typical failure mode of this type of beams is known as skew-bending failure resulted by eccentric loading that results in excessive torsional forces and significant rotation of the beam at mid span, various parameters believed to affect behavior of this type of beams including depth, width and height of deck ties are studied. Moreover, a new proposed arrangements of deck ties are presented to limit rotation of the beam due to eccentric loads. The research program conducted in this thesis consists of 16 “ANSYS” models used to study the performance of precast L-shaped slender beams. Results of parametric study are encouraging. Data from the numerical models was used to capture the effectiveness of the new proposed arrangements of deck ties on the behavior of precast L-shaped beams. Results from new proposed arrangements of deck ties are encouraging where rotation of beam can be decreased by nearly 70% in case B and 98% in case C measured at factored load.