Analysis on Flexural Performance of Prestressed Steel-Reinforced UHPC Beams

The flexural performance of prestressed steel-reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beams was investigated through finite element (FE) modeling and nonlinear numerical analysis. Two FE models were established for prestressed steel-reinforced concrete beams and prestressed UHPC beams, respectively, and the accuracy was validated by comparing with the experimental results. On this basis, a comprehensive analysis of load–deflection behavior, load–strain relationships, and failure modes was conducted under varying parameters, including reinforcement ratio, prestress level, steel web thickness, and steel flange thickness. The results indicate that an increase in reinforcement ratio from 1.17% to 1.90% enhanced the ultimate load by 12.05%, while increasing the prestress level from 0.61 to 0.76 improved the cracking load by 114.88% and the ultimate load by 53.73%. Moreover, the beams exhibited superior ductility and cracking resistance compared to conventional concrete structures. A formula for predicting the flexural capacity of prestressed steel-reinforced UHPC beams was derived, showing an average error of less than 3% when compared with FE simulations. This formula provides a reliable basis for the structural design and optimization of high-performance composite beams in engineering practice.

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