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. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):23146.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03218-x.

Experimental and theoretical study on flexural performance of concrete beams strengthened by unbonded prestressed ultra-high performance concrete layer

Fan Feng  1   2 , Pan Zuanfeng  3 , Pan Hongcai  4
Affiliations

Experimental and theoretical study on flexural performance of concrete beams strengthened by unbonded prestressed ultra-high performance concrete layer

Fan Feng et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) has the advantages of high strength and good durability. The new technology of unbonded prestressed UHPC to strengthen ordinary concrete beams can give full play to the performance of prestressed "high efficiency" and UHPC "light durability". In this paper, through the test and theoretical analysis of 10 unbonded prestressed UHPC reinforced beams, the bearing capacity of prestressed UHPC reinforced beams and the key parameters affecting the flexural performance (i.e., UHPC strength, thickness, prestressed tensile degree and prestressed reinforcement ratio) are studied. The test results show that: UHPC and concrete beam using chisel processing technology, unbonded prestressed by end anchorage can achieve effective interface bonding while ensure the reinforcement effect with a simple construction process; Prestressed UHPC reinforced beams can greatly improve the cracking performance, flexural bearing capacity and rigidity; Through theoretical research, the formula of flexural bearing capacity of ordinary concrete beams reinforced by prestressed UHPC is deduced, which is conducive to subsequent engineering application.

Keywords: Interfacial bonding property; Reinforced flexural capacity; Test analysis; Theoretical research; Unbonded prestressed UHPC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. section on the manuscript file.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prestressed UHPC reinforced beam specimen mode.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Raw material properties test.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Test beam fabrication flow chart.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Diagram of test loading device.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Typical failure modle of the comparable ordinary beam (top) and the reinforced beam (bottom).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Test beam load-mid-span deflection curve.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
(a) Load-strain curves of the roof concrete and bars in the UHPC layer/RC of U120Y1H8, (b) Load-strain curves of bars in RC. (c) Load-strain curves of roof concrete.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Calculation model of ultimate flexural capacity of prestressed UHPC reinforced beams
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Two-stage tensile constitutive relation of UHPC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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