Finite Element Analysis of Bonded Prestressed Strengthened Hollow Slab Beams
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14311/CEJ.2026.01.0010Keywords:
Bonded prestressing, Hollow slab beams, Finite element analysis, Stress distribution, Strengthening technology, ANSYS simulationAbstract
With the continuous increase in traffic loads, the insufficient bearing capacity of existing bridges has become increasingly prominent, necessitating effective strengthening technologies to enhance their performance. This study focuses on bonded prestressed strengthened hollow slab beams. A finite element analysis method was employed to establish a discrete model comprising concrete (SOLID65 elements), composite mortar (SHELL41 elements), and prestressed tendons (LINK8 elements), with nonlinear spring elements used to simulate the interaction at the bonding layer. A three-point loading method was adopted to analyze the stress distribution characteristics of the strengthened beam under 10 kN and 80 kN loads, with emphasis on the stress responses in the anchorage zone, mid-span cross-section, and reinforcement. The results indicate significant stress concentration in the anchorage zone, requiring reinforcement in engineering design. When the cross-section approaches the destressed state (stress range: 0.1 MPa to -0.2 MPa), there is a notable discrepancy between finite element simulation results and material mechanics theoretical values. However, good agreement is observed in non-destressed states. Additionally, the stress variation trend of prestressed tendons under increasing loads aligns with theoretical predictions, with an error margin below 0.8%. This research provides theoretical and numerical references for the engineering application of bonded prestressed strengthening techniques.
Received: 28.05.2025
Received in revised form: 21.01.2026
Accepted: 19.03.2026
Downloads
References
Li X, Wu G, Popal M S,. 2018. Experimental and numerical study of hollow core slabs strengthened with mounted steel bars and prestressed steel wire ropes. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 188: 456-469. ISSN: 0950-0618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.08.073
Wang Z, Wang M, Xu Q,. 2021. Experimental research on prestressed concrete hollow-core slabs strengthened with externally bonded bamboo laminates. Engineering Structures, vol. 244, p. 112786. ISSN: 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112786
Yang J, Hou P, Pan Y,. 2021. Shear behaviors of hollow slab beam bridges strengthened with high-performance self-consolidating cementitious composites. Engineering Structures, vol. 242, p.112613. ISSN: 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112613
Yang J, Guo H, Yang C,. 2024. Experimental investigation and evaluation of shear performance of hollow slab beams strengthened by cavity grouting method. Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 20, p. e03184. ISSN: 2214-5095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03184
Li X H, Wu G, Wang S,. 2019. Flexural behavior of hollow-core slabs strengthened with prestressed basalt FRP grids. Journal of Composites for Construction, vol. 23, n. 3, p. 04019016. ISSN: 1090-0268, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03184
Pachalla S K S, Prakash S S,. 2027. Load resistance and failure modes of GFRP composite strengthened hollow core slabs with openings. Materials and Structures, vol. 50, p. 1-14. ISSN: 1359-5997, https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-016-0883-8
Song S, Deng M, Zhang Y,. 2024. Effects of textile type on the flexural properties of prefabricated hollow-core slabs strengthened with PVA fibers-improved TRM. Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 87, p. 109103. ISSN: 2352-7102, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109103
Zhang H, Huang W, Liu B,. 2022. Flexural behavior of precast concrete hollow-core slabs with high-strength tendons. Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 59, p. 105050. ISSN: 2352-7102, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105050
Di J, Sun Y, Yu K,. 2020. Experimental investigation of shear performance of existing PC hollow slab. Engineering Structures, vol. 211, p. 110451. ISSN: 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110451
Chen X, Ma Q,. 2024. Experimental study on the flexural performance of concrete hollow composite slabs with tightly connected panel sides. Scientific Reports, vol. 14, n. 1, p. 20784. ISSN: 2045-2322, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71880-8
Elharouney O, Elkateb M, Khalil A,. 2021. Behaviour of prestressed hollow core slabs strengthened with NSM CFRP strips around openings: A finite element investigation. Engineering Structures,vol. 238, p. 112262. ISSN: 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112262
Badran H, Alkloub A,. 2025. Strengthening of precast pretensioned hollow core slabs exposed to fire. Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance, vol. 10, n. 1, p. 2471156. ISSN: 2470-5314, https://doi.org/10.1080/24705314.2025.2471156
Zhang S, Du S, Ang Y,. 2021. Study on performance of prestressed concrete hollow slab beams reinforced by grouting with ultra-high performance concrete. Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 15, p. 83. ISSN: 2214-5095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00583
Chen J, Li X, Zhu Q,. 2023. Experimental research on mechanical behavior and strengthening technologies of joints in hollow-core slab bridge. Structures, vol. 49, p. 223-239. ISSN: 2352-0124, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.01.103
Xun S, Shiping Y, Yuhou Y,. 2022. Comparative analysis of flexural performance of old full-scale hollow slab beams reinforced with fiber composites. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 338, p. 127657. ISSN: 0950-0618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127657
Wang J, Jia Y, Zhang G,. 2018. Experimental study on prestressed concrete hollow slabs in service strengthened with prestressed CFRP plates. International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 9, n. 5, p. 587-602. ISSN: 1757-9864, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-08-2017-0049
Al-Rubaye M, Manalo A, Alajarmeh O,. 2020. Flexural behaviour of concrete slabs reinforced with GFRP bars and hollow composite reinforcing systems. Composite structures, vol. 236, p. 111836. ISSN: 0263-8223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.111836
Kankeri P, Prakash S S,. 2017. Efficient hybrid strengthening for precast hollow core slabs at low and high shear span to depth ratios. Composite structures, vol. 170, p. 202-214. ISSN: 0263-8223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2017.03.034
Yang L, Shen Q, Lu M,. 2025. Experimental Study on Bending Behaviors of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Hollow-Core Slabs. Buildings, vol. 15, n. 5, p. 812. ISSN: 2075-5309, https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050812
Xiao J L, Liu Y F, Feng H L,. 2025. Field tests and structural performance evaluation of existing reinforced concrete hollow slab beam bridges. Engineering Structures, vol. 333, p. 120128. ISSN: 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120128
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Author

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).








