Experimental study on static and impact resistances of T-shaped PRC beams

In this paper, in order to accumulate basic date for establishing a rational impact design procedure of PC (Prestressed Concrete ) members un PC rock-sheds, static and impact tests were conducted for six types of PRC (Prestressed Reinforced Concrete) T-shaped beams, in which number of PC strands, tensioning ratio per one PC strand and volume of rebars for crack control were taken as variable parameters. Using 400 kgf steel weight, impact tests were conducted by iterative loading method with 1 m/see of initial and incremental impact velocity up to beam failure. All PRC beams considered here were reached to the ultimate state characterized by bending type of failure mode. The results obtained from these experiments are as follows: 1) the ultimate static and energy absorption capacities of PRC beams may not be affected by tensioning ratio; 2) increasing number of RC strands and/or arranging rebars for crack control, impact resistance of PRC beams can be effectively improved; and 3) absorption energy at the ultimate state of PRC beams can rationally estimated by means of the multi-section method