Design equation to evaluate bursting forces at the end zone of post-tensioned members

Abstract

Design equations to evaluate the bursting force in a post-tensioned anchorage zone have been introduced in many design codes, and one equation in AASHTO LRFD is widely used. However, this equation may not determine the bursting force exactly because it was designed on the basis of two-dimensional numerical analyses without considering various design parameters such as the duct hole and shape of the bearing plate. To improve the design equation, modification of the AASHTO LRFD design equation was considered. The behavior of the anchorage zone was investigated using three-dimensional linear elastic finite element analysis with design parameters such as bearing plate size and diameter of sheath hole. Upon the suggestion of a modified design equation for evaluating the bursting force in an anchorage block with a rectangular anchorage plate (Kim and Kwak 2018), additional influences of design parameters that could affect the evaluation of bursting force were investigated. An improved equation was introduced for determining the bursting force in an anchorage block with a circular anchorage plate, using the same procedure introduced in the design equation for an anchorage block with a rectangular anchorage plate. The validity of the introduced design equation was confirmed by comparison with AASHTO LRFD.