Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation

The behavior of arch composite beams prestressed with external tendons is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study, combining the structural efficiency of arch geometry, composite action, and external prestressing. Unlike traditional studies focused on straight beams, this research...

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Main Authors: Abdelrahim Sabsabi, Oussama Baalbaki, Adnan Masri, Hassan Ghanem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501151X
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author Abdelrahim Sabsabi
Oussama Baalbaki
Adnan Masri
Hassan Ghanem
author_facet Abdelrahim Sabsabi
Oussama Baalbaki
Adnan Masri
Hassan Ghanem
author_sort Abdelrahim Sabsabi
collection DOAJ
description The behavior of arch composite beams prestressed with external tendons is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study, combining the structural efficiency of arch geometry, composite action, and external prestressing. Unlike traditional studies focused on straight beams, this research explores curved composite systems, offering a more efficient alternative for infrastructure applications. Three full-scale beams were tested: a fully prestressed composite beam, a fully composite beam without prestressing, and a partially composite beam with reduced shear connectors. Load–deflection behavior, failure modes, tendon stress development, and strain distributions were analyzed. A finite element model using ABAQUS was developed and validated against experimental results, and a parametric study was performed to assess the influence of initial prestress levels. Results demonstrated that external prestressing increased the ultimate moment capacity by 80 %, reduced mid-span deflection by 60 %, and significantly redistributed internal stresses, promoting a favorable arching effect. Furthermore, reducing the number of shear connectors by 50 % led to a 28 % reduction in stiffness and a 20 % increase in ductility, with negligible impact on ultimate load. These findings highlight the potential of externally prestressed curved composite beams as a structurally and economically optimized solution for bridge and infrastructure systems.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-b7883fe8a39a4331b08cfe3ec746d6352025-08-20T03:53:38ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610507610.1016/j.rineng.2025.105076Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigationAbdelrahim Sabsabi0Oussama Baalbaki1Adnan Masri2Hassan Ghanem3Corresponding authors.; Faculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, 12-5020, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, 12-5020, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, 12-5020, Beirut, LebanonCorresponding authors.; Faculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University, 12-5020, Beirut, LebanonThe behavior of arch composite beams prestressed with external tendons is experimentally and numerically investigated in this study, combining the structural efficiency of arch geometry, composite action, and external prestressing. Unlike traditional studies focused on straight beams, this research explores curved composite systems, offering a more efficient alternative for infrastructure applications. Three full-scale beams were tested: a fully prestressed composite beam, a fully composite beam without prestressing, and a partially composite beam with reduced shear connectors. Load–deflection behavior, failure modes, tendon stress development, and strain distributions were analyzed. A finite element model using ABAQUS was developed and validated against experimental results, and a parametric study was performed to assess the influence of initial prestress levels. Results demonstrated that external prestressing increased the ultimate moment capacity by 80 %, reduced mid-span deflection by 60 %, and significantly redistributed internal stresses, promoting a favorable arching effect. Furthermore, reducing the number of shear connectors by 50 % led to a 28 % reduction in stiffness and a 20 % increase in ductility, with negligible impact on ultimate load. These findings highlight the potential of externally prestressed curved composite beams as a structurally and economically optimized solution for bridge and infrastructure systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501151XArch composite beamPrestressExternal tendonsFinite element analysisStructural optimization
spellingShingle Abdelrahim Sabsabi
Oussama Baalbaki
Adnan Masri
Hassan Ghanem
Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
Results in Engineering
Arch composite beam
Prestress
External tendons
Finite element analysis
Structural optimization
title Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
title_full Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
title_fullStr Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
title_full_unstemmed Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
title_short Behavior of arch composite beam: Experimental and numerical investigation
title_sort behavior of arch composite beam experimental and numerical investigation
topic Arch composite beam
Prestress
External tendons
Finite element analysis
Structural optimization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501151X
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AT oussamabaalbaki behaviorofarchcompositebeamexperimentalandnumericalinvestigation
AT adnanmasri behaviorofarchcompositebeamexperimentalandnumericalinvestigation
AT hassanghanem behaviorofarchcompositebeamexperimentalandnumericalinvestigation