Anchorage zone stresses of beams subjected to shear forces

Transverse shear force effects on the stress and strain distributions of post-tensioned, rectangular, concrete anchorage blocks were studied, for both concentrically and eccentrically prestressed anchorage zones. From the threedimensional, isoparametric finite element model used, it was found that the peak lateral bursting stress in the beam width direction is always higher and nearer to the loaded face of the concrete than the peak transverse bursting stress in the direction of the beam height. Experimental verification involved the use of three-dimensional, embeddable, strain gage tripods, fabricated to measure the interior concrete strains in the anchorage blocks of fifteen beams subjected to transverse shear loadings up to failure. The measured strains were compared with the analytical strain curves and strain contours given by the three-dimensional finite element model, and found favorable. It was also found that the transverse shear load reduces the peak transverse bursting strain, but has little effect on the peak lateral bursting strain. The test ultimate transverse loads compared well with the respective theoretical loads, with a mean value of 1.10.