Punching shear strength of prestressed concrete slabs

Abstract

Concrete is a one of the most commonly used material in construction of buildings. Possessing high compressive strength but significantly low tensile strength, it is an excellent construction material for buildings. With competition to construct the world’s tallest building in recent times, the use of prestressed concrete is gaining widespread acknowledgement. Prestressed concrete reduces the low tensile strength of concrete by introducing compressive stress initially and hence eliminating tensile cracks that might otherwise develop. Prestressing also makes possible for thinner sections, lower depth-to-span ratios, controlled deflections and a great reduction in weight. However, a problem concerning the punching resistance of prestressed concrete slabs still exists, with many codes of standards reflecting different results. An examination carried out to determine the results pertaining to Eurocode 2 and ACI code of standards show both codes producing considerably comparable results. Furthermore, changes and modifications made to their equations could significantly enhance their precisions.