Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Flexural and Shear Behavior of Precast Prestressed Deep Hollow-Core Slabs

Abstract

The paper presents the results of flexural and shear tests up to failure on full-scale hollow-core slabs (HCS) having a depth of 500 mm. A detailed non-linear 2D finite element model is also developed to predict the stress distribution and crack pattern within the slabs, providing a well match with experimental results. Experimental and numerical results are compared with analytical calculations provided by Product Standard EN 1168, highlighting the inaccuracy of technical regulations in predicting shear behavior. The proposed numerical procedure is instead viable and sound for the design and the strength assessment of HCS, and can be extended easily to the analysis of whole floor systems.