Analysis of stress distribution in anchorage zones of pretensioned beams

The stress transmission mechanism in pretensioned concrete beams, though very interesting from an economical point of view, is very complex, integrating various phenomenons such as sliding, bond, bursting. For long the complexity of this mechanism has led engineers to provide a massive rectangular anchorage zone at each end of the beam. The necessity of using such a concrete reinforcementrnis certainly unquestionable in post-tensioned beams. However in pretensioned elements the stresses induced in concrete in the anchorage zone are smaller than in post-tensioned elements. In this article the stress field in the end zone is calculated numerically and from this analysis the possible reduction of the cross-section of the anchorage block is examined.