See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259982664

Evaluation of the shear capacity of

precast-prestressed hollow core slabs:
numerical and experimental comparisons
Article in Materials and Structures April 2015
DOI: 10.1617/s11527-014-0250-6

CITATIONS

READS

10

796

3 authors:
Emanuele Brunesi

Davide Bolognini

European Centre for Training and Rese

European Centre for Training and Rese

22 PUBLICATIONS 98 CITATIONS

50 PUBLICATIONS 315 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

SEE PROFILE

Roberto Nascimbene
European Centre for Training and Rese
79 PUBLICATIONS 322 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate,

letting you access and read them immediately.

Available from: Roberto Nascimbene

Retrieved on: 16 October 2016

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

DOI 10.1617/s11527-014-0250-6

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Evaluation of the shear capacity of precast-prestressed

hollow core slabs: numerical and experimental comparisons
E. Brunesi D. Bolognini R. Nascimbene

Received: 5 February 2013 / Accepted: 7 January 2014 / Published online: 28 January 2014
 RILEM 2014

Abstract Since eighties, 400 and 500 mm thick

precast-prestressed concrete hollow core slabs, characterized by increasingly optimized cross-sections
with non-circular voids, became very common. However, deeper slabs with long spans, which have to resist
high line loads acting close to the supports, are
subjected to initial web shear cracking and may fail at
loads less than those predicted by traditional codes
prescriptions. The shear strength capacity of these
members without transverse reinforcement is evaluated through a campaign of detailed nonlinear finite
element analyses, matching experimental test data
collected from past programs. Constitutive models,
based on nonlinear fracture mechanisms, are considered to numerically reproduce the experimental
response of single span, simply supported, isolated
hollow core units, highlighting web-shear failure
mechanism, due to short development length and lack

E. Brunesi (&)
ROSE Programme, UME School, IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy
e-mail: emanuele.brunesi@eucentre.it
URL: http://www.umeschool.it
D. Bolognini  R. Nascimbene
European Centre for Training and Research in Earthquake
Engineering (EUCENTRE), Pavia, Italy
e-mail: davide.bolognini@eucentre.it
URL: http://www.eucentre.it
R. Nascimbene
e-mail: roberto.nascimbene@eucentre.it
URL: http://www.eucentre.it

of transverse reinforcement. The adopted diffuse

smeared fixed cracking constitutive model allows a
reliable prediction of shear stress distributions and
crack patterns for these members in their inelastic
branch. The presence of a variable inclined strut is
clearly evident. Peak shear stress is localized at the
bottom side of the cross-section, rather than at the
level of the centroid. The experienced brittle webshear failure mechanism is governed by hollow core
shapes with circular or non-circular voids, as evidenced by the evolution of the principal tensile strain
distributions. Typically, less inclined, more rounded,
diagonal crack, controlled by the smooth web width
variation along depth, is opposed to a fairly constant
variation of the fracture angle inclination, governed by
the abrupt and irregular web width drop.
Keywords Hollow core slab  Shear strength 
Prestressed concrete  Precast members  Noncircular voids
Abbreviations
a
a1
a1
Alow
Aup
bw
D
Di/Di,max

Shear span
Distance between two line loads
Ratio of distance from end of member
to transfer length
Area of lower strands
Area of upper strands (if present)
Sum of web widths
Cross-section depth, assumed as HS
Normalized depth

1504

Dlow
Dup
Dz
dp,low
dC50
E1
E3
Fz
fc
fC50,mean

fctd
ft
/
H
HH
HS
I
LF
Ls
Lt
Nlow
Nup
Ri
S
Slow
Sup
rcp
rp
rp0
rp0,low
rp0,up

tb

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Diameter of lower strands

Diameter of upper strands (if present)
Mid-span vertical displacement
Average distance from lower strand to
the soffit
Standard deviation of fC50,mean
Principal tensile strain
Principal compressive strain
Shear force at the support
Concrete compressive strength
Mean concrete compressive strength
by cylinder tests on 50 mm cores
drilled from the tested specimens
Design tensile strength of concrete per
EC2
Concrete tensile strength
Diameter of strand
Nominal slab depth
Average depth of hollow core
Average depth of slab cross-section
Moment of inertia of the section about
the centroidal axis
Normalized load level
Distance between slab end and centre
of support
Transfer length of prestressing force in
strands, assumed as 55/ (slow release)
Number of lower strands
Number of upper strands (if present)
Ratio between experimentally observed
and predicted shear strength capacity
First area moment of the section about
the centroidal axis
Largest slippage of lower strands
Largest slippage of upper strands (if
present)
Fully effective concrete compressive
stress at the centroid due to prestressing
Prestress in the strands within the
transfer region
Fully effective prestress in the strands
outside the transfer region
Initial fully effective prestress in lower
strands outside the transfer region
Initial fully effective prestress in upper
strands (if present) outside the transfer
region
Length of bearing

tlow
syz
Vobs
Vpre
x
x/D

Average concrete thickness below the

hollow core
Shear stress
Experimentally observed shear strength
capacity
Predicted shear strength capacity
Coordinate along the longitudinal axis
of the member
Ratio between longitudinal distance
from the support and cross-section depth

1 Hollow core features and criticalities

The use of precast concrete in flooring system is a
widespread practice in many countries. Precast-prestressed hollow core (PPHC) units are commonly
spread products of precast industry, finding wide
applications in building construction, particularly as
floor and roof components. Short construction times,
high level of quality and consistent reduction of selfweight are achievable, allowing manufacturers to
cover spans up to 20 m. The upper surface of the
hollow core slabs is usually levelled with a cast-in situ
concrete topping. Normally, for long spans, advantage
is not taken of this topping layer as a composite
construction because of the uncertainty concerning the
bond strength between the precast and cast-in situ
concrete. Proper shear strength at the interface is
required for the composite action; the horizontal and
vertical shear strength of the joint between adjacent
hollow core units has to be high enough to transmit the
forces due to horizontal diaphragm action and loadsharing of concentrated loads.
Through the years, 200 and 265 mm thick units,
characterized by cross-sections with circular voids, were
replaced by deeper units (320, 370, 400 and 500 mm),
presenting cross sections with non-circular voids. Standardized cross-section shapes, usually characterized by
relevant void ratios, mostly depending on the thickness
of the slab itself, were increasingly optimized. However,
experimental research works available in literature [9,
13] evidenced that PPHC slabs, with deeper cross
sections, could be subjected to initial web shear cracking
at the end regions, resulting into critical brittle failure
mechanisms. Comparisons with traditional codes prescriptions, American Concrete Institute (ACI) [1] and
Eurocode (EC2) [5], highlighted that these members

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

2.5
200
265
320
370
400
500
Vobs = Vpre

Ri = Vobs / Vpre []

1.5

200
265
320
370
400
500
Vobs = Vpre

1.5

0.5

0.5

2.5

Ri = Vobs / Vpre []

1505

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

100

200

300

2.5
200
265
320
370
400
500
Vobs = Vpre

Ri = Vobs / Vpre []

1.5

0.5

500

600

700

800

2.5
200
265
320
370
400
500
Vobs = Vpre

Ri = Vobs / Vpre []

400

Vpre [kN]

Vpre [kN]

1.5

0.5

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Vpre [kN]

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Vpre [kN]

Fig. 1 ad Ri versus Vpre for each considered depth, according to EC2, Yangs approach, ACI and CSA, respectively

without transverse reinforcement, generally not feasible, can fail, due to web-shear cracking in the disturbed end regions, at loads less than those predicted by
conventional design methods.
Although PPHC slabs have been widely adopted,
some aspects of the commonly-used design approaches
against shear are still a cause of concern; short bearings
and not fully developed prestressing force influence
their response. Furthermore, their common production
system (i.e. extrusion) may result in features not
properly in agreement with those of the standard
concrete strength monitoring procedures. PPHC have
undergone extensive experimental tests [2, 8, 12, 21] to
verify their compliance with the provisions of traditional Codes and Standards and classify the possible
failure modes. Walraven and Mercx [21] also noticed
that the observed shear resistance was lower than the

predicted one when the voids were non-circular.

Furthermore, Yang [23] observed that the maximum
tensile stress is not located at the level of the centroid,
as expected by EC2, which, additionally, ignores the
shear stresses due to the prestress force. Recently,
Hawkins and Ghosh [9] have also shown that PPHC
slabs deeper than 320 mm can fail in shear at loads less
than those predicted by ACI recommendations. Additional explanations for the observed mismatch have to
be researched in the different contributions to shear
transfer mechanism with respect to traditional normalstrength concretes [7]. Shear failure surfaces in highstrength concrete members are smoother than in
normal-strength concrete ones, showing cracks that
can be propagated through coarse aggregate
particles rather than around them, as shown by Cladera
and Mar [6].

1506

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Fig. 2 Conceptual experimental test set up: details of wedges, rollers and examples of tested hollow core units (adapted from [13])

Table 1 Cases of study: model and slab type, nominal depth (H), number, diameter, area, initial prestress and largest slippage of
upper (Nup, Dup, Aup, rp0,up, Sup) and lower strands
Model
type

Slab
type

H
(mm)

Nup
()

Dup
(mm)

Aup
(mm2)

rp0,up
(MPa)

Sup
(mm)

Nlow
()

Dlow
(mm)

Alow
(mm2)

rp0,low
(MPa)

Slow
(mm)

200

Circular

200

265

Circular

265

12.5

93

1100

0.4

10

12.5

93

1100

320a

Non-circular

320

1.1

13

12.5

93

1100

320b

Non-circular

320

2.5

11

12.5

93

1000

320c

Circular

320

370

Non-circular

370

9.3

52

900

0.2

11

12.5

93

1000

0.6

12

12.5

93

1000

400a

Non-circular

400

0.6

13

12.5

93

1100

400b

Non-circular

1.3

400

13

12.5

93

1000

500

Non-circular

1.9

500

16

12.5

93

1000

0.8

1.1 Experimental test database and accuracy

of current design methods
Past experimental data, collected by Pajari [13], have
been re-examined to obtain an experimental database
of single span, simply supported, isolated PPHC units,
loaded with transverse and uniformly distributed line
loads, highlighting web-shear failure mechanism, due
to short development length and lack of shear reinforcement. The 49 specimens were characterized by
six nominal slab depths, five hollow core shapes with
circular and non-circular voids, different void ratios,
several prestressing steel strands arrangements and

levels of initial prestress. The imposed vertical loads

acted at x/D [ 2.4. No cast-in situ filling concrete was
provided in the voids at the end regions. Idealized
pinned ends were mechanically materialized by rollers
and wedges, properly tightened to prevent torque.
To quantify their effectiveness, three commonlyknown Codes prescriptions, EC2, ACI and Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) [3], as well as a research
approach [23] against web-shear failure mechanism,
were adopted to predict Pajari experimental database.
In particular, Eq. 6.4 of EC2, reported below,
Eqs. 1112 of ACI and Eqs. 11-6, 11-10, 11-11 and
11-13 of CSA were used.

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

1507
below hollow core (tlow), average distance from lower strand to
the soffit (dp,low), mean core strength (fC50,mean) and relative
standard deviation (dC50)

Table 2 Cases of study. length, span, mass, bearing (tb), shear

span (a) and distance between two line loads (a1), average
depth of section (HS), sum of individual web widths (bw),
average depth of hollow core (HH), average concrete thickness
a(/a1)
(mm)

HS
(mm)

bw
(mm)

HH
(mm)

tlow
(mm)

dp,low
(mm)

fC50,mean
(MPa)

dC50
(MPa)

40

917

200

239

153

19

39

54.8

3.8

40

724

260

228

175

42

36

71.3

4.2

3810
3880

80
80

1,160
760

315
321

309
289

222
216

38
36

43
38

61.8
64.3

2.4
2.6

5,945

3100

40

826

310

263

213

40

51

46.8

2.0

7,002

6,942

4060

60

960/300

359

272

237

54

40

72.2

2.1

7,626

7,546

4510

80

1,048

402

286

299

49

38

71.5

4.0

400b

8,390

7,150

4580

100

1,150

390

293

310

38

41

67.3

1.7

500

8,492

8,412

6000

80

1,475/300

503

324

398

40

47

76.4

2.6

Length
(mm)

Span
(mm)

Mass
(kg)

tb
(mm)

200

6,643

6,603

2000

265

5,253

5,213

2240

320a
320b

7,198
7,995

7,118
5,800

320c

5,985

370
400a

Vpre;EC2

Ibw
S

q
fctd 2 a1 rcp fctd

10

As evidenced in Fig. 1, analytical approaches

roughly lead to unconservative (EC2 and Yang), or
over-conservative predictions (ACI and CSA), according to different nominal depths and geometry types,
not directly accounting for the influence of local
hollow core shape. Therefore, the inaccuracy of
current codes is reaffirmed, evidencing a particularly
critical scenario, if they are adopted outside of their
implicit field of applicability.

0
10

Stress [MPa]

Model
type

20
30
40
50
60
70
80
6

2 Nonlinear monotonic solid FE analyses

The critical scenario depicted by analytical predictions
suggests the need of a detailed campaign of numerical
analyses, as in past research works to assess the
performance of RC [10] and steel structures [11, 15,
22], addressed to investigate the effects of the hollow
core shape on the shear response of such members. To
properly reproduce the experimental test set up,
conceptually schematized in Fig. 2, refined nonlinear
3D FE models, based on nonlinear fracture mechanisms, were developed and monotonically loaded till
the brittle web-shear failure mechanism is reached.
Nine specimens, whose main features are presented
in Tables 1 and 2, have been considered. In particular,
for 320 mm deep slabs, three specimens have been
selected: two characterized by non-circular and one by
circular voids, to quantify the hollow core shape

200
265
320a
320b
320c
370
400a
400b
500
5

Strain []

1
3

x 10

Fig. 3 Calibration of the solid FE models: uniaxial tensile and

compressive constitutive laws

influence on the shear strength capacity for members

with similar depths. Similarly, two 400 mm deep units
have been analysed, since they evidence non-circular
hollow core shapes with various levels of irregularity.
2.1 Proposed numerical approach
To predict brittle web-shear failure mechanism, the
total strain crack model, developed along the lines of
the modified compression field theory (MCFT), originally proposed by Vecchio and Collins [19] and then
extended to the three-dimensional case by Selby and
Vecchio [16], was adopted. The classical Von Mises
yielding criterion with strain hardening was used for

1508

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Fig. 4 Specimen 320b:

example of detailed solid
FE models developed

Table 3 Total number of bricks and DoF for each specimen

Model type

#Bricks
m1

#DoF
m2

Strip

m1

m2

Strip

200

124,960

88,770

13,640

257,187

181,566

28,927

265

73,920

52,800

9,600

153,800

110,120

20,871

320a

190,060

129,688

30,160

365,533

250,027

59,259

320b

155,100

109,604

25,016

303,727

215,155

50,337

320c

187,872

131,016

29,468

350,891

245,321

56,436

370

253,640

173,072

40,832

461,977

316,015

76,107

400a

247,680

165,120

37,920

467,279

312,299

72,903

400b

224,112

151,984

34,220

427,631

290,711

66,699

500

350,976

230,328

52,416

636,664

418,864

96,714

Table 4 Combinations of prestress distributions and losses of

prestress
Loss of
prestress (%)

8
0
0 x Ls  5/
>
< 
2 
s
1  Lt 5/xL
rp0 5/  x Ls 5/ Lt
rp
Lt
>
:
rp0
x Ls  5/ Lt

Combination
ID

Prestress
distribution

m2p1

Parabolic

m2p2

Parabolic

15

m2p3

Linear

m2p4

Linear

15

Therefore, no interface elements were introduced to

represent strands-concrete interaction, since implicitly
captured by an equivalent prestress distribution.
According to Pajari [13], two loss of prestress ratios,
5 and 15 %, were adopted, due to the little level of
knowledge about concrete mix and storing conditions,
also providing an upper and lower threshold and
showing that the shear capacity of PPHC units is not
sensitive to small variations in the losses. Similar
range is observed by direct computations, as confirmed by Palmer and Schultz [14] for analogous

prestressed steel strands, represented as embedded

elements. Two types of prestress distribution, linear,
according to codes provisions (ACI and CSA) and
parabolic, according to Yang [23], were considered to
evaluate their influence on the shear strength. In
particular, Eq. 2, proven by full-scale tests [17],
expresses the parabolic curve selected.

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

PPHC slabs, even though more conservative levels

(2025 %) may be assumed in the design process of
such members to safely represent the long-term
effects. The diffuse smeared fixed cracking constitutive law assumed for concrete exploits an exponential
softening decay curve and Thorenfeldt et al. [18]
model for uniaxial tensile and compressive behavior,
respectively. Figure 3 presents the calibration of the
adopted uniaxial tensile and compressive constitutive

1509

laws, for each selected specimen, according to CEBFIP Model Code [4].
Confinement effect was neglected, while full shear
retention and lateral crack effect [20] were potentially
accounted, as well as inward slippage of the strands.
NewtonRaphson iteration scheme was adopted with
an energy-normalized convergence criterion. Sixnode brick elements were used and mesh sensitivity
was investigated by doubling the extruding offset. For

Fig. 5 Comparison between experimentally observed and numerically predicted web-shear failure mechanism: a experimental failure
of specimen 320b (adapted from [13] )and b numerical crack pattern at ultimate conditions

1510

2.2 Results and discussion

In this section, FE results are synthesized to outline the
influence of the hollow core shape on the web-shear
failure mechanism and, hence, on the shear strength of
such members. First, the proposed numerical approach
is validated by focusing on a single PPHC unit, taken
as reference. Therefore, the accuracy of the FE
predictions obtained for the nine specimens analysed
is quantified in comparison with experimental data.
Finally, the observed trends are justified by considering the evolution of local quantities, such as principal
tensile strain and shear stress, in order to depict
behavioral changes as consequence of geometrical
variations in the cross-section shape of such slabs.
2.2.1 Model validation: specimen 320b
The adopted modeling approach evidences a consistent match with experimental test results; Fig. 5
presents a comparison between the experimentally
observed and numerically predicted web-shear failure
mechanism, for a 320 mm deep PPHC unit, characterized by non-circular voids (specimen 320b). Principal tensile and compressive strains, crack pattern and
shear stress distribution at failure are in close agreement with the collapse mechanism evidenced by the
experimental damage pattern at the end of the test. A
smooth, inclined crack, whose width reduces as the
imposed displacement monotonically increases,
emerges from both principal tensile strains and
numerical crack pattern. Simultaneously, an inclined
compressive diagonal strut arises according to the
principal tensile strain distribution, resulting in the
undergone failure mode, also confirmed by a cut-off in
the shear stress flow.
According to mesh sensitivity analysis, strip
modeling assumptions and the considered combinations of prestress distributions and losses, six capacity
curves (i.e. shear force at the support, Fz, vs. mid-span

250

200

Shear Force Fz [kN]

each specimen, an equivalent strip of the PPHC unit

was modelled to evaluate the effectiveness of this
assumption. An example of the FE mesh is depicted in
Fig. 4, while Table 3 summarizes the total number of
brick elements and degrees of freedom employed for
each specimen. Finally, considering the four combinations of prestress distributions and losses, detailed in
Table 4, a total of 54 models were created.

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

320bm1p1
320bm2p1
320bm2p2
320bm2p3
320bm2p4
HypS320bm2p1

150

100

50

0
6

Vertical Displacement Dz [mm]

Fig. 6 Specimen 320b: capacity curves, according to mesh

sensitivity, strip modeling assumption and the four combinations of prestress distributions and losses

vertical displacement, Dz) are graphed in Fig. 6.

Independency with respect to adopted mesh refinements is achieved through a proper calibration of the
crack bandwidth in each discretization zone, since the
observed response is essentially governed by tensile
behavior. The choice of parabolic or linear prestress
distribution in strands leads to negligibly small global
differences in terms of shear resistance (\0.1 %),
while larger influence is expected to occur if local
parameters, as stresses and strains distributions, are
considered. More appreciable difference is due to the
loss of prestress ratio. The adoption of 15 % loss
implies a reduced shear strength capacity, of about
5 %, if compared to 5 % loss; furthermore, the
capacity curves obtained for 15 % evidences a
smoother nonlinear response for lower levels of shear
force at the support, being also characterized by a
reduced ultimate mid-span vertical displacement
capacity of about 5 %. In this case, the strip modeling
assumption, referred as HypS, cannot be accounted
either for design purposes, as the convergence of the
analysis failed when the capacity curve came into its
nonlinear branch, resulting in an over-conservative
estimation of the shear strength capacity. The intrinsic
lack of ductility reserves is confirmed by an evidently
low displacement ductility capacity, up to 1.3,
achieved for a maximum mid-span vertical drift of
*0.2 %.
The evolution of the shear stress distributions in the
end region of the specimen is presented in Fig. 7.
Specimen 320b, whose non-circular hollow core shape

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

b 350

350
LF=19%
LF=37%
LF=48%
LF=59%
LF=70%
LF=78%
LF=85%
LF=93%
LF=96%
LF=100%

300

Depth [mm]

250

200

250

150

150

100

50

50

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

200

100

0
7

LF=19%
LF=37%
LF=48%
LF=59%
LF=70%
LF=78%
LF=85%
LF=93%
LF=96%
LF=100%

300

Depth [mm]

1511

0
7

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

350
320bm2p1
320bm2p2
320bm2p3
320bm2p4

300

Depth [mm]

250

200

150

100

50

0
7

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

Fig. 7 Evolution of the shear stress distributions at a x/D = 0.4 and b x/D = 0.7; c comparison between the four combinations of
prestress distributions and losses (x/D = 0.4)

presents an evidently abrupt and irregular web width

drop along the depth (Fig. 4), highlights the presence
of a strongly-disturbed zone. High shear stress
concentrations are observed in the first LFs, since
the section shown in Fig. 7a is taken in correspondence of a strand, longitudinally, and, transversally at
x/D = 0.4, where the prestressing force develops at a
high force variation per length. This concentration is
mostly due to the prestressing force and is mitigated as
x/D increases (see Fig. 7b). As LF increases, the shear
stress develops in the linear branch of the capacity
curve, evidencing a second discontinuity below the
mid-depth, where the web width drop is localized. For
further LF increments, the shear stress peaks at the
strand level slightly increase, while a much more

evident increment is detected in the upper discontinuity. At LF roughly equal to 50 %, the peak shear stress
overall the depth rises up from the strand to the web
width drop level. This concentration remains pronounced up to LF = 85 %, when the first cracking
appears. For further LF increments, the ratio between
the current and previous peaks increases at a lower
rate, in accordance with the reduced slope of the
capacity curve into its nonlinear branch and the related
shear stress redistribution. Finally, at LF = 100 %,
the peak is further uplifted, in accordance with the
shear stress cut-off experienced. This behavior reveals
the complex interaction between cross-section geometric features, in terms of hollow core shape, and the
transfer mechanism of the prestressing force. The two

1512

500
200m2p1
265m2p1
320am2p1
320bm2p1
320cm2p1
370m2p1
400am2p1
400bm2p1
500m2p1

450

Shear Force Fz [kN]

400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0.5

0.5

1.5

Vertical Drift [%]

2
1.8

EC2
Yang
ACI
CSA
FEM
Vobs = Vpre

1.6

Ri = Vobs / Vpre []

discontinuities of the indented, fairly parabolic shear

stress distributions are particularly visible for sections
close to the support (x/D \ 0.56). Their evolution,
according to the experienced web-shear failure mechanism, results into an inclined crack. Their peak is
forced to rise up, increasing both longitudinal distance
from the support and imposed vertical displacement,
according to hollow core shape and inherent web
width drop. In fact, sections particularly close to the
support (x/D \ 0.56), are characterized by a localization of the shear stress peak evidently below with
respect to the centroidal axis, about 25 %, while for
sections, placed at 0.56 \ x/D \ 1.68, this mismatch
tends to reduce, reaching a difference of *12 %.
Furthermore, at x/D = 2, the maximum shear stress is
localized at the level of the centroid of the PPHC unit.
If shear stresses at ultimate conditions are considered (see Fig. 7c), the comparison between the two
prestress distributions, for the same prestress loss,
leads to negligibly small differences in terms of peak
shear stress experienced overall the whole unit (2 %),
while the comparison between the two loss of prestress
ratios, for the same prestress distribution, evidences
slightly more appreciable mismatch (6 %).

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2

2.2.2 Accuracy of FE predictions

Figure 8a presents the capacity curves determined for
the nine specimens, assuming 5 % loss of prestress;
shear force at support versus mid-span vertical drift
rather than displacement curves are shown to compare
units with different lengths. The effectiveness of the FE
models developed, accounting both for geometrical and
material nonlinearities, is reaffirmed. An accurate
agreement with experimentally observed shear strength
capacities is achieved, since 0.96 \ Ri \ 1.05, with a
mean value of 0.998, characterized by a reduced
standard deviation of 2.8 %, as shown in Tables 5 and
6 and graphed in Fig. 8b. Herein, a comparison with
analytical predictions (EC2, Yang, ACI and CSA) is
presented as well. As a general tendency, slightly
unconservative predictions are observed for PPHC units
with circular voids and small nominal depths (200 and
265 mm), while, as the slab depth increases ([300 mm),
the accuracy of the FE results tends to increase. The level
of non-conservatism (EC2 and Yang) or over-conservatism (ACI and CSA) disappears and an evidently
lower standard deviation demonstrates the robustness of
the proposed modeling approach.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Vpre [kN]

Fig. 8 Shear capacities of the nine specimens selected: a shear

force at the support versus mid-span vertical drift curves and
b experimentally observed versus numerically (FEM) and
analytically predicted shear strength

Similar trends are obtained for 15 % loss of

prestress; in fact, the adoption of 15 % loss confirms
the previously mentioned reduction of shear resistance, approximately ranging from 4 to 10 %, according to specimen type. The capacity curves, obtained
for 15 % loss, are again characterized by a smoother
nonlinear branch for lower levels of shear force and, in
some cases, lower ultimate displacement capacity, of
about 1013 %, is even noticed. However, a weak
sensitivity of the failure mode with respect to the
prestress losses emerges, as, for all the specimens, the
web-shear failure mechanism is experienced at a
distance from support, which varies between one and
two cross-section depths, where the prestressing force
is not yet fully developed.
For mid-span vertical drifts, ranging from 0.1 to
0.4 %, the considered capacity curves reach their

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

1513

displacement ductility of about 1.3. Therefore, the

non-circularity of the voids, the inherent web width
variation along depth and concrete thickness above
and below the hollow core are observed to govern the
displacement ductility capacity of PPHC units, and,
hence, the fragility of the collapse mechanism
experienced.

nonlinear branches, with different slope and postyielding stiffness. Evidently low displacement ductility levels, approximately ranging from 1.3 to 2.3,
according to different hollow core shapes and crosssection features, are observed. Each specimen collapses by brittle web-shear mode, thus confirming the
intrinsic lack of ductility reserve for this type of
member. According to FE results, PPHC units with
circular voids typically exhibits a relatively more
ductile response, reaching a displacement ductility of
about 2, while a less uniform trend is detected in
deeper cross-sections characterized by non-circular
voids. In fact, displacement ductilities up to *2 are
determined for slabs presenting a relevant web width
and concrete thickness above and below the hollow
core itself (specimens 500 and 370) or an almost
regular web width variation along the hollow core
depth (specimen 400a). By contrast, specimens characterized by an abrupt and irregular web width drop
(specimen 400b) or reduced web width, if compared to
concrete thickness above and below the hollow core
(specimens 320a and 320b), ensure evidently lower

2.2.3 Influence of hollow core shape: 400b

versus 400a and 320c versus 320b
This trend is corroborated by the evolution of principal
tensile and compressive strain distributions, presented
in Figs. 9 and 10, for specimen 400b. The principal
tensile strain directly governs the failure mode and the
presence of a variable inclined strut and tie, whose
width and inclination angle evolves during the monotonic analysis, is clearly evident. As shown in Fig. 9,
tie width reduces as the imposed vertical displacement
increases, reproducing the actual shear stress flow,
characterized by peaks placed in correspondence of
the bottom side of the cross-section, rather than at the

Table 5 Comparison between experimental, analytical and FEM results

Model type

Loss of prestress = 5 %
EC2
Vobs
(kN)

Yang

ACI

Vpre
(kN)

Ri
()

Vpre
(kN)

Ri
()

CSA

Vpre
(kN)

FEM

Ri
()

Vpre
(kN)

Ri
()

Vpre
(kN)

Ri
()

200

90.2

145.7

0.619

128.0

0.704

98.5

0.916

114.8

0.786

94.3

0.956

265

219.4

223.8

0.980

223.7

0.981

155.8

1.408

158.1

1.388

223.2

0.983

320a

297.1

378.7

0.785

322.9

0.920

266.8

1.114

240.4

1.236

290.8

1.022

320b
320c

232.5
253.9

359.7
246.6

0.646
1.030

317.2
239.7

0.733
1.059

253.1
174.8

0.919
1.453

236.5
166.0

0.983
1.530

221.4
252.8

1.050
1.004

370

306.2

396.2

0.773

373.8

0.819

277.7

1.103

255.4

1.199

315.4

0.971

400a

291.3

475.4

0.613

444.0

0.656

363.3

0.802

309.0

0.943

293.9

0.991

400b

444.0

500.9

0.886

405.7

1.094

348.8

1.273

278.9

1.592

443.3

1.002

500

471.2

702.5

0.671

565.7

0.833

550.7

0.856

415.6

1.134

469.8

1.003

Vobs, Vpre and relative Ri for each specimen, according to EC2, ACI, CSA provisions, Yangs approach and FEM

Table 6 Mean and standard deviation of Ri, according to EC2, Yang, ACI, CSA and FEM approaches
Model type

Loss of prestress = 5 %
EC2

All

Yang

ACI

CSA

FEM

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

0.778

15.7 %

0.867

15.7 %

1.094

24.1 %

1.199

27.1 %

0.998

2.8 %

1514

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Fig. 9 Evolution of the principal tensile strains E1 for monotonically increased vertical displacement steps imposed (specimen 400b)

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

level of the centroid. A brittle web-shear failure

mechanism results from an inclined diagonal crack,
which, for this specimen, with a sharp web width
variation along the depth, almost linearly propagates
from the support to zones upper than the centroidal
axis at a distance of about two cross-section depths.
Accordingly, a diagonal strut, whose width increases
as the imposed vertical displacement increases, connects the transverse line load and the support, as
depicted in Fig. 10. This failure mode results into an
incipient change in the shear stress distribution,
localized at a distance roughly equal to the hollow
core depth, where the maximum tensile strain overall
the whole member is undergone.
In addition, the evolution of the principal tensile
strain distributions and inherent damage pattern
experienced by non-circular PPHC units with different
regularity of web width variation along depth is
compared, by taking specimens 400a and 400b as
reference. Specimen 400a, more regular than 400b,
presents very highly concentrated tensile strains in
correspondence of the minimum of the web width, as
shown in Fig. 11. For this type of cross-section
configuration, an inclined crack appears at the support
and, almost linearly, extends to approximately twice
the depth of the considered PPHC slab, since its
propagation along the longitudinal axis finds no
significantly abrupt web width variation. Conversely,
in specimen 400b, the principal tensile strain was
shown to be more evidently lumped at the level of the
sharp and irregular web width drop. As the distance
from the support increases, the experienced peak rises
up from the bottom of the cross-section, evidently
below with respect to the centroid, for sections close to
the support, to zones upper than the centroidal axis, for
sections at two depths. The evolution of the fracture
angle significantly differs from that shown by specimen 400a. Even though the inclination of both remains
fairly constant, at increased distances from the
support, specimen 400b highlights a more prominent
brittle web-shear failure mechanism, if compared to
400a, since the shear fracture more suddenly appears
and more rapidly evolves, as confirmed by their
capacity curves (Fig. 8a). As a result, it occurs a less
inclined and slightly more rounded fracture, whose
propagation along the longitudinal axis of the member
and evolution, according to the imposed monotonic
loading history, is controlled by a more abrupt and
irregular change in the hollow core shape.

1515

To further validate this trend, a comparison

between the evolution of the principal tensile strain
distributions, according to the monotonically increased
vertical displacements imposed, is presented in
Fig. 12, for units with circular (specimen 320c) and
non-circular (specimen 320b) hollow core shapes.
Specimen 320b evidences a failure mode in consistent
agreement with that previously discussed for specimen
400b, being the two PPHC units characterized by
similar cross-section geometric features, particularly
in terms of non-circularity of the voids. High principal
tensile strains concentrations are again depicted in the
inner constant part of the web width, causing a fairly
linear crack, which expands from the lower part of the
hollow core, in the proximity of the support, to upper
ones, in sections at about two slab depths. The fracture
angle observed visibly differs from those experienced
by PPHC units with circular voids, e.g. specimen
320c. According to its capacity curve, a more rapid
and brittle failure mechanism takes place in specimen
320b, highlighting a more inclined, almost linear,
fracture angle, whose spread follows the sharp and
prominent web width drop. On the contrary, in
specimen 320c, principal tensile strain peaks are
forced to occur in accordance with the gradual and
regular web width variation along the depth. In fact,
their evolution, according to the inherent crack pattern
at ultimate conditions, reveals a more manifest
variation of the fracture angle at further distances
from the support, resulting in a clearly more rounded
and less inclined diagonal crack, which links the
support and the centroidal axis at a distance of about
two hollow core depths.
Therefore, in Fig. 13, the shear stress distributions at ultimate conditions, obtained by assuming
parabolic prestress distribution along strands, combined with 5 % loss of prestress, are compared, for
each specimen, at commonly selected distance from
the support. The nine PPHC slabs analysed experience their peaks overall the whole unit at different
sections, anyway all included within 0 \ x/D \ 0.5.
The fairly parabolic shear stress distributions collected reaffirm the behavior previously discussed, in
terms of fracture angle inclination. Cross-sectional
geometric features, interacting with the transfer
mechanism of the prestressing force, govern their
evolution and shape, confirming that the web-shear
failure mode of such PPHC units depends on the
irregularity of the voids. Slabs characterized by

1516

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Fig. 10 Subsequent evolution of the principal compressive strains E3 for monotonically increased vertical displacement steps
(specimen 400b)

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

1517

Fig. 11 Different evolution of E1 in specimen 400a, still characterized by non-circular voids, but with increased regularity in terms of
web width variation along depth

1518
Fig. 12 Comparison
between the evolution of E1
for different hollow core
shapes, characterized by
a circular (specimen 320c)
and b non-circular voids
(specimen 320b)

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

1
200m2p1
265m2p1
320am2p1
320bm2p1
320cm2p1
370m2p1
400am2p1
400bm2p1
500m2p1

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
8

Normalized Depth Di / Di,max []

Normalized Depth Di / Di,max []

1519

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
8

200m2p1
265m2p1
320am2p1
320bm2p1
320cm2p1
370m2p1
400am2p1
400bm2p1
500m2p1

0.9

1
200m2p1
265m2p1
320am2p1
320bm2p1
320cm2p1
370m2p1
400am2p1
400bm2p1
500m2p1

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
8

Normalized Depth Di / Di,max []

Normalized Depth Di / Di,max []

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

1

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
8

200m2p1
265m2p1
320am2p1
320bm2p1
320cm2p1
370m2p1
400am2p1
400bm2p1
500m2p1

0.9

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

Shear Stress YZ [MPa]

Fig. 13 Shear stress distributions at ultimate conditions versus normalized slab depth for increased distance from the support,
assuming parabolic prestress distribution and 5 % loss of prestress

circular voids show a nearly parabolic slope, with

peaks closer to the level of the centroid, while more
prominent and irregular distributions are observed
for sections presenting non-circular voids, in accordance with a different web width variation along
depth. Furthermore, discontinuities at the prestressed strands level are particularly evident for
deeper cross-sections (specimens 400a, 400b and
500) which locally evidence strongly-disturbed and
indented slopes characterized by maxima localized
clearly below the centroidal axis of the member. For
further longitudinal distances from the support, the
local disturbance is visibly mitigated, resulting in
peaks close to the level of the centroid.

3 Conclusions
A modeling approach, based on nonlinear fracture
mechanisms, was proposed to predict the shear
response of PPHC slabs. Numerical observations were
discussed to investigate the failure mode of the units
analysed and to depict behavioral changes as consequence of geometrical variations in their cross-section
shape. The following observations and conclusions
were drawn from the numerical study:

In contrast of the mismatch shown by conventional

codes, a satisfying fit with experimental results
was achieved in terms of shear capacity, faithfully
reflecting the behavior of such high-strength

1520

concrete members (0.96 \ Ri \ 1.05, with mean

of 0.998 and standard deviation of 2.8 %).
The complex contribution due to the transfer
mechanism of prestressing force, which interacts
with the hollow core features, was highlighted by
the detailed FE analyses performed in a nonlinear
fashion. Furthermore, the influence of prestress
distributions and losses was quantified.
Intrinsic lack of ductility reserves was confirmed for
these units without transverse reinforcement and a
trend was established, according to the regularity of
the voids. Displacement ductility of about 2 was
observed for specimens with circular voids, while
levels slightly larger than unity were determined in
deep cross-sections with pronounced flat webs that
create discontinuities in the shear stress path.
The brittle web-shear failure mechanism experienced was proven to be controlled by hollow core
shapes and related non-circularity of the voids,
inherent web width variation along depth and
concrete chords above and below the void, as
confirmed by the evolution of the principal tensile
and compressive strains, developing a variable
inclined strut and tie mechanism.
The presence of a less inclined, more rounded,
diagonal crack, controlled by the smooth web width
variation along depth, is generally opposed to a fairly
constant variation of the fracture angle inclination,
governed by the abrupt and irregular web width drop.
Shear stress distributions confirmed the key role
played by cross-section features. Deeper specimens,
whose cross-sections are characterized by noncircular hollow core shapes, reveal more prominent,
irregular and indented shear stress distributions,
whose peak is localized evidently below the centroid,
at the level of the sharp change in their web width.
The numerical outcome of this research may be
directly applicable to develop alternative design
methods against web-shear failure of PPHC units,
saving the inaccuracy of previous proposals,
especially the various codes, by explicitly accounting for the influence of the hollow core shape.

References
1. ACI Committee (2005) Building code requirements for
structural concrete (ACI 31805) and commentary (ACI
318R05). American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

2. Becker RJ, Buettner DR (1985) Shear tests of extruded
hollow core slabs. PCI J 30(2):4054
3. Canadian Standards Association (2001). CSA standard
A23.3-04 design of concrete structures
4. CEB-FIP (1990) CEB-FIP Model Code. Comite EuroInternational du Beton, 1993
5. Commission for the European Communities (2005) Eurocode 2: design of concrete structuresPart 1: general rules
and rules for buildings, EN 1992-1-1
6. Cladera A, Mar AR (2005) Experimental study on highstrength concrete beams failing in shear. Eng Struct 27(10):
15191527
7. Duthinh D (1999) Sensitivity of shear strength of reinforced
concrete and prestressed concrete beams to shear friction
and concrete softening according to modified compression
field theory. ACI Struct J 96(4):495508
8. Girhammar UA (1992) Design principles for simply supported prestressed hollow core slabs. Struct Eng Rev,
Oxford, England, 4(4): 301316
9. Hawkins NM, Ghosh SK (2006) Shear strength of hollow
core slabs. PCI J 51(1):110115
10. Mpampatsikos V, Nascimbene R, Petrini L (2008) A critical
review of the RC frame existing building assessment procedure according to EUROCODE 8 and Italian seismic
code. J Earthq Eng 12(S1):5282
11. Nascimbene R, Rassati GA, Wijesundara KK (2011)
Numerical simulation of gusset-plate connections with
rectangular hollow section shape brace under quasi-static
cyclic loading. J Constr Steel Res 70:177189
12. Pajari M (1989) Design of prestressed hollow core slabs.
Research Report 657, VTT Building and Transport, Finland
13. Pajari M (2005) Resistance of prestressed hollow core slabs
against web shear failure. Research Notes 1292, VTT
Building and Transport, Finland
14. Palmer KD, Schultz AE (2011) Experimental investigation
of the web-shear strength of deep hollow-core units. PCI J
56(4):83104
15. Santagati S, Bolognini D, Nascimbene R (2012) Strain life
analysis at low cycle fatigue on concentrically braced steel
structures with RHS shape braces. J Earthq Eng 16(S1):
107137
16. Selby RG, Vecchio FJ (1993) Three-dimensional constitutive relations for reinforced concrete, Technical Report
9302, University of Toronto, Department Civil Engineering Toronto, Canada
17. Shahawy MA, Issa M, Batchelor BD (1992) Strand transfer
lengths in full scale AASHTO prestressed concrete girders.
PCI J 37(3):8496
18. Thorenfeldt E, Tomaszewicz A, Jensen JJ (1987) Mechanical properties of high-strength concrete and applications in
design. In: Proceedings symposium utilization of highstrength concrete, Trondheim, Norway, Tapir
19. Vecchio FJ, Collins MP (1986) The modified compression
field theory for reinforced concrete elements subjected to
shear. ACI Struct J 83(22):219231
20. Vecchio FJ, Collins MP (1993) Compression response of
cracked reinforced concrete. J Struct Eng ASCE 119(12):
35903610
21. Walraven JC, Mercx WPM (1983) The bearing capacity of
prestressed hollow core slabs. Heron, 28(3), p. 46

Materials and Structures (2015) 48:15031521

22. Wijesundara KK, Bolognini D, Nascimbene R, Calvi GM
(2009) Review of design parameters of concentrically
braced frames with RHS shape braces. J Earthq Eng 13(S1):
109131

1521
23. Yang L (1994) Design of prestressed hollow core slabs with
reference to web shear failure. J Struct Eng ASCE 120(9):
26752696