Theoretical, experimental and numerical study on mechanical properties of innovative PSRC floor

This paper presented a novel prestressed steel reinforced concrete floor (PSRCF) structure designed for heavy-load and large-span applications. The mechanical properties of PSRCF, including cracking load, flexural capacity, and shear strength, were investigated through theoretical analysis, static load tests, and finite element method (FEM) simulations. Results indicated that PSRCF failed primarily in flexure, exhibiting excellent ductility and load-bearing capacity. The stiffness ratio method effectively predicted cracking load, showing a 6.06 % deviation from experimental values, while the partial superposition method provided the most accurate flexural capacity calculation (5.01 % error). Stirrups within the floor showed negligible influence on PSRCF's flexural capacity. Both straight and curved prestressed tendons enhanced the cracking load and peak load of the PSRCF. Specifically, the straight tendons increased the cracking load and peak load by 2.26 % and 4.85 %, respectively, while the curved tendons provided more substantial enhancements of 61.35 % and 38.62 %, respectively. The prestressing level significantly influenced the upward deflection and cracking load of the PSRCF. When the prestressing level increased from 0.4 to 0.75, the midspan upward deflection increased by 122.53 %, while the cracking load and yield load increased by 82.16 % and 5.12 %, respectively. However, the peak load was not significantly affected. For PSRCF designs, it was recommend adopting reinforcement and steel ratios close to the code-specified lower limits. PSRCF exhibited ample shear strength and typically failed in flexure, eliminating the need for excessive stirrups in support areas.