Interaction between the Local and General Zone for the Post-tensioned Girder Anchorage Zone

The use of post-tensioning in girders causes high bearing and compressive stresses in the anchorage zone. In this study, the behavior of the anchorage zone and the interaction between the local and general zone are investigated. The variables included different reinforcements for both the local and general zones for a block of two anchorage devices.

Both experimental and numerical methods have been applied to study the behavior of the anchorage zone. The experimental part of the study involved laboratory testing of sixteen specimens, and the numerical study was conducted using ABAQUS non-linear finite element analysis.

Tie reinforcement provided additional confinement for the local zone, and this confinement was more for the specimens with originally less confined spiral reinforcement strength. There was a slight or no effect of the local zone reinforcement on the general zone strength and ultimate load of the anchorage zone when the failure was in the general zone.

Confinement of the local zone prevented the brittle bearing and compression failure of this zone.