Numerical Study of the Bending of Prestressed Concrete Beams: Contribution of Iron-Based SMA

This study aims to quantify the contribution of iron-based Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) in concrete beams reinforcement, using Finite Elements Method (FEM) numerical simulations. In order to achieve this, several steps have been carried out. First, a calibration process to adjust Auricchio and Petrini model to the available experimental data on the Fe-32Mn-6Si has been performed. Then, numerical simulations on both concrete beams reinforced by SMA and conventional steel have been done on Abaqus. The results highlighted the advantages of prestressed beams with SMA reinforcement over prestressed beams with conventional steel reinforcement. It showed that the stresses in concrete could be reduced down to 29% just by heating the reinforcement up to 107 ℃. This in-depth analysis offers important perspectives for optimizing prestressed structures in civil engineering.