A correct choice of a bond model for prestressing tendons is crucial for the right modelling of a structural behaviour of a pretensioned concrete structure. The aim of this paper is the determination of an optimal bond model for 7-wire strands in a prestressed concrete beam produced in a precast concrete plant of Consolis Poland. ATENA 3D is used to develop finite element models of the beam that differ only in a bond stress-slip relationship of tendons. The bond stress-slip relationships for modelling are taken from the results of bond tests carried out by different researchers in previous years. Moreover, for comparison purposes, a simplified 2D model of the beam is created in Autodesk Robot. The strain distribution at the time of the strand release is found for each of the finite element models. The determined strain distributions are compared with the strain distribution in the beam established by an experimental test using a measuring system based on a digital image correlation. On the basis of the comparison results, the most appropriate bond models for 7-wire strands used in the beam are identified.

Prestress losses are usually calculated by bringing the tendons in the cross-section to the single resultant tendon. This solution is correct only for tendons concentrated in one part of the cross-section, while with their wider distribution, for example after the use of upper tendons, it may result in underestimation of losses in the lower tendons and overestimation in the upper tendons. The paper presents formulae to determine time dependent prestress losses separately for the top and bottom tendons of a pretensioned concrete member. Furthermore, variations of stress in the prestressing steel are analysed for two pretensioned concrete members to evaluate the possibility of using the equation (5.46) from the Eurocode 2 for the resultant tendon instead of the deduced formulae. The aim of this study is to show how great the error of estimated loss of prestressing force on the basis of several typical prestressed concrete sections can be.