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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img width="600" height="170" style="width:6.25in;height:1.7708in" id="_x0000_i1043" src="cid:image001.png@01DBB2A6.8A8970E0" alt="Thesis Defense Announcement at the Cullen College of Engineering"></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#C8102E;mso-ligatures:none">Analytical and Experimental Investigations on the Transfer and Development Lengths of High-Strength
Duplex Stainless Steel (HSSS) Strands in Prestressed Concrete Girders</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Hadi Beyki</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">April 28, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CST)<br>
Location: N137 Conference Room - Civil & Environmental Engineering Department</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Committee Chair:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Dr. Abdeldjelil Belarbi</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Committee Members:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Dr. Dimitrios Kalliontzis | Dr. Theocharis Baxevanis | Dr. Abdelmounaim Mechaala </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#C8102E;mso-ligatures:none">Abstract<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#C8102E;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Conventional Carbon Steel (CS) strands have long been used as longitudinal prestressed reinforcement in bridge elements. Although prior research
has been conducted on stainless steel strands, studies specifically investigating their development length in prestressed applications remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the transfer and development lengths of High-Strength Stainless
Steel (HSSS) strands compared to CS strands, particularly in prestressed concrete girders and piles designed for corrosive environments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">A comprehensive research project has been conducted on predicting the transfer and development length of CS strands, leading to various analytical
and empirical models. However, the applicability of these models to HSSS strands remains uncertain due to differences in material properties and bond behavior. This study employs a comprehensive experimental program using rectangular prestressed concrete prisms
to compare the transfer and development lengths of HSSS and CS strands. In an effort to enhance accuracy and reliability, a redundant experimental approach is used, incorporating multiple measurement techniques to capture strand stresses during testing. This
ensures a more precise evaluation of the bond behavior and load transfer mechanisms between CS and HSSS strands. By analyzing key influencing factors identified in existing models for CS strands, this research evaluates their suitability for HSSS strands and
explores potential modifications to enhance predictive accuracy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">The findings provide critical insights into the bond characteristics and load transfer mechanisms of HSSS strands, contributing to improved design
guidelines for prestressed concrete elements. Using a comprehensive testing methodology strengthens the reliability of this study, offering engineers a holistic understanding of HSSS strand behavior and supporting their broader application in bridge structures
exposed to harsh environments.</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:11.3pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><img width="600" height="81" style="width:6.25in;height:.8437in" id="_x0000_i1056" src="cid:image002.png@01DBB2A6.8A8970E0" alt="Engineered For What's Next"> </span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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