The present study utilizes advanced numerical simulation techniques for modeling prestress concrete members and investigates the thermal strain feature available in ABAQUS finite element analysis software to simulate the transfer of prestress from strands to concrete in a pretensioned bridge girder. The prestressing of tendons has thus been simulated by correlating the thermal strain due to a temperature change with the prestressing strain and applying a thermal load (temperature decrease) to the tendons. Concrete and steel strands have been modeled as a solid continuum using eight-noded, reduced integration brick elements and six-noded triangular elements, respectively. The material property of concrete has been modelled using the concrete damage plasticity model through a combination of multi-hardening plasticity and scalar (isotropic) damaged elasticity. The interaction between the strands and the concrete has been simulated using contact formulation between the two materials. The results from the converged FE model match well with theoretical and experimental results. It has thus been concluded that the thermal strain feature available in ABAQUS can be utilized for large scale prestress simulations.