In this paper, Part 1, five full-scale prestressed concrete I-beams were tested to study the
effect of three variables: the shear spandepth ratio (a/d), the transverse steel ratio (ρ< sub>
t), and the presence of harped strands on the web shear and the flexural shear capacity. The
results from these tests, together with those found in literature, were used to develop an
accurate, yet simple, equation for the shear strengths of prestressed concrete beams. This
new equation is a function of the shear span-depth ratio (a/d), the strength of concrete√ f< …

The article examines the shear strengths of prestressed concrete beams and presents a new
equation for the shear strength of prestressed concrete beams. It states that the new
equation is a function of the shear span-depth ratio, the square root of strength of concrete,
the web area, and the transverse steel ratio. The authors explain the impact of the
prestressing on the shear strength.