A Review on Performance Evaluation of Prestressed and Reinforced Concrete Beams with AAC Block Integration for Sustainable Structures using RAPT and ETABS

Abstract

The study examines the modeling and structural analysis of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beams and prestressed concrete beams using RAPT and ETABS software. Key performance parameters such as bending moment, shear force, deflection behavior, material consumption, and overall structural efficiency are evaluated under identical loading and boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that prestressed concrete beams exhibit enhanced structural performance and sustainability compared to RCC deep beams, achieving improved load-carrying capacity with reduced material usage and lower environmental impact. The study highlights the role of advanced software tools in optimizing beam design for strength, serviceability, and sustainability, supporting engineers in selecting economical and environmentally responsible structural systems for modern construction. Additionally, the use of prestressed beams enables greater floor-to-floor height optimization; the analysis shows that while six RCC deep beams are required to support one floor, only three prestressed beams are sufficient, resulting in significant savings in construction cost and usable floor height.