A Review of Research on Prestressed Fish-Belly Steel Bracing Systems

Abstract

Prestressed fish-belly beam steel bracing has emerged as a reusable and space-efficient support solution for deep excavations. This paper reviews research and engineering applications reported from 2008 to 2025, with emphasis on mechanical behavior, deformation control, stability, stiffness matching, construction technology, monitoring, and structural optimization. Existing studies show that prestressing can mobilize passive earth pressure, increase the apparent stiffness of the bracing system, reduce retaining-wall movement and ground settlement, and improve construction efficiency while limiting material waste. Nevertheless, current design practice remains fragmented. Prestress is commonly introduced through steel strands whose anchorage slip may cause force loss; unified methods for in-plane stability, combined stiffness, failure-mode identification, and capacity calculation are still incomplete. Future research should therefore focus on self-balanced prestressed steel wales, reliable anchorage and compensation, failure-mode-based design, multi-objective optimization, standardized reusable components, and digital monitoring throughout construction.