Instead of performing a costly experimental study to find out whether the effect of different factors on the prediction of shear behavior of hollow core slabs, a numerical model can be developed. From the numerical analysis, the effective of load width across the slab width can be derived. This paper present the shear behavior of prestressed hollow core slabs and examined the effect of load width (in absence of concrete topping and filling of cores) on their effective shear behavior. In the present investigation, physical tests and 3-D finite element models were developed using the general-purpose finite element software ANSYS 11.0 to simulate the behavior of tested slabs. The specimens used in this research have a depth of 150mm and the numerical models are calibrated using the data obtained from physical experiments. The
ANSYS finite element analysis results are compared with the experimental data of two prestressed hollow core slabs. The comparisons are made for load-deflection curves, failure loads and crack patterns, respectively. The accuracy of the finite element models is assessed by comparison with the experimental results, which are in good agreement.