Testing of externally prestressed concrete beams

This paper presents the results of a test program on externally prestressed concrete beams. Five monolithic and three segmental beams were tested in bending and in combined bending and shear. The most significant results are presented such as carrying capacity, prestressing steel stress increase at ultimate, shear behavior of open joints. Conclusions on ultimate load capacity of externally prestressed beams and influence of the tendon length on this capacity are obtained. These tests have been used to validate a numerical finite element model already presented.