ABSTRACT
To take full advantage of using VHPC instead of HPC (C50 used in Belgium), shrinkage and creep tests have been carried out in standard: sealed and 20◦C, 50% RH and variable ambient conditions (same as the beams)
on cylinders with a diameter of 16 cm and a height of 100 cm, so that a correct analysis of the structural long-term behaviour of the beams could be done. The conditions of these tests are in direct link with the phases of construction and the history of loading of the instrumented beams. The two beams were exposed to variable ambient conditions (from 16 to 25◦C and from 35 to 60% RH) from one day of concrete age and the prebending forces applied on the beams before the casting phase were released at two days of concrete age. The recommendations (Rilem, 1998) issued by RILEM TC 107 to perform the creep and shrinkage tests have been followed. The specimens have been exposed to drying conditions at one day. Creep specimens have been loaded at 2 days under a constant compressive stress of 23 MPa and one of them has been completely unloaded at 56 days.
