ABSTRACT
Abstract Three research programmes in which full scale post-tensioned concrete beams were submitted to a static loading test up to failure are discussed. All tests were performed in the Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research of Ghent University. The first test program concerns two thirty year old post-tensioned beams which were part of a road bridge that had to be renewed. In the second programme a 20m long beam, prestressed with a cable of 19 glass fibre bars was tested. The third program deals with two-span post-tensioned beams with a total length of 20m. In the latter programme seven beams were tested, covering a wide range of possible design concepts: full and partial prestressing, normal, medium and high strength concrete bonded and unbonded, internal and external tendons. Keywords: Prestressed beams, glass fibre tendons, nonlinear behaviour.
