Failure behaviour of post tensioned concrete beams with different corrosion damage in prestressing tendons

Diverse six meters long (0.4 x 0.25 m in section) twelve year old post-tensioned concrete beams have been brought to failure during increasing load cycling tests. Distinct corrosion damages were previously induced on prestressing tendon (grouted and ungrouted type). Evolution of failure mode has been monitored by crack mapping, dynamic behaviour analysis and Acoustic Emission monitoring. Significant differences in load displacement response were related to the extent of damage on prestressing tendons. Dynamic analysis and acoustic emission technique allowed to put in evidence the different stage of progressive beam collapse until final failure.