Flexural performance test of a prestressed concrete beam with plastic bellows

The flexural performance of 8 types of prestressed concrete beams with plastic bellows under different grouting compactness is examined in this paper. By applying concentrated load and symmetrical load to 8 types of prestressed concrete test beams with plastic bellows, the flexural performance test of each test beam is carried out, and the mechanical characteristics and failure morphology of each test beam under different grouting compactness are discussed. The influence of duct grouting compactness on the strain of steel bars and concrete, mid-span deflection and stiffness of prestressed concrete beam are analyzed. The results show that the cracking load and ultimate load of the test beam increases constantly with the increase of the duct grouting compactness, and the flexural bearing capacity of prestressed concrete beams has also been significantly improved. After the concrete is cracked, the mid-span deflection of the prestressed concrete beam gradually decreases with the increase of the duct grouting compactness under the same load form and load grade. At the same load grade, the mid-span deflection change of prestressed concrete beams under concentrated load is much larger than that under symmetric load. The ductility coefficient of prestressed concrete beams with plastic bellows decreases as the grouting compactness increases. In engineering practice, the quality of duct grouting compactness about the prestressed concrete beam should be strictly controlled and improved.