Experimental tests for mechanical characterization of prestressed concrete bridge deck beams

This paper presents the preliminary results of extensive experimental activities for mechanical characterization of 50-year-old prestressed concrete bridge deck beams within the BRIDGE|50 research project (http://www.bridge50.org). The experimental campaign includes non-destructive diagnostic tests (e.g. sclerometer and ultrasonic tests) carried out on several prestressed concrete deck beams and laboratory mechanical tests on concrete cores extracted from both precast beam and cast-in-situ slab. The results of these activities have been used for calibration and validation of structural analysis models and to support a proper planning of full-scale load tests up to collapse to be performed on the deck beams.