A Comparative Study on the Strengthening of RC Beams with Steel Plates and Steel Angles

Abstract

The techniques of strengthening reinforced concrete beams have been widely used in civil engineering. RC beams often need strengthening due to defective construction, having higher loads than those foreseen in the initial design of the structure, or as a result of material deterioration or accidental damage. The need for strengthening concrete structures has become a crucial problem all over the world. Rehabilitation of structures results in less construction waste materials, reserve natural resources, reduces the negative effects of the environment, saves time and cost, etc. The structural behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by addition of steel plates or steel angles has been investigated in the undertaken research. The main aim of this research is to demonstrate the best method of the investigated strengthening techniques. The experimental work comprised of 18 RC beams divided into three groups; the first group consists of 6 normal RC beams, the second group contains 6 RC beams strengthened by addition of steel plates and the third group contains 6 RC beams strengthened by addition of steel angles.

Keywords: Steel Plate, Steel Angle, RC Beam, Concrete