Strengthening of RC Beam with Web Bonded Steel Plates

Structures may be required to improve the structural behaviour and repair of damaged structures to restore structural performance for economical reasons. Steel plates are one of the most common materials for strengthening of reinforced concrete beams; it is very effective for increasing the flexural and shear capacity of reinforced concrete beam. From various studies it was understood that web bonded steel plates affects the crack patterns of the beams significantly and the position of web bonded steel plates significantly influences the stiffness and flexural capacity of plated beams. The critical gap in research is to study the flexural capacity of RC beam with web bonded steel plates by varying the plate thickness and to find the effective thickness of steel plate based on flexural capacity and crack pattern and to study the flexural capacity and crack pattern of RC beam strengthened with web bonded steel plates having effective plate thickness by varying plate depth. This paper deals with an experimental program conducted on the flexural capacity of RC beam without strengthening and 5 RC beams strengthened with web- bonded continuous steel plates. The control specimen and the beam with web bonded steel plates of 4 mm thick, 3 mm thick and 1.6 mm thick were tested by using loading frame. The results are compared based on the parameters ultimate load, deflection, and load at first crack and the effective thickness of steel plates is found out and beams strengthened with web bonded steel plates of various widths are studied based on the same parameters. The test results confirmed the effectiveness of web bonded continuous steel plates for strengthening of RC beams. From the comparative study it is obtained that, the beam with web bonded steel plates having 4mm thickness and 80mm width shows higher strength, lower deflection and higher load at first crack as compared to other specimens.