Flexural performance of RC T-beams strengthened with external double steel channel

ABSTRACT Attaching steel channel to the side faces of reinforced concrete (RC) beam is a potential solution to the strengthening of existing structures. In order to eliminate debonding failure and bolt slipping, high-strength prestressed bolting and adhesive bonding were applied in this research to fix steel channel to RC T-beam. Experimental investigation was conducted on the flexural behavior of RC T-beam strengthened with double steel channel, and different methods of plate attachment were compared. It was indicated that the flexural performance of RC T-beam was significantly improved by steel channel. The capacity of strengthened specimen can be up to 5.1 times higher than that of RC T-beam. A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model with the application of cohesive zone material model was established in commercial software ABAQUS and validated by experimental results. A parametric study was further conducted to quantify the effects of different geometric parameters of steel channel (i.e. flange thickness, web thickness, flange width and total depth), and the depth of steel channel was found to have significant influence on its strengthening effect.