Flexural behavior of strengthened steel–concrete composite beams by various plating methods

The effect of pre-intermediate separation on the flexural behavior of strengthened steel–concrete composite beams by either adhesively bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) sheet or welded/bonded steel plate was studied. In the case of strengthened by CFRP sheet, two different attachment patterns, namely, CFRP sheet wrapped around the flange of the I-beam and CFRP sheet wrapped around the flange along with a part of the web, were examined by testing four different strengthened steel–concrete composite beams under four point bending (4PB). Two of these beams were strengthened by fully bonded CFRP sheet with the two different patterns, while, the others are similar but have pre-intermediate debonding area of 50 mm length × flange width at the bottom surface of the lower flange. In the case of strengthened by steel plate, three different attachment patterns of steel plate to the soffit of the beams, namely, discontinuously welded, end welded, and bonded/welded steel plates, were also tested under 4PB.The experimental results showed that, there is no growth of the intermediate debonding before the yield of the lower flange occurred for all strengthened beams by CFRP sheet. After yielding, the beams with pre-debonding area showed lower flexural capacity than those with fully bonding due to the rapid growth of the intermediate debonding. On the other hand, there is a difference in the yield load between the three different patterns of the welded steel plates with a marginal difference in the elastic stiffness.