Experimental testing on CFRP strengthened thin steel plates under shear loading

This paper presents an experimental study on thin steel plates strengthened by CFRP layers under shear loading. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on scaled one-story steel shear panel models with hinge type connections under cyclic quasi-static loading. One of the specimens is un-stiffened and selected as a reference sample of three others specimens. Steel infill plates are strengthened by CFRP layers with different numbers of layers and orientations. The results indicate that the strengthening of thin steel plate by CFRP layers increases ultimate strength, secant stiffness and energy absorption. Comparisons are made between the performance of CFRP and GFRP strengthened steel plates under cyclic shear loads. It was shown that both materials were effective at increasing stiffness and strength of the system. The increased ratio is similar for both FRPs when two layers are applied. However, adding additional two layers of CFRP does not provide extra benefit in terms of stiffness and energy absorption although there is still benefit for ultimate strength.