The Behavior of a Strengthened Steel Beam Section Under Eccentric Loadings

Thirteen simply supported steel samples have been tested to explain the effects of strengthening steel beams using an external prestressing strand. The samples have the same cross-sectional dimensions and overall length. One steel beam without strengthening was taken as a reference, while the other twelve of them had been strengthening by two external strands at various eccentricity locations and jacking stresses. The strengthening by external prestressing strands is sub-divided into two series according to jacking stress. Each series consists of six steel samples divided according to the eccentricity location of prestressing strand. During tests, it was found that the Load deflection response for the strengthened samples is stiffer as compared with the reference. The increasing percentage in ultimate load capacity was increased to 0.347, 2.758, 3.921, 8.898, 9.326, and 10.256% for beams under jacking stress of 1120 MPa, while increasing percentage in ultimate load capacity were increased to 0.17, 26, 33, 48.5, 13.7, and 69.56% for beams under jacking stress of 815 MPa. On the other hand, the maximum percentages of deflection were decreased to 4.88, 2.44, 20.62, 15, and 9.7% when the jacking stress increase from 815 to 1120 MPa and the ratio of the quarter to mid-span deflection (δ quarter / δ mid) is about 0.528 and 0.497 when jacking stress is 1120 and 815 MPa respectively. So, the increase in jacking stresses from 815 to 1120 MPa will not be preferable because it has a little increasing percentage in stiffening and behaviors compared with other tested beams at the same condition