Comparison of theoretical to experimental load bearing resistance of com-posite slabs

Abstract: Reinforced concrete structures can be strengthened by externally bonding steel plates to the con-crete surface in tension creating a composite structural element. This paper compare the theoretically calculated flexural resistance of composite structural slabs to the experimentally tested results. The test results of full scale experimental composite slabs are presented, loaded by either a point load at mid span or point loads at third spans mimicking a uniformly distributed load. The following variations in the in the composite slabs are considered: (1) number of bonded steel plates (2) width of the bonded steel plates (3) thickness of the bonded steel plate