Effect of width-to-thickness ratio of steel plates in Composite steel-concrete beams

Abstract: This paper presents an investigation of the effect of the width-to-thickness ratio of steel plates in steel-concrete composite beams. A total of 13, 200x350x3000 mm reinforced concrete beams were tested. The first group of beams was strengthened with 6 mm steel plates and the second group of beams was strengthened with 8 mm steel plates, in flexure. All beams were tested under two-point static loading system. The results show that the addition of glued steel plates to a reinforced concrete can substantially increase the flexural stiffness of beams, reduce cracking and structural deformations at all load levels