This paper investigates the behaviour of steel beams upgraded using locally pre-stressed reinforcing steel bars. The reinforcing bars were welded to the beam's flange or web at both ends and tensioned using a manual screw jack to increase the load-carrying capacity and stiffness of the beam. In total, seven beams were upgraded and tested under three-point bending, using different configurations of reinforcing steel. Results showed that the level of pre-stress, the type of local prestress (internal or external) and the diameter of rebars used significantly affected the beams' stiffness and their ultimate load-carrying capacity. The results obtained in this study were compared to those of other methods used for upgrading steel beams.
History
Publication title
Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Volume
113
Pagination
127-134
ISSN
0143-974X
Publisher
Elsevier Sci Ltd
Place of publication
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox5 1Gb