Experimental Work on Shear Strengthening of Beams Using Post-Tensioned Metal Straps Wrapped Around Steel Plates Anchored to Normal Steel-Reinforced Concrete Beams

This study tests the efficacy of post-tensioned metal straps (PTMS) wrapped around steel plates anchored to the beam sides, in enhancing the shear strength. For this purpose, seven normal steel-reinforced concrete beams with dimensions of 160 mm x 240 mm x 1050 mm are constructed without transverse reinforcement. The location and the number of the straps are considered as the main variables. It is found that using PTMS effectively can change the behaviour of the beam from brittle shear failure to a ductile failure. It is also found that the load-carrying capacity of the beam can increase by up to 54% using PTMS wrapped around steel plates anchored to the beams. Additionally, the deflection capacity of the beam can increase by up to 519%. Also, using PTMS can reduce the size of the cracks and the location of their appearance would be shifted towards the centre of the beam. Finally, a complete guidance on using PTMS on anchored steel plate can be found in the paper as its usage is novel.