1.

Introduction
Due to many reasons, steel structure is becoming popular day by day throughout
the world. This structural steel may be damaged by overload, high wide load
impacts, fire or seismic effect. If this damaged condition is unrepaired, then the
condition of the components of this steel structure may be deteriorated. Due to this
reason, Repairing and retrofitting is needed to overcome such deterioration. It is
true that a large number of buildings made with steel and concrete may vulnerable
to seismic effect because of ignoring proper building code. So, if this steel
structure can be rearranged with special technique so that it can carry more loads.
So, this rearrangement of the steel structure is called strengthening.

2. Strengthening of steel structures

Strengthening is such a kind of method where this is helped to increase the load
bearing capacity and update the steel structures. different methods of strengthening
are discussed. By welding additional angle shape profiles, The K type braced
frames were strengthened to the diagonal members of this K bracing frame. This
strengthening method is increased the cross-section area and reduced the bulking
probability of pre-existing K bracing members. Another method of strengthening
and updating of the steel structure is to create beam-column joint between existing
beam and existing column. It helps to increase the loading capacity of steel
structure. Welding additional plates on both sides of existing columns is used for
strengthening. This technique has helped to increase the load bearing capacity of
steel column. A mat foundation as shown in figure1 is considered, as a large
concrete slab is to carry many columns in several lines with base soil. At the type
of low bearing capacity of base soil and higher column loads, then the mat
foundation is suggested. It may go excessive settlement because of this reason.
Therefore, strengthening is required for this. According to this, Anchorage bars are
used to increase the strengthening of this mat foundation.

Figure1: A schematic representation of mat foundation strengthening

3. Types of methods strengthening of steel structures

3.1 Strengthening Steel I-Beams by Welding Steel Plates

Strengthening by steel plate is a popular method due to its availability, cheapness,

uniform materials properties (isotropic), easy to work, high ductility and high
fatigue Strengthening of existing structures may be carried out while under load or
with the load temporarily relieved. For beams carrying loads, strengthening is
possible and safe. Few researches have been focused on the behavior of the steel
structures strengthened while loaded by welding steel plates.
3.1.1 Description of the Tested Beams

The tested beams were strengthened by a cover steel plate (8 x0. 6 cm) with weld
size 6mm, the two strengthen patterns (labeled as A and B) are shown in Figure2
Pattern A was to weld the cover plate to lower flange of the test specimen, where
pattern B was to weld the plate to the upper and lower flanges.

Figure2:
Strengthening pattern

Three LVDTs (linear variable differential transformer) were installed to monitor

the behavior of test specimens at the mid-span section, as shown in Figure3, which
is an illustrated figure of test specimen BL-90 (cover plate length is 90). LVDTs
were used to record deflection and lateral displacements of the test specimens. In
addition, two strain gauges were used to measure the strain of lower flange. The
test specimens were loaded on steel loading frame under four point loads with
hinge-roller supports. The load cell capacity is 900 KN.m Load distributed beam
and 20 mm bearing plates were used to distribute load at two points as shown in
photo1. The specimens are placed and centered on the loading frame. The test
procedure begins by Appling a load of approximately 10% of experimental
ultimate load (Pu) and then removed. For beam strengthened before loading, the
main load is applied and increased until failure. While, loading procedure and
welded technique used for beam strengthened

Figure3: Instrument locations for tested beam BL-90

Photo1: Test setup for tested beam BL-65

while loaded is as follows: 1) The load is applied to certain load value Pstr then the
loading process is paused, 2) part of the beam deflection is reduced manually and
measured, 3) the strengthening cover plate is welded. 4) After that the load was
continued until failure happened as shown in Figure 4 and photo 2. Figure 5 shows
the welding sequences for strengthening pattern.

Figure 4: Strengthening technique during loading

 Photo2 Welding process during loading of specimen BL-90-50

Figure 5: Welding sequence for pattern A & B

3.2 Strengthening of steel structures with fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are formed by embedding continuous

fibers in a polymeric resin matrix, which binds the fibers together. Common fibers
used in FRP composites include carbon, glass, aramid and basalt fibers while
common resins are epoxy, polyester, and vinyl ester resins. The most widely used
FRP composites are glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites and carbon
fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, while aramid fiber-reinforced
polymer (AFRP) composites and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP)
composites are less frequently used.

3.2.1 Suitable use of FRP in the strengthening of steel structures

Since steel is also a material of high elastic modulus and strength, the use of FRP
in strengthening steel structures calls for innovative exploitations of the advantages
of FRP. The main advantage of FRP over steel in the strengthening of steel
structures is its high strength-to-weight ratio, leading to ease and speed of
transportation and installation, thus reducing disturbance to services and traffic. A
steel beam (or a composite steel-concrete beam) can be strengthened by bonding
an FRP (generally CFRP) plate to its tension face (i.e. the soffit if a beam in
positive bending is assumed, see Figure6 The bonded FRP plate can enhance not
only the ultimate load but also the stiffness of the beam (especially when a high
modulus CFRP is used).

Figure6: Strengthening of steel beams with a bonded FRP plate. (a) Side view.

(b) Cross-sectional view.

Using stiffener is also a popular and most effective method to improve the
strengthening and bearing capacity of steel. Figure 7 shows the details of using
stiffener in steel beam or column
Figure 7: Details of using stiffener in steel beam or column
References

1. Islam, M., Ali, R. B., & Billah, M. (2019). Strengthening Techniques of Steel
Structure: An Overview. World Scientific News, 118, 181-193.
2. Yossef, N. M. (2015). Strengthening Steel I-Beams by Welding Steel Plates
before or While Loading. International Journal of Engineering Research &
Technology (IJERT), 4(07).
3. Teng, J. G., Yu, T., & Fernando, D. (2012). Strengthening of steel structures
with fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Journal of Constructional Steel
Research, 78, 131-143.