Advanced Strengthening of Steel Structures: Investigating GFRP Reinforcement for Floor Beams with Trapezoidal Web Openings
Abstract
Enhancing existing steel structures becomes imperative upon alterations in usage or geometric configurations, such as introducing web openings in floor beams to accommodate various services. The utilization of welded steel plate and conventional strengthening methods often presents challenges, which may be mitigated through the adoption of composite materials like Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP). However, research on the application of FRP to steel beams with web openings remains limited, predominantly focusing on beams with rectangular openings of modest dimensions. This study delves into the application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) to strengthen reinforced steel floor beams featuring trapezoidal openings. Leveraging a rigorously validated numerical model derived from previously published findings by a contributing researcher, the investigation showcases that the proposed GFRP reinforcement scheme exhibits performance comparable to conventional steel plate welding techniques, while preserving the inherent strength of the original solid beams.