ABSTRACT
The technique of epoxy bonding of steel or FRP plates to the surfaces of RC beams has received great attention in recent years because it offers various desirable attributes such as efficient form of mechanical retrofitting, is inexpensive, and causes minimal disruption to moving traffic. The extensive experimental investigations, carried out by researchers so far, to assess the structural behaviour of plated beams indicate that significant improvements in the structural performance can be obtained in both service and ultimate situations (Teng 2002 and Siera-Ruiz 2002). Moreover steel, as well as FRP, plates have been bonded to the surface of RC beams in several ways. For instance, they have been attached to the beam soffit or tension zone in order to increase the flexural strength and stiffness. To enhance flexural and shear capacities, plates have been applied either to the sides of the beams or to both the sides and soffit to form angle or channel plated sections (Charif 1983).
