STRENGTHENING OF HEAT TREATED SLENDER STEEL PLATES WITH GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYMERS (GFRP)

Abstract

Steel structural elements face local buckling problems under both bending and axial compressive loads. It is possible to rectify this buckled element by applying heat treatment method instead of replacing it with a new one. This retrofit process can quickly be performed to repair locally buckled structural elements in emergency situations such as earthquakes. However; heat treatment technique is addressed as temporary retrofit due to the decrease in the stiffness of the original material and the existence of permanent geometrical imperfections implemented in the repaired structural element. Buckling behavior of the repaired element truely will be different from the original element because of these effects. This study aims to change this temporary retrofit into a permanent one. Following the application of heat treatment techniques, glass fiber reinforced polymers have been bonded to surfaces to investigate the different bonding compositions for strengthening purpose. The outcomes of this experimental study are evaluated to validate the proposed method.