Effect of External Post-Tensioning Strengthening Technique on Flexural Capacity of Simple Supported Composite Castellated Beam

This research is carried out to study the effect of the external post-tensioning technique on the flexural capacity of simply supported composite castellated beam experimentally. In this research, seven composite castellated beams having the same dimensions and material properties were cast and tested up to failure by applied two concentrated loads at 700 mm from each end. Two external strands of 12.7 mm diameter were fixed at each side of the web of strengthening beams and located at depth 180 mm from top fiber of the section (dps) at each end of the beam. The strands have been tensioned by using a hydraulic jack with a constant stress of 100 MPa. This research aims to study the effect of the strengthening by different shapes of strand profiles of external post-tensioning techniques on the flexural capacity of the composite castellated beam. These beams were divided into three groups. Each group contained two composite castellated beams while 7th composite castellated beam kept without strengthening by external post-tensioning technique As control beam. The first group included two beams with straight strand profile of external Post-tensioning. The second group included two beams with a triangular strand profile of external post-tensioning. The third group included two beams with a trapezoidal strand profile of external post-tensioning. All composite castellated beams were simply supported, and all of them were fully shear connections between the concrete slab and steel girder. All beams included the 16 castellated openings and were stiffened by six stiffener plates welded on the web of castellated beams. Three stiffener plates are welded on each side of the web. Two of these stiffener plates welded at the middle of the beam, and four of them welded at locations under the loads. The experimental results of this research were increasing 5.43% in load capacity of an average of the straight profile of composite castellated beams, increasing 18.92% in load capacity of an average of triangular profile composite castellated beams, and increasing 20.71% in load capacity of the trapezoidal profile of composite castellated beams. All the above results were compared with control beams.