Research on strengthening of T-shaped reinforced concrete simply supported beams with U-shaped jackets to enlarge the cross-section: Theoretical analysis, experiments, and finite element analysis
- 1College of Civil Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- 2Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Rock and Soil Mechanics and Engineering Safety, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- 3International College, Krirk University, Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract
To promote the reuse of existing beams, an experimental investigation was conducted on T-shaped reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with U-shaped RC jackets. Three specimens were tested: one unstrengthened T-shaped control beam and two strengthened beams. Each jacket comprised additional reinforcing bars and higher-strength concrete cast along both sides of the web and the beam soffit, transforming the original T-shaped cross-section into a rectangular section. All three specimens were subjected to cyclic loading, and corresponding finite element simulations were performed to investigate their hysteretic response, skeleton response, flexural deformation, and failure modes. The strengthened beams exhibited load-carrying capacities more than twice that of the unstrengthened beam, and the finite element simulations generally reproduced the experimental responses. Based on truss–arch synergy, an analytical model was developed to predict the load-carrying capacity of RC beams. The predictions agreed well with the experimental results, supporting the reliability of the proposed model.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026research,
title = {{Research on strengthening of T-shaped reinforced concrete simply supported beams with U-shaped jackets to enlarge the cross-section: Theoretical analysis, experiments, and finite element analysis}},
author = {Jian-fa Wang and En-he Bao and Ming-su Zhou and Yong-song Wu and Chang-jian Xiao},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0361416},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361416},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Research on strengthening of T-shaped reinforced concrete simply supported beams with U-shaped jackets to enlarge the cross-section: Theoretical analysis, experiments, and finite element analysis
AU - Jian-fa Wang
AU - En-he Bao
AU - Ming-su Zhou
AU - Yong-song Wu
AU - Chang-jian Xiao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0361416
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361416
AB - To promote the reuse of existing beams, an experimental investigation was conducted on T-shaped reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with U-shaped RC jackets. Three specimens were tested: one unstrengthened T-shaped control beam and two strengthened beams. Each jacket comprised additional reinforcing bars and higher-strength concrete cast along both sides of the web and the beam soffit, transforming the original T-shaped cross-section into a rectangular section. All three specimens were subjected to cyclic loading, and corresponding finite element simulations were performed to investigate their hysteretic response, skeleton response, flexural deformation, and failure modes. The strengthened beams exhibited load-carrying capacities more than twice that of the unstrengthened beam, and the finite element simulations generally reproduced the experimental responses. Based on truss–arch synergy, an analytical model was developed to predict the load-carrying capacity of RC beams. The predictions agreed well with the experimental results, supporting the reliability of the proposed model.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -