Strengthening of steel I-beams with edge lashings in a physical experiment

<ns3:p>The article presents the results and conclusions of experimental tests on six-metre steel beams with an IPE180 cross-section in a simply supported beam scheme reinforced with batten plates. As part of the tests, a test stand was designed and constructed, which allowed a concentrated force to be applied in the middle of the span of the tested beams. The tests assumed that three beams would be reinforced under a preliminary load causing a stress exceeding 50% of the bending capacity of the element with buckling. The next three beams would be reinforced without initial loading. Batten plates were used as reinforcing elements, which were welded to the tested beams in the support zones. After reinforcement, an increase in the load-bearing capacity of the beams by approximately 25% was observed, and no significant effect of the preload on the final load-bearing capacity of the elements was observed.</ns3:p>