Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Behavior of Steel Beams Strengthened by Bolted Hybrid FRP Composites

The strengthening of steel beams using hybrid fiber-reinforced polymers (HFRPs) has gained enormous attention over the last decades. Few researchers have investigated effectiveness fastening techniques without a bonding agent to overcome undesirable debonding failure bonded FRP–steel system. This paper reports outcomes experimental and numerical investigations conducted on strengthened by HFRP bolts. Twenty-two were tested in four-point loading investigate effect length bolt arrangement flexural behavior systems. observed modes, load-deflection relations, deflection profiles, strain measurements also studied. showed ductile behavior, with 15.1 22.2% enhancements yield ultimate capacities, respectively. Simplified empirical equations developed predict load bolted HFRP–steel beams. ANSYS software was used model beams’ effects thickness, spacing, grade, scheme, beam adopted technique. Increasing enhanced utilization HFRPs as well beam’s ductility, reduction up 51.2% mid-span deflection. Moreover, compatibility improved an 87.2% interfacial slippage. insignificant overall performance results verified technique enhancing beams, gains 16.7% 34.5% load-carrying