Abstract
The concept of strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) beams using epoxy-bonded steel plates (EBSP)
is a well-known solution in structural engineering. Experimental investigations conducted in the past
has proved that strengthening RC beams with steel plates are the most efficient, effective, and costeffective
technique of increasing the flexural performance of these elements. However, the focus has
been on effect of the external bonded steel plate, and not on the effect of the overall steel contribution
ratio on the behaviour of the strengthened beams. Several codes give the minimum reinforcement
ratios for concrete beams in order to encourage/improve their flexural behaviour such as cracking
and ductility failure. The purpose of this present study is to investigate the effect of the steel
contribution ratio on the flexural behaviour of concrete beams strengthened on their tension face with
epoxy bonded steel plate, using the experimental results obtained by various researchers in this field.
The outcomes of strengthening RC beams are decrease in mid-span deflections, decrease in crackwidths,
and increase in first crack load, and consequently increase in both serviceability load and
ultimate load, thus making it to be the most feasible strengthening technique.