Experimental investigation of innovative reinforcement method for two-way concrete slabs using perforated steel plates

Improvement of the bonding and interaction between concrete and steel is crucial to achieving an optimal reinforced concrete member. The proposed technique in this paper is using perforated steel plates (PSPs) to reinforce two-way concrete slabs. In this method, ordinary steel bar reinforcements in the tension region of the concrete slabs were replaced by PSPs. Concrete slabs reinforced with PSPs enhance structural characteristics with respect to concrete slabs reinforced with ordinary reinforcement (OR) due to the higher lateral stiffness of PSPs, the better confinement of concrete within the holes of PSPs, the biaxial performance of the steel in the tension region, and the efficient load transmission mechanism between the steel and concrete. In this paper, a comprehensive experimental investigation was conducted on two-way concrete slabs reinforced with PSPs and ordinary steel bars. The behavior of PSPs slabs was evaluated in comparison with OR slabs in terms of failure types, ductility, energy absorption, stiffness, ultimate load, cracking load, and force transmission mechanism. Findings revealed that the PSPs slabs have higher ductility, energy absorption, and ultimate strength compared to the OR slabs.