Causes of damage to steel structures and reinforcement measures

Steel structures can also sustain damage, and we must identify and address issues promptly. The Steel Structure Network outlines the primary factors contributing to steel structure damage:

1) Insufficient structural load-bearing capacity due to changes in load, prolonged service life, or revisions to standards and regulations;

2) Deformation, twisting, damage, or indentation of components caused by various accidents, leading to reduced cross-sectional area, warping of members, or cracking of connections;

3) Temperature differences causing deformation, cracking, and warping of components or connections;

4) Corrosion and electrochemical corrosion caused by chemical substances, leading to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of steel structure components;

5) Other factors, including design, production, and construction errors, as well as improper use and operation during the service period.

There are three main technical measures for reinforcing steel structures:

1) Section reinforcement method: Reinforce locally or along the entire length of the component with steel, connecting it into a whole so that it bears the load together;

2) Modifying the calculation diagram: Adding additional supports, adjusting the load distribution, reducing internal forces, applying forced displacement to the supports of statically indeterminate structures, and reducing stress peaks;

3) Prestressed cable method: Using high-strength cables to reinforce weak structural components or enhance the overall load-bearing capacity, stiffness, and stability of the structure.