The Reinforcement of Steel Columns

There may be a need for a steel column to have load-carrying capacity additional to that planned in the original design. Columns may be reinforced by the addition of material in the form of cover plates, or by changing the residual stress distribution to a more favorable one by the laying of a weld, or by a method that combines both of these effects. For columns carrying design loads, their reinforcement is possible and safe. The strength of reinforced columns is identical for the conditions of reinforced under load and reinforced under no load. The maximum effect of reinforcement is obtained when the reinforcing weld is as close as possible to the edge of the flange of the base shape.