الفهرس 
OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVESTIGATIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Often, the functional requirements entail introducing openings (post-construction openings) in existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) slabs for facility requirements; installation of elevators, escalators, or utilities such as heating, air conditioning, sewage pipes, or wiring ducts. Creating an opening leads to a break in the continuity of the slabs’ loading trajectories, which reduces the load-carrying capacities and stiffness of the slabs. Thus, great attention has to be paid to an appropriate strengthening approach to restore the flexural strength of slabs including openings. In most of the previous research work, when openings in RC slabs are made, the common practice is to compensate the cut reinforcement by another strengthening material at the slab’s tension side only. However, the opening includes both reinforcing steel as well as concrete.