## 1 Introduction  
Reinforced concrete (RC) beams are horizontal structural members designed to transfer loads from floor slabs to columns. Deep beams are introduced when long-span horizontal members are subjected to highly concentrated loads. According to EN1992-1-1:2004 [1], a deep beam is a beam with a span-to-depth ratio of less than 3. A greater lever arm as a result of the increased beam depth offers higher flexural resistance, but makes deep beams more susceptible to shear failure. Hence, shear reinforcement must be adequately provided to prevent brittle failure [2]. Many studies have focused on the use of alternative materials as shear reinforcement in concrete beams. One of the most popular materials used as shear reinforcement in beam strengthening and repair works is fiber-reinforced polymer [2; 3; 4]. This material has been shown to effectively increase beam capacity, although it does not improve the ductility of the structural element [5]. Furthermore, one of the drawbacks of the use of this material as an external retrofit is the high quality and skilled workmanship required in the preparation of the surface or groove for the bonding of the fiber-reinforced polymer sheet with the beam, proper attachment of the mortar, and curing. Other than fiber-reinforced polymer, the application of steel plates as shear reinforcement has been examined by several researchers. Steel plates are easily available and can be retrofitted to the exterior faces of conventional RC beams easily, with minimal interference to the overall size of the structural element. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [6] examined the structural performance of steel plates attached externally to both sides of the concrete beam using epoxy and bolts. They suggested that shear contribution was maximized when the steel plate was placed at the maximum possible section depth instead of increasing the thickness of the steel plate. [PERSON] et al. [7] proposed bolting a piece of U-shaped steel plate and two pieces of L-shaped steel plates as shear reinforcement within the shear span. This study pointed out that insufficient plate thickness might lead to out-of-plane warping when the beam was subjected to high loads. Furthermore, they pointed out that thin steel plates were unable to sustain concentrated transverse load at the bolt hole, which led to local failure. [PERSON] et al. [8] attached external steel plates to the sides and softits of beams using epoxy resin. Five out of six of the specimens demonstrated premature failure due to shear when the steel plates \"peeled off\" from the beams. These two common methods of attaching steel plates externally to concrete beams as additional shear reinforcement by bolting or by bonding with epoxy resin demonstrated the premature failure of steel plates. Insufficient plate thickness resulted in premature local failure at bolt holes, while excessive plate thickness resulted in delamination of the plate. The above literature shows that, whilst the use of steel plates as an external retrofit is a viable option for deep beams in the service stage, the premature failure of external plates must be addressed. Adopting suggestions from these studies, other researchers embedded steel plates or steel sections into beams prior to casting to resolve the detachment, warping, and local failure occurrences in the external steel retrofitting method. [PERSON] et al. [9] studied the effects of embedding single and double steel plates in coupling beams with a span-to-depth ratio of 2.5. Shear studs were used to improve bonding between the plate(s) and concrete. The results showed the occurrence of flexural failure in the specimens. [PERSON] et al. [10] and [PERSON] et al. [11] investigated the effects of embedding steel I-sections in deep beams. Neither shear studs nor any special configuration was included in their study to promote composite action between the I-sections and the concrete.