Ductility Performance of Thin-Walled Composite-Filled (TWFC) Beam

at Internal Support
Masrom M.A1, Rohim R2 & Tukiar M.A3
1,2,3

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pulau Pinang, 13500, Pulau Pinang
ashaarimasrom@ppinang.uitm.edu.my, rohamezan627@ppinang.uitm.edu.my,
azuan.tukiar@ppinang.uitm.edu.my

ABSTRACT
Ductility of reinforced structures is a desirable property where resistance to brittle failure during flexure is
required to ensure structural integrity and its behavior can be achieved through the use of plastic hinges
positioned at appropriate locations throughout the structural frame. The most influence parameter towards the
ductility value is the ratio of steel area to concrete area. However, the study on ductility performance of TWCF
beam is still lack. This paper is to reveal the ductility performance of Thin-Walled Composite-Filled Beam under
flexural test. The flexural behavior of thin walled composite filled (TWCF) beams with various strengthenhancement devices has been studied by Hossain (2003). This paper presents a laboratory work which involves
four samples of TWCF beams with difference strength-enhancement devices. The effect of various modes
interface connections are co-related to the generation of shear bond between sheeting and concrete using both
experimental and theoretical results.The strength and failure modes of the beams are found to depend on the
interface connections. Analytical models for the ductility design of beams are developed and their performance
is validated through experimental results using partial shear connection. The beams were designed by
considering whether the strength will be governed by buckling or yielding of steel plate. All the data obtained
were depicted in form of tables and graphs. The experimental results showed the reasonable agreement with
design equation. The analytical ductility model of TWCF beam also shows a good agreement with the
experimental result.
Keyword: ductility, flexural, partial shear connection, shear bond, strength-enhancement
1.

Introduction

Thin walled composite section comprising of cold-form open steel box section with in-fill of concrete is a
new idea for structural components such as beam (Hossain, 1998). Strength of such beam is limited by the
compression buckling capacity of steel plate at top of the open box section. Enhancement of strength is possible
by stiffening the compression steel plates at the open end of the box section with various modes of interface
connections or strength-enhancement devices. Flexural capacity of such beams can be derived based on either
yielding or buckling of steel depending on the generated steel-concrete interface shear bond simulating full or
partial shear connections. Thin-walled composite sections require cold-form steel to acts as formwork in the
construction stage and as reinforcement in serviceability stage. The in-fill concrete generally cured quickly and
in any case, the load capacity of the steel alone may be relied upon for most construction loads.
As tested by Oehlers et al (1989), the flexural behavior of profiled composite beams is a significant factor to
determine the ductility of TWCF beam. Ductility may be defined as the ability to undergo deformations without
a substantial reduction in the flexural capacity of the member. This deformability is influenced by some factors
such as the tensile reinforcement ratio, the amount of longitudinal compressive reinforcement, the amount of
lateral tie and the strength of concrete.
The ductility of reinforced concrete section could be expressed in the form of the curvature ductility ():

u /y

(1)

where u is the curvature at ultimate when the concrete compression strain reaches a specified limiting value,
y is the curvature when the tension reinforcement first reaches the yield strength. The variables affecting
curvature ductility may be classified under three groups, namely 1) loading variable such as the level of axial
load; 2) geometric variables such as the amount of tension and compression reinforcement, amount of transverse
reinforcement and the shape of the section; and 3) material variables such as the yield strength of reinforcement
and characteristic strength of concrete.
In this paper, the performance of thin-wall cold form (TWCF) beam in term of ductility using different
profile of cold-form will be presented.

2.

Past research on ductility TWCF

From past research, a lot of studies that have been conducted dealing with behavior of composite beam such
as behavior of thin walled composite sections as structural elements (Hossain, 1998),Composite structures of
steel and concrete, Johnson, R. P. (1975) and flexural strength of profiled sheeting beams (Oehlers et al,1989).
These studies revealed the application of the steel thin plate which replaces the bar as reinforcement in beam.
Basically, it is found that from the researches on the behavior of composite beam the buckling, steel-concrete
interface bond, and strength-enhancement devices are the most factors which influences their strength. In order
to study the flexural behavior of TWCF beams, Hossain (2003) derived the formulas with design consideration
as a guideline to design TWCF beams. Moreover, he has performed experimental works in order to validate the
analytical design model. Hence, this research extends the work of Hossain (2003) who revealed the performance
of TWCF beams as structural element.
2.1 Theoretical equation of TWCF
The derivation of the partial shear connection
for TWCF need to consider the equilbrium of forces
in concrete as well as equilibrium of forces in steel sheeting section (Hossain, 2003) as shown in fig 1.

a)

b)
FIGURE 1. Distribution of forces; a) concrete section b) steel sheeting section
By taking the moment of all the forces about the top fibre of the beam, will leads to the moment capacity
(Mu). There is important to notice that before design the TWCF beam, it is necessary to determine whether the
strength is failure prior due to yielding of steel plate ( ) or due to the buckling stress of steel plate ( ) . For
beams with yielding commencing before buckling, strength should be predicted by using yield stress of steel
plate ( ) in design equations whereas for beams with buckling commencing before yielding, strength should be
predicted by using buckling stress of steel plate in design equations.
The strain diagram for concrete and steel sheeting need to be developed solely to derive the ductility of
TWFC beam for partial shear connection,
. As shown in fig 2.

a)

b) Strain of steel sheeting at yield and at ultimate

state
FIGURE 2. Distribution of strain; a) concrete cross section b) steel sheeting cross section

Strain of concrete at yield and at ultimate state

The ductility equation for concrete and steel sheeting are produced by combining strain of concrete at yield
and ultimate, and by commbining strain of steel sheeting at yield and ultimate. Both equations are substituted
into Eq. (1) curvature ductility, to yield the ductility equation of TWCF beam as follows
(2)

Where

is the ultimate compressive strain of concrete which normally considered equal to 0.0035.
is the yield strain of concrete in the experiment
is the ultimate tension strain of steel sheeting.
is the yield strain of steel sheeting in the experiment

2.2 Research Methodology

Three samples of TWCF beam was tested. Details of each TWCF as shown in Table 1. To achieved internal
support condition, opening part of TWCF allocate at the bottom to ensure that the opening and welded top plate
will in tension. Strain gauge and LVDT location installed as fig 3. Satic load was applied to TWCF beam until
failure of samples. All strain gauge and LVDT was connected to data logger to record result to analyse.
TABLE 1: Dimension details of TWCF beam
Dimension
Compressiv
Yield
e Strength
Stregth of
Length Width
Depth
Opening
of Concrete
Steel Plate
L
b
d
o
(N/mm2)
(N/mm2)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)

Type of Beam

Open Top, (OT)

Fully Close Welded Top
Plate, (FCWTP)
Half Close Welded Top
Plate, (HCWTP)

30

250

1100

125

140

45

Thickness
Plate
b
(mm)
1.5

30

250

1100

125

140

1.5

30

250

1100

125

140

1.5

FIGURE 3. a.) Fully Closed Welded Top Plate Beam b.) Half Closed Welded Top Plate Beam c.) Open Top
Beam

FIGURE 4. Schematic Diagram of Experimental Setup in Laboratory

3.

Result and Analysis

Load Carrying Capacity and Maximum Deflection

From the experimental work, graph of load against deflection plotted to determine performance of TWCF
beams. Figure X,Y and Z show plotted graph of load against deflection and load against strain subject to static
loading for Open Top sample, Fully Close Welded Top Plate sample and Half Close Welded Top Plate sample
respectively. From Fig 5, it show that all three samples was behaves linearly until it has reach yield point at
different load value. Open Top sample was yield at load applied 40kN and both Fully Close Welded Top Plate
sample and Half Close Welded Top Plate sample at 60kN. From graph of load against strain, it also indicate that
all analytical model for three samples of TWCF beam could be developed based on the buckling of steel plate.

Load vs Deflection

140

Open Section

120
Half Close

Load (kN)

100
80

Fully Close

60
40
20
0
0

10

20
30
Deflection(mm)

40

50

FIGURE 5. Load vs. Deflection for TWCF samples

Maximum load carrying capacity for Open Top, Fully Close Welded Top Plate sample and Half Close
Welded Top Plate sample was 53kN, 120kN and 100kN respectively. Maximum defelction for all three samples
of TWCF beam was within allowable deflection which is 4.5mm. Maximum defelction for Open Top samples is
4.0mm, Fully Close Welded Top Plate sample was 3.51mm and for Half Close Welded Top Plate sample was
2.78mm and maximum defelcetion was taken at yield point.
Ductility of TWCF Beam
From experimental work, ductility for all three samples of TWCF was determine and show in Table 2.
Ductility value from the experimental work was validated using theoretical ductility and both value show
reasonable agreement since the ratio was ranging between 0.96 to 0.99. TWCF beam show an increment of
ductility value from open to full close of TWCF beam.
TABLE 2: Comparison of ductility obtain from experimental work and theoretical.
Experimental
Theoretical
Ratio Theoretical to
Type of Beam
Ductility
Ductility
Experimental Ductility
Open Top, (OT)
4.86
4.7
0.97
Fully Close Welded Top Plate,
5.60
5.4
0.96
(FCWTP)
Half Close Welded Top Plate,
5.83
5.8
0.99
(HCWTP)
4.

Conclusion

From the experimental result, it has showed reasonable agreement with design equation derived. Ductility
behaviour of TWCF have desirable performance required in structural design provision. The analytical ductility
model of TWCF beam shows a good agreement with the experimental result. The strength of TWCF beams is
limited by buckling capacity of the steel plate at the bottom of the open box section. The strength-enhancement
devices used in such beams enhance the strength by stiffening the tension steel plates at the open end of the box
section. The effect of strength-enhancement devices on the strength, steel-concrete interface shear bond,
buckling of steel plates and failure modes of the beams are identified. The flexural behavior of the TWCF beams
in the interior support has been studied through the depicted of the load-deflection response and load-strain
relationship. The study confirmed that thin-walled composite beams have great potential to be used in buildings
and initiatives from the manufacturing and construction industries are vital for their future applications.
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