Convergence Studies of FEM Linear Static Analysis of Steel-Concrete

Composite Beams in terms of Higher-order Beam Theory

Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Md. Alhaz Uddin, Jie Wen
School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide,
SA 5005, Australia

Abstract
A one-dimensional finite element model based on Higher-order beam theory (HBT) is
developed for nonlinear geometric analysis of the steel-concrete composite beam. The HBT
incorporates shear deformation effect, which helps to warp of the beam section by
considering a third-order variation of the axial displacement over the beam depth for the two
layers separately. The effect of the partial interaction is adopted in the model development to
account for the slip, occurs at the interface in between steel and concrete layers. The
deformable shear studs are modelled as distributed shear springs along the interface of these
connection layers. In this paper, four different finite element models are developed to observe
the suitable number of beam elements is required for good and faster convergence. The
convergence study is made for global response (deflection) and local response (stresses) with
different loading and boundary conditions. The results show for good convergence less than
10 numbers of beam elements are required for deflection, whereas 20 numbers of beam
elements are required for a stress response. The obtained results are evaluated with published
results based on Euler-Bernoullis beam theory (EBT) and Timoshenkos beam theory (TBT).
A one-dimensional finite element formulation based on a higher-order displacement
model has been developed. The model account for geometric nonlinearities, a
parabolic shear strain distribution through the thickness, and satisfies the shear
stress free boundary conditions at the upper and lower surfaces of the beam. The
model also accounts for the bend-stretch, shear-stretch and bend-twist couplings
inherent to generally laminated beams. The lateral strains are assumed to be
nonzero and retained in the formulation. The model has been applied to the

Corresponding author: PhD Candidate, School of Civil, Environmental & Mining

Engineering, the University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Tel.: +61433412421Email address: mdalhaz.uddin@adelaide.edu.au

nonlinear static and transient analysis, free vibration analysis, and impact analysis of
laminated beams. For impact problems, nonlinear effects may be important and the
in plane stresses developed due to the geometric nonlinearity may be greater than
those due to initial stresses.