Cement & Concrete Composites 16 (1994) 261-272
C) 1994 Elsevier Science Limited
ELSEVIER
Finite Element Analysis and Parametric Study of
Steel-Concrete Composite Beams
G. Porco, G. Spadea & R. Zinno
Department of Structural Engineering, University of Calabria, 87030 Rende (CS), Italy
(Received 5 November 1993; accepted 28 June 1994)
Abstract
A finite element model is presented to predict the
stresses and deformations in steel-concrete compo-
site beams. The model takes into account the effect
of cracking and tension-stiffening in the tensed
concrete, and of longitudinal slip between the steel
beam and the concrete slab due to the 'partial
interaction' of the connectors. Some comparisons
with experimental data available in literature are
reported to validate the efficiency of the proposed
model Finally, a parametric study was done to
investigate the effects of the geometric and mechan-
ical variables as boundary conditions and the slip
modulus of the connectors.
Keywords: Steel-concrete composite beams,
connectors, crack growth, finite element analysis,
stress redistribution.
1 INTRODUCTION
Composite steel and concrete beams are widely
used in building and bridge construction. In parti-
cular, for steel bridges with concrete slabs, contin-
uous beams, compared with simply supported
schemes, have many advantages such as economic
steel weight, reduced displacements, comfortable
driving, high ultimate strength and seismic proof.
Although this system is simple in concept and
simply constructed, it is rather complicated to
analyse if the assumption of the linear strain shape
of entire cross-sections is removed. Usually fairly
simple analyses are based on the hypothesis that
the system is provided with sufficient connectors
between the steel beam and the concrete slab,
with a consequent negligible longitudinal slip of
these two parts (full interaction). In practice, it is
often advantageous to use fewer connectors than
261
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the number required for full interaction, even
though this may lead to longitudinal slip (partial
interaction) and, consequently, to increased
deflections and lower ultimate strength. The shear
connection of steel and concrete composite
beams is usually designed on an elastic basis for
the longitudinal shear force due to the loading for
the serviceability limit state. In general the experi-
mental evidence demonstrates that, in the range of
service loads, the behaviour of materials and
connectors can be considered as linear, without
appreciable loss of precision in the analysis. In
effect, if an ultimate strength design is adopted, an
elasto-plastic model is needed to obtain a more
realistic model.
In steel-concrete beams, the surpassing of the
bending moment which produces the first crack in
the concrete slab of a continuous beam, provokes
the reduction of the flexural rigidity, as a conse-
quence of progressive crack growth. Suitable
moment-curvature relationships must take into
account both the finite increment of curvature due
to the crack opening and the transferring of the
tensile load from the reinforcing steel to the
concrete included between two consecutive
cracks (tension stiffening).
The actual behaviour of the connectors was
analysed in Refs 1 and 2 where their mechanical
response was modelled by an elasto-plastic law. In
the schemes considered the effects of cracking
were demonstrated to be negligible and were not
taken into account in the analysis; nevertheless the
analytical results were close to the experimental
data. Moreover in Ref. 3 experimental data
including the effect of the progressive crack
growth were used to calculate simple rules to
obtain the ultimate bending moment and the
maximum transverse displacements. The effects
of the redistribution due to cracking in continuous
beams were analysed in Refs 4-6 for reinforced
262 G. Porco, G. Spadea, R. Zinno

concrete sections only. In Ref. 7 this effect has (1) materials are elastic;
been included in the analysis of composite (2) deflections are small;
steel-concrete continuous beams. (3) shear deformations are neglected;
This paper deals with a finite element analysis (4) the strains vary linearly both over the steel
of composite beams and considers, in particular, beam and concrete slab;
the elastic behaviour of the partial interaction (5) the slip modulus of the interlayer connec-
connection (slip modulus), and the moment- tion is elastic;
curvature relationship of the reinforced concrete (6) the friction between the steel beam and the
slabs modelled following the CEB model code ~ concrete slab is negligible;
and the Eurocode 2 9 taking the cracking of tensed (7) the radius of curvature is the same both for
concrete and the tension stiffening effect into the steel and concrete parts;
account. (8) the vertical displacements are the same for
The work considers the following: (1) develop- the two elements.
ment of the basic theory for the steel-concrete
In Fig. 1 a cross-section of a typical composite
composite beams with interlayer slip, (2) model-
of steel and concrete is shown together with the
ling of connectors, (3) description of the adopted
system of moments, and shear and axial forces
moment-curvature relationships, (4) development
appropriate for the equilibrium.
of the finite element model, (5) comparison of the
In particular, it is worthwhile noting the shear
present results with experimental data available in
flow qc, which must be resisted by the connectors.
the literature, (5) parametric study.
In Fig. 2 the deflection and axial displacements of
This analysis shows that the finite element
the two adjacent parts of the composite beam are
approach requires more computer equipment and
depicted at an arbitrary point along the structure.
engineer expertise but enables a more general and
With reference to this figure we can obtain the
consistent analysis. Nevertheless, if a more realis-
displacement field of an arbitrary point in the steel
tic assessment of the behaviour of this kind of
beam or in the concrete slab as:
structure is carried out, the cost is reduced and a
higher safety factor usually gained. u:i'(x,y,z)=u'd>(x)+(~(x)(z-zc, i) (1)
w~>(x,y,Z) = w<i>(x) (i= 1,2;Z+.i-<O,z~::2 >- O)
2 THEORY OF COMPOSITE BEAMS
By the previous assumptions we can write:
A theory for the analysis of composite beams in
steel and concrete is described below. The follow- dw
- (2)
ing assumptions are made: dx

M1
T T +d~dX MI+~xM dx
_.~ , + d N l d x
H2 N2
M2
[. dx M2+--~-x2dx

MI+ dM1 dx
M~ T1
ll- " IN1+ " ~ ux

TI+d~-dx
q©(x)dx
T2 ,,
M2+-~- dx
N2 II dx IT2+~xT2dx

Fig. 1. Steel-concrete beam system.

 Finite element analysis and parametric study of steel-concrete composite beams
q IZczZ~-,
W
Because of the assumed elastic linear behaviour of
the materials, the constitutive equations are:
E(/x)= u~i?x--~,x(X)(ZG--ZGi)
o(~)xx= E (~)egg(i) (i= 1,2)
where E/;l is the Young's modulus of each element
and zc is the position of the barycentre of the
entire composite beam cross-section.
Thus, the slip As between the steel-concrete
interface is shown to be:
As= +I [ )] =
The effective interlayer connection is assumed to
be represented by the equation:
qc ic
as=--
l'l r k c
where ic is the spacing of connectors, kc the slip
modulus of connectors, n r the number of rows of
connectors and q~ the previously defined shear
flow.
It is clear that the degree of connection of a
composite beam is governed by the value of the
slip modulus k c. If k~ tends to infinity the case of a
rigidly connected beam (full interaction) is
reached, while as kc tends to zero the case of an
unconnected composite beam results. For practi-
cal purposes, a finite value of kc results in the
partial interaction behaviour of a composite
beam.
263
IH1H2
I I
%
u~ I I ~dw/dx
•4 I
u~+ Z~d,,/d~ ',~_~*/d,
U o(13- ZG1dwldx '~. AS
Z__G1dw/dx
Fig. 2. Beam kinematics.
3 MODELLING OF STEEL-CONCRETE
CONNECTION
(i= 1,2) (3) The most common connectors used in the con-
(4) struction of the steel-concrete composite beams
are T, C and stud connectors. Generally, for these
kinds of connectors all codes furnish only approx-
imate relations for their design and suggest ad-hoc
experiments to define their actual behaviour. An
experimental analysis was conducted in Refs 1
and 2 where these connectors were tested by
beam and push-out models. All connectors have
substantially shown the same behaviour, qualita-
tive as well as quantitative, by classifying all of
them as a rigid type.
Without discussing the experimental details, we
summarize the principal conclusions obtained,
which are used in this work to determine the
range of the values for the slip modulus k c. From
the analysis of the experimental data, it appears
(6)
that the full interaction is never reached even for
low load levels. Moreover, for low load levels the
relation between load and slip is almost linear.
This is true in a range of serviceability and up to 2
of the ultimate load. After this point large dis-
placements appear with asymptotic behaviour.
With reference to Fig. 3, the actual behaviour
of the connection can be modelled as elastic-
perfectly plastic substituting the experimental
curve with a bilinear one. The limit load P~e can be
assumed to be equal to 65% of the ultimate load
Pu:
P =0.65Pu (7)
The following considerations can be used to
264
load
/-
//
..... E x p e r i m e n t a l curve
- - Bilinear ideal curve
Fig. 3. Actual behaviour of interlayer connection.
obtain the relation between the limit and the
ultimate load of the connectors. The large dis-
placements corresponding to the crisis of the
connection are due to both the yield of the steel
and crushing of the concrete. Using the well-
known relations between the ultimate and com-
pressive strength for the concrete, "~ and for the
yield and ultimate strength of the steel, it is poss-
ible to obtain the previous equation (7) for both
materials. Moreover, examining the collaboration
factor:
c = l -P'~'
P~
where p = AP/Ay, y being the slip between the
steel and concrete parts, and the subscripts o and
e are related respectively to the connection with-
out collaboration and to the effective connection
analysed. Observing the experimental data, ~,2 it
can be affirmed that all the connections have a
collaboration factor close to unity. From this
result we are able to define the load carried by
each connector as:
P~ = (0"98 + 0-99)Pc
where Pc can be calculated considering an infinite
rigid connection and using the well-known for-
mula:
p c - T A ~ f i~
I curvature follows from the effect of the bending
where T is the shear acting on .the section con-
sidered, A~ is the cross-sectional area of the con-
crete slab, )7 is the distance from its barycentre to
the barycentre of the entire section, I is the second
moment of area of the entire cross-section and ic
is the spacing of the connectors. With this expres-
sion a curve correlating Pc and the slip can be
G. Porco, G. Spadea, R. Zinno
drawn and it is qualitatively equal to the load-slip
curve of the connection. Then:
P~)= 0"65 Pcu (11)
where P ~ and Pcu are the limit and ultimate load
of a single connector.
In the following these equations are used in
conjunction with the experimental data available
in the literature to fix the range of variability of the
slip modulus kc, making possible the comparisons
slip =,.
between the experimental and analytical results in
the linear range.
4 MOMENT-CURVATURE
RELATIONSHIPS
In the combined bending and axial force case, it is
possible to use a model analogous to the pure
bending one. In fact we can define two limiting
states, as stated in Ref. 8. In the first one the
curvature is linear with M, while in the second it is
a non-linear function of M. In State I the normal
force can cause a supplementary bending
moment, but its magnitude is generally small.
Consequently, the curvature for combined flexure
and axial load can be assumed to be the same as
(8)
that for pure bending and coincident with the
elastic one:
1 1
- (M, N), = - (12)
r ?'1
In State II, for small values of the bending moment
M, the curvature becomes identical to that previ-
ously defined for State I. For higher values of the
bending moment, the normal force causes a varia-
tion in the compression area of concrete.
Consequently it tends to follow a line parallel
(9) to that for State II for pure bending ( l/r2):
1 (M,N)n
-
1 1 (13)
r t'2 r2 N
(10) The modification (1/r2N) to the pure bending
moment caused by the force N, acting at the
centre of gravity of the total section in State I,
being displaced from the centre of gravity of the
cracked section. This term can be easily evaluated
as:
1 N
r2N EI2(Xi-X2) (14)
 Finite element analysis and parametric study of steel-concrete composite beams 265

where x I and X2 are the positions of the neutral M

axis in pure bending for States I and II, respect- .!. _I_._L + l
r~ r= r= r=N -1-
ively.
To define the range of validity of the previous i I
/ • #
/r.
equations we need to evaluate the coordinates of /."" sS#IS
the point of intersection (M o, ( 1 / r)o) of the straight .'~
•"" ###i
#
t

/
lines representing the two states:
Mr°
."
g# rit
X(xi-x2) (1) Mo (15) iI

/
M ° - ( I 2 / I i - 1 )' r o=E-~ ,#
#
#
Therefore eqn (12) is valid for M < M o while eqn ,# .!_
r
(13) is valid for M>-M o. The average curvature I.!- -"
can be obtained using the CEB model code form- r0
ulation which introduces the coefficient ~o to (a)
define the contributions of the two states. The
M
relation is:
I ...t ,3..
WI r, r= _1_

.
1,1 o,1 + ~o
. . . (16) l
I ,t
#.l/"
_/
/
/'r,
rm rl
Ills
where the coefficient ~o can assume the following
" ..'" / ##'

•" \s'
values:

for f~Ffl2Mr >--M o and M > Mr ~o = 1 (17a)

M,. ~/
I/.'"
,// r=

__ ( ~ l ~ 2 M r - M o ] 2
f/" _t
t M-Mo }
Ij_
ra
for ~lfl2M,>-Mo and M<M r ~o=0 (17b) (b)
Fig. 4. Moment-curvature relationships (bending-
forJflifl2Mr<Moand M>Mo ~o=1 (17c) compression): (a)flffl~fl2Mr < Mo; (b),/-~ fl-~2Mr> Mo.
for ~fllfl2Mr<Moand M<Mo ~o=O (17d)
M
where M r is the cracking moment and ill, ~2 in 1 1 1
this analysis are both fixed equal to 1-0. The aver- W ]
l ~,±
1 ~+~N
/
age flexural stiffness can now be rewritten, start-
ing from eqn (16), in a way useful for
/
i //.-/
7 Y/
computational purposes as:

E/2 Mr. !/ " // / 7

/ /
E/m = (18)
[6111 + ~o(1 + ( N / M ) ( x l - x2)- I21I,)]
da,#, M, --
l# .• \\
Figures 4 and 5 represent all the cases possible for
combined bending and axial force. ,t ..'' 1

5 FINITE ELEMENT DISCRETIZATION

The total potential energy of a composite beam Mo

can be considered as constituted by four com-

ponents: (a) pure bending of steel and concrete
parts; (b) axial elongation of each part; (c) slip ~ . Moment-curvature relationship (bending-tension)
M, > Mo.
266 G. Porco, G. Spadea,R. Zinno
deformation of connectors; (d) external load con-
tribution. Taking into account the previous
assumptions we can easily write these energy
n=2! ,Z, E(i)i {i)
l-dx:] dx+ ,Z.,
components.
Eli)A (i)[duli)~
~--~x ] 2d x + ~1 f2 nrkc
The pure bending component can be written as As2(x) dy
a function of the deflections w, equal both for the it
steel and concrete part:
l
1±
1-Ib = 2 i=1
f/ /d2w\2
) ax (19)
-
f
0
qwdx-ZFiwi
i
(23)

The application of the virtual work principle

in which: requires that the potential energy yields a station-
ary value for the equilibrium position of the
H b = energy due to pure bending,
system; thus:
E (i) = Young's modulus of the ith part,
I (~)= moment of inertia of the ith part (depen-
ding on the cracking evolution), 61-1 = ~ I, E(i)l(')(d 2wl 6 (d2wl "I,
w= deflection of beam, i=lJo I -~-~X2] ~dx2/dx+,~ ,
x-- coordinate along the beam,
!= length of the beam.

The axial deformation produces the following ~,dx] ~,dx]

x+Ii , it
contribution:

1 2 Ilii)__ (,)[du(i)12 " AsbAs(x) dx- qbwdx-~.Fi6wi=O (24)

j.? I.x)OX
where A/~) is the area of the cross-section of the
ith part and u (i) the axial displacement of the ith
part of the beam.
The component due to the slip deformation of
the connectors, through the use of eqn (6), can be
written as:
H~=~ qc(x)As(x)dx
where qc is the average connector force, following
eqn (6), along the beam dx.
The work of the external loads is:
1-It = qwdx+~Fiwi
) i
where q and Fi are, respectively, the distributed
and concentrated loads applied to the beam. This
way of writing these components is particulary
useful for an extension to glued systems, such as
laminated timber beams, FRP bonded beams, etc.
In fact in this case we only need to replace the
term (Kcnr/ic) in eqn (6) by the stiffness of glueing
between each part of the composite beam. There-
fore the total potential energy of the composite
beam is:
) i
(20)
Using suitable interpolation functions, the
displacement field can be written l~ as:
N N N
/1(1)= Z /1(il)fi; U(2) m- Z U(i2)f,,i; W= Z wif (25)
i=1 i=1 i'-1
where u! ~), /1!2), Wi are the nodal values of the
unknown displacement functions and N is the
total number of nodes of the mesh in which the
(21) beam is divided.
Because the potential energy contains only first
derivatives of u, piece-wise linear approximation
functions can be used for the axial displacements.
For the displacement w, where the second deriva-
tive appears in the energy equation, the use of a
cubic approximation function is necessary and the
(22) continuity of both w and its first derivative is
required. Substituting (25) into (24)it is possible
to reach the discrete form:
KU=F (26)
where U is the nodal displacement vector, F is the
load vector and K is the stiffness matrix depend-
ing on the tensile cracking evolution in the struc-
ture. To evaluate this non-linear behaviour a
suitable iterative approach can be used.
At each load step, in which the total load is
divided, a suitable flexural stiffness is assigned to
 Finite element analysis and parametric study of steel-concrete composite beams 267

each element. In the iterative procedure the mesh 300 1 F (kN)

is modified at each step taking into account the
evolution of cracking at the previous load step. 250' . References (1,2) / o o

Present Analysie /
/
200 • •
6 COMPARISONS WITH EXPERIMENTAL
DATA • II
150
In this section some comparisons with experi-
mental data available in literature are reported. 100 o • •
The simply supported beam depicted in Fig. 6
was analysed in Refs 1 and 2. In this beam studs
50
were placed in pairs at the pitch of 100 mm; o o

moreover, the area of steel reinforcement A s m turn)

the slab is equal to 170 mm 2. o ,. . . . . . . . . +, . . . . . . . . . j, . . . . . . . . . ~ ......... ~ ........ i
Because of the geometry, boundary conditions Ca)
and load level, there is no cracking effect. In this 300
way only the effect of the partial interaction of the F" (kN)
o References (1,2)
connectors occurs. In Figs 7(a) and 7(b) the
250' • I Present Analysis •• "
load-displacement and the load-strain curves,
respectively, are shown.
The transverse displacements are calculated 200, • /
and measured in Section 5 while the strains of the
upper and bottom flange are referred to in Section 150 • o/
4. Good agreement between the analytical results
and the experimental data can be observed.
Figures 8(a) and 8(b) show the load-strain
,oo /" /
curves in the same position (Section 4) for the
previous scheme but with C and T connectors,
+ ° I /
respectively.
~/ ,= x lOOO
For the C connectors the parameter k c is equal
to 866 kN/mm while for the T connectors it is °--d:'~'"'-'~:'~""-'d:'~'"'~".'~"""6'.'~...... ;'.o
equal to 777 kN/mm. Again good agreement (b)
between the results obtained by the proposed Fig. 7. Simply supported beam: (a) load-displacement; (b)
load-strain.

I I finite element procedure and the experimental

data can be observed.
1+2, 3+ 4, 4'3' 2'1' With reference to the scheme depicted in Fig.
9, the strains in the displayed sections are com-
pared with those obtained experimentally in Ref.
; i I [
12.
275 475 950 1950 IL The parameter k c was fixed in the finite
IIII I I
100 125 125 11111 element analysis at the values zero, 130 kN/mm,
411111
t 400 kN/mm, and infinity. The values 130 kN/mm
5OO
and 400 kN/mm are fixed with reference to Ref.
3 where they are indicated as the limits of the
I I usual range of the stiffness for the stud connec-
tors. For a load level equal to 100 kN the experi-
i~ loo mental data are between the analytical ones
utuck relative to k c - 400 kN/mm and infinity (Fig. 10).
Fig. 6. Simply supported beam: geometry and points of This could be produced from the friction
measurements (fck----31"6 MPa; kc = 165 kN/mm). already acting on the contact surface that can be
268 (;. Porco, G. Spadea, R. Zinno

300 0.5
F (kN) x 1000
o References (1,2)

250 Present Analysis

\
o ~ a o
0.3
200 o~ • •

150 / / ~" • e'.. \ " X

0 •
/ / ~ .............. 7., -. \
oo
Ol / . . . . . "o- .." -. \
.,.g.o Kc - 0 "~*'--~.
100 ¢~.~'s'" • • = ~.-..
__ ~ Kc = 130 k N / m m
oo -0.0 Kc - 400 kN~rnm
Kc = i n f i n i t y
Experimental data (12)
5O Sectione

B C D E F" 0
0oo
0 l..ll,.;|ql.||l ,...I.i , . . , ,,, Fig. 10. Strains in the upper flange of the steel beam near
-0.6 "0.4 -0.2 O,~'"'"&~;"'"'6'.~,'"'"6'.~'"'"6'.~ ...... ~'.o the middle support (F = 100 kN).
(a)
30o

I
F" ( k N )
o References (1,2)
1;50 ¢ x 1000
25O • ,~ Present Analysis

1.00

150 ~
0.50

,oo t
oo0

" F -0.00
-
Kc - 0
_ _ K¢ = 1 3 0 k N Z m m
_ . _ Kc = 4 0 0 k N / r n m
50 o, . . . . . . Kc == i n f i n i t y
: : : : . : . Experimental data ( 1 2 )
Section-,
I/ ¢ x I000 -0.50 ........ ! ......... t ......... ! ......... ! ......... t .... '~'~"! ........
0 . . . . . . . . . ~. . . . . . . . . w. . . . . . . . . [r. . . . . . . . . ~. . . . . . . . J. . . . . . . . . ~ , , , , ~ , , , ~ , , , ~ . . . . . A B C 0 E F C H
-0.6 --0.4 --0.2 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

(b) Fig. 11. Strains in the upper flange of the steel beam near
the middle support (F = 340 kN).
Fig. 8. Simply supported beam with: (a) C; (b) T connec-
tors.

seen as an increase in k c. Instead, for F= 340 kN,

this effect disappears and the analytical results
1400 F 1600 F 1400
compare well with the experimental data (Fig. 11 ).

i J b r e ] G ~-- r

l ABC D E F
Lk
H p 7 PARAMETRIC STUDY
2200 1600 2200
~ ~',~ ------i=,4q~ . Vl Using the variational formulation proposed in
i c = 100 ic =200 'c = 100
Section 5 a parametric study was carried out
~.9 300 ~
showing the influence of the most important
V A s=A's= 265 mm 2
I : : v: I 1°° mechanical and geometric parameters. In Fig. 12
~-8. ~'i-~12 l F~k=
37MPanr=2 the load-strain curves for various values of the
slip modulus of the connectors k c are shown. The
results are relative to a continuous beam sub-
~---- y12
jected to forces acting on the midspans.
A
The strains are referred to the lower and the
upper flanges on the central support section. The
Fig. 9. Continuous beam: geometry and points of measure- geometry is the same as the case in Fig, 9 but with
ments (height of steel beam: 200 ram). the value of ic constant and equal to 200 ram, and
 Finite element analysis and parametric study of steel-concrete composite beams 269

~] F (kN)
"~'~. , 100 1 / /" /

4 /,'/
N, ;
k,, i/
40
!,
Kc =1"30 kN/mm N :] ,"/ /
_ _ Kc = 4.00 kN~mm ~. 20-]L
...... Kc = 800 kN/mm ~ ~il/
'~1 E: x 10 6

- O0 -250 -2 0 ,~ 0

Fig. 12. Load-strain curves in the lower and upper flanges (point load).

q (N/mm)

,,~,,, 50. . t
/, /
~:"~"~,, ,,o
~,,,
30,

20'
,4'/
i /tj

Kc = !_30 kN/mm ~ 10'

-- -- KC = 400 kN/.mm ~.
...... r KC = 800 kN/mm
~ x 10 6
....... -'~o'o. . . . . . . -'I'o'o. . . . . . . a ........ ~66 . . . . . . . ~66 . . . . . . . ~q
Fig. 13. Load-strain curves in the lower and upper flanges (distributed load).

A's = As = 452 m m 2 (area of lower and upper steel (F= 20 kN and 100 kN). T h e first is relative to the
reinforcement in the concrete slab). The structure uncracked range and the second to the cracked
becomes stiffer for high values of k c because it state. In Figs 14(a) and 14(b) the displacements
tends to become monolithic. The effect of the calculated in the sections P versus the slip modu-
change in kc is more evident on the upper flange lus for various values of ic are plotted.
than in the lower one. It is clear that for both load conditions the
W h e n the same structure is subjected to a decrease in ic leads to a stiffer structure. W h e n k c
uniform transverse distributed load q the same is equal to zero the structure is completely dis-
qualitative behaviour of the structure can be connected, evidencing the cracked zones already
observed (Fig. 13). Also in this case it is clear that for low load levels. On the other hand, when k c
for the upper flange the results for the various tends t.o infinity the connection exhibits a full
values of kc are different while for the lower one interaction behaviour and all the curves tend to a
they are almost equal. unique asymptotic value. T h e same conclusions
For the same scheme the dependence of the can be drawn for the cases displayed in Figs 15(a)
solution on the slip modulus of the connectors is and 15(b) where the structure is subjected to a
shown by fixing two values of the point loads uniform distributed load and the points of
 270 G. Porco, G. Spadea, R. Zinno

0.35 1.40
Onm) i a (ram)
0.30 1.20 l" _ _ != = I00 mm
~.~, i== 1 O0 m m ~(,,,,, ___ i= = 200 mm
~,,, i== 2 0 0 m m ........ ic = ,300 m m
,\ ........ i== 3 0 0 mm
0.25 1.00

\ i\
0.20 0.80

0.15 0.60
" " " - ~"L"L"Z
0.10 0.40
F = 20 kN k (kN/mm) q = 40 N/mm k (kN/mm)
¢
C
0.05
o ....... ;6b . . . . . . . ~6b . . . . . . . ~ ....... ~ ....... ~(
0.20 ........ ;6b . . . . . . . ~' ..... "~ ...... "~ ....... ~,

(a) (a)

2.50
6 (ram) 3.00:1:,1~ (ram)

2.50 ",~t~\ _ _ i=: = 1 O0 m m

2.00 ,, _ _ _ ,~ 2OO mm
,,,
,, _ _ i¢= 1 0 0 mm ~,,, - ....... ic = 300 mm
l' !c= 2 0 0 mm
" ........ I== 3 0 0 mm 2.00 \',
1.50

1.50 "" ....

1.00
~ / " 2"S-2'"2"2"I.-2-:-.Z. -Z_. 1.00
" " " - --'"":-"-"::'--z

0.50
F = 100 kN 0.50
q = 80 N/ram
k (kN/mm) k (kN/rnm)
c ¢
0.00 ....... ;6b . . . . . . '~6~. . . . . . '~6b. . . . . . . ~b ....... ~, 0.00 . . . . .

(b) (b)
Fig. 14. Slip m o d u l u s - d i s p l a c e m e n t curves (point loads). Fig. 15. M a x i m u m displacement versus slip modulus
(uniform distributed load).

measurements are the same as in the previous

analysis. 1400 F 1600 F~ l - - 1400
~ ~1~ ~ , , ~.~ ~_~;
The effect of the boundary conditions is now
analysed for a continuous composite beam in
which the last support is substituted by a clamped
boundary condition. All the mechanical and
geometric properties are shown in Fig. 16 and are
the same as for the simply supported continuous
l
2200 1600
C
,
&

2200
E
1
== ic=100 r,- i~=200 -,- ic=i00 ~-i
beam.
In this case the strains versus the loads are plot-
v l 200 A rA',--- ~ 5 mm 2
ted in two sections; the first is on the central
i :' : '~ ; A Rek=37MPa
support (section C) and the second in correspon-

l
~ ~'2
dence with the clamped zone. Figure 17 is relative 8=, nr=2
to kc= 130 kN/mm and in Fig. 18 the results
E ~ L 12
obtained fixing kc to 800 kN/mm that practically A
produces a full interaction connection are
reported. The cracking appears first in section C
(central support) and then in section E (clamped). Fig. 16. Right end clamped continuous beam.
 Finite element analysis and parametric study of steel-concrete composite beams 271

\ 60 ~ F (kN) I/

~N ~'\ I// ~'1

\,, ,o ,/

.--_ SECTION E "~

6
,¢ xlO
66 . . . . . '-' 1'50 . . . . . '-'1'00 . . . . . . '-,~ ...... 3'6 ........ ~)' . . . . . . . i66 ....... i!
Fig. 17. Rightend clamped continuous beam subjected to point loads: load-strain curves in the lower and upper flanges of the
central support section.

", t,' /
t S
\',,
SECTION C ~ \ .,.,ill K - 800 kN/mm
. _ _ SECTION E .X ~\ LUt r/ C

X 6
............................. , ...... }~ .......... ~?0 ....
- 160 - 120 -80 -40 40 80
Fig. 18. Rightend clamped continuous beam subjected to point loads: load-strain curves in the lower and upper flanges of the
central support section.

Again, for both sections the tension stiffening

600
(turn) effect is evident in the plots. Comparing the two
figures it appears that the full interaction leads to
500 / a stiffer structure and moves the point of first
SECTION C cracking to higher load values.
4.00 ._ _ SECTION E / With reference to the previous beam, the length
/ of the cracked zone l is plotted in Fig. 19 for two
values of k c and for sections C and E. It is clear
,,o'2:o / that the evolution of the cracked zone grows more
rapidly in the zone close to section C than in the
200 vicinity of the clamped section. This effect

oo //. happens for both values of k c.

8 CONCLUSIONS
0 . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . 55 . . . . . . . . 6

Fig. 1 9 . Right end clamped continuous beam: length of T h e model proposed here is able to predict the
cracked zones. behaviour of composite continuous beams taking
272 G. Porco, G. Spadea, R. Zinno
into account the partial interaction between the
steel beam and the concrete slab, the cracking
evolution and the tension stiffening effect present
in the tensed concrete between two cracks. This
approach is a good tool for the optimum design of
this kind of structure taking into account the most
important structural aspects.
It should be noted that, in particular, the model
is partially non-linear because it considers the
moment-curvature relationship as non-linear in
State II. A comparison of that is given with the
experimental results of Tachibana (Figs 10 and
1 1). In addition, the results of the parametric
study show the non-linearities due to the cracking
of tensed concrete and the tension stiffening.
For the range of load examined the behaviour
of steel connections is linear. However, it should
be noted that in the presence of loads capable of
plasticizing the connectors, the behaviour of the
connections considered here as elastic, must be
modelled by an appropriate elasto-plastic rela-
tionship, as will be developed in a paper forth-
coming shortly.
REFERENCES
1. Matildi, P, Mele, M. & Puhali, R., Analisi sperimentale e
criteri di calcolo dei collegamenti trave-soletta nelle
strutture composte di acciaio e calcestruzzo -- partc I.
~bstruzioni Metalliche, 4, pp. 203-24, 1974 (in Italian).
2. Matildi, P., Mele, M. & Puhali, R., Analisi sperimentale e
criteri di calcolo dei collegamenti trave-soletta helle
strutture composte di acciaio e calcestruzzo -- parte II.
Costruzioni Metalliche, 5, pp. 303-13, 1974 (in Italian).
3. Johnson, R. P. & May, I. M., Partial interaction design of
composite beams. The Structural Engineer. 53 (8)
(October 1975) 305-11.
4. Cosenza, E., Reinforced concrete elements in a cracked
state. Computer & Structures', 36 (1) (71-9) (June 1990).
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loading of reinforced concrete continuous beams: finite
element analysis and experimental investigation. FDRC-
2, Fracture and Damage of Concrete and Rock, Vienna.
Austria, 1992.
6. Spadea, G., Experimental results on moment redistribu-
tion in reinforced concrete continuous beams. In
Applied Stress Analysis, ed. T. H. Hyde & E. Ollerton.
Elsevier Applied Science, London, New York, 1990.
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National Conference AIAS, Forli, Italy, 6 - 9 0 t t o b r e
1993 (in Italian, in press).
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1970.
11. Gallagher, R. H., Finite Element Analysis: kundamentals.
Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N J, 1975.
12. Tachibana, Y., Experiment on non-prestressed continu-
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Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), 45. 31)-1-
1970, 1970.