BEHAVIOUR OF COMPOSITE STEEL CONCRETE BEAMS

Abstract

Relevance and importance of composite construction has been well recognized in various constructions of Buildings and Bridges. Due to lack of availability of high grade raw materials, inflation increasing to two digits and increasingly high skilled labour market, it has become necessary to understand the behaviour of composite construction. Although a lot of work had been done by researchers on composite steel-concrete beams, yet rational behaviour of composite construction is not predictable. Splitting behaviour of these beams is one of the major factors governing design of this type of composite construction. It has been reported that splitting can be checked upto certain extent, but can not be avoided completely. Behaviour of composite consttuction is also influenced by using studs of different diameter. The main objective of this work was (1) to find the advantageous distribution of studs and proper placement of transverse reinforcement to avoid the splitting, (2) to check the relevance of the method (using plastic neutral axis) given by IS code (i.e. IS 11384) for calculating the ultimate moment of resistance of composite beam, (3) to examine the variation in cracking and deflection patterns due to the relative closeness of the shear connectors to the transverse reinforcement.