Design of Composite Beams

Simply-supported beams
Sagging moments: Basic behaviour, concepts and codified design

Chiew Sing-Ping
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Composite construction

Composite construction
Greater stiffness and higher load carrying capacities. Fast erection of structural members. Reduce height of a structure and offer further savings in associated features through integration with building services. Good inherent fire resistance in slabs and columns. Steel deckings as permanent formwork provide additional safety features during construction.

Scope
Prescriptive Codified Design Approach
Typical use and practical cross-section configurations Modern design standards Composite action in beams Full and partial shear connection Basic resistances Design of a composite beam Practical design procedures
Effective width / sagging moment resistance / shear resistance / moment resistance under high shear / transverse reinforcement / deflection / serviceability stress

Comparison between different design approaches

Composite beams with profiled steel deckings

Be

Transverse reinforcement

Composite beam with solid concrete slab

Transverse reinforcement

Be
Ds D p

Transverse reinforcement

Dp Profiled deckling

Ds

Profiled deckling D

Beam span perpendicular to slab span Beam span parallel to slab span
B

Composite beam with composite slab using profiled steel deckings

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Composite beams
Rc Rq

Rs

The concrete slab works best in compression while the steel section works best in tension, hence, a large moment resistance is generated as a force couple. Resistance mobilization in both the concrete slab and the steel section is limited by the shear resistance along the concrete interface.

Modern design codes

British Standards Institution. BS5950: Structural use of steelwork in building. Part 3 Section 3.1: Code of practice for design of composite beams. British Standards Institution. BS EN1994-1-1 Eurocode 4: Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures. Part 1.1: General Rules and Rules for Buildings. Standards Australia. Composite Structures. Part 1: Simply Supported Beams. Australian Standard AS2327.1 1996.

Modern design codes

Buildings Department, Government of Hong Kong SAR Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005 Chapter 10: Composite construction.
Composite slabs Composite beams Composite columns Shear connection

Harmonized design BS 5400: Part 5, BS 5950: Parts 1 to 8, and EC3 & 4: Parts 1.1 & 1.2.

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Practical design of a composite beam

The design of a composite beam is a two stage process:
At the construction stage, the steel section alone will resist the dead weight of the slab and the construction load, i.e. Steel Beam Design.
Moment capacities / lateral buckling / shear capacity / deflection

At the composite stage, the steel section and the concrete slab together will resist the loads resulting from the usage of the structure, i.e. Composite Beam Design.
Sagging & hogging moment capacities / degree of shear connection / shear resistance / transverse reinforcement / deflection / serviceability stress

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Composite action in beams

No composite action at the interface.

Fully developed composite action at the interface. a b

a-a

a b Composite action developed at specified locations at the interface.

b-b

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Composite action in beams

Concrete slab and steel section each bends about its own neutral axis.

Strain

Free slippage at the concrete-steel interface.

Strain

Controlled slippage at the concrete-steel interface.

Concrete slab and steel section bends about the neutral axis of the combined section.
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Current design methodology

Prescriptive design approach
Moment capacities according plastic stress blocks. Sagging moment capacities with full or partial shear connection. Hogging moment capacities with full shear connection. Full shear connection, partial shear connection, minimum degree of shear connection.

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Basic resistances against sagging moment

Rc Rq

Rs

Forces:
Rc = Compressive resistance in the concrete slab Rs = Tensile resistance in the steel section Rq = Shear resistance in the shear connectors

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Prescriptive design approach - Plastic section analysis

0.45 fcu P.N.A

Rc Rs

P.N.A P.N.A

py

(a) yp in slab

(b) yp in steel flange

(c) yp in steel web

Various degree of shear connection Assume a rigid plastic load-slippage curve of shear connectors.
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Development of moment resistance along beam span

Compressive force

Rigid shear connectors

Sufficient shear connectors provided for full strength mobilization

Tensile force

P.N.A P.N.A P.N.A

(a) yp in slab

(b) yp in steel flange

(c) yp in steel web

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Various degree of shear connection

Full shear connection - Large concrete slab with small steel section
Rc

Rs

Rq

RS

Full resistance mobilized in the steel section

P.N.A Z Rc Rc = Rs

Rs

Force equilibrium
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Full shear connection

- Small concrete slab with large steel section

Rc Rq

Rs

Rc

Full resistance mobilized in the concrete slab

Full shear connection is achieved when Rq Smaller of Rs and Rc Rc P.N.A Rwb Rfb Rft Rwt

Force equilibrium (Rc + Rft + Rwt = Rwb + Rfb)

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Partial shear connection

When insufficient shear connectors are provided, the full resistance of neither the steel section nor the concrete slab is mobilized, i.e. Partial shear connection is achieved when Rq < Smaller of Rs and Rc

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Example: Design of a composite beam

B Dcs

Solid slab

Design data:
Grade 30 concrete with UB457x152 x 52 kg/m Grade S355

Dimensions
L = 12 m B = 2.8 m Dcs= 125 mm solid slab

Shear connectors
19 mm diameter headed shear studs 95 mm as welded height Qk = 76.3kN (Characteristic value from design code)
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Example: Design of a composite beam

Composite stage design Consider the composite section at mid-span Effective width of the concrete slab
Be = 12000 / 4 = 3000 mm > B=2800 mm Be=2800 mm

Resistance of a shear connector (headed shear stud)

Qp = 0.8 x 76.3 = 61.0 kN (The coefficient 0.8 is adopted for shear connectors in sagging moment region.)

Resistance of the concrete slab

Rc = 0.45 x Be x fcu x Dcs = 0.45 x 2800 x 30 x 125 x 10-3 = 4725 kN

Resistance of the steel section

Rs = A x py = 66.6 x 102 x 355 x 10-3 = 2364 kN

As Rs Rc, the full tensile resistance of the steel section will be mobilized while only part of the concrete slab will be mobilized in compression.

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Sagging moment resistance

The depth of the compression zone, dc, in the concrete slab is
dc = Rs / (0.45 x fcu x Be) = 2364 x 103 / (0.45 x 30 x 2800) = 62.5 mm or dc = Ds x

Rs Rc

Force equilibrium As the depth of the compression zone in the concrete slab is smaller than the slab thickness of the concrete slab, the plastic neutral axis of the composite beam is located within the concrete slab.

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Sagging moment resistance

The lever arm, z between the tensile resistance, Rs and the compressive resistance, Rc is given by:
d 449.8 62.5 D + (125 ) = 318.7mm z = + (D - c ) = s 2 2 2 2
=> M = Rs x z = 2364 x 318.7 x 10-3 = 753.4 kNm

Assume full shear connection.

P.N.A Z

Rc dc = 62.5 125

449.8 Rs

Moment equilibrium
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Provision of shear connectors

In order to fully mobilize the tensile resistance of the steel section,
Rq n x Qp Rs = 2364 kN for full shear connection 2364 => n = 38.8 or 39 (min.)

Use 40 no. shear connectors at a spacing of 150mm over half span, i.e. 6000 mm, i.e. a total of 80 headed shear studs along the beam length.
Rc = Rs= 2364kN Z = 318.7 Rs = 2364kN
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Rq

RS

Moment resistances
Steel beam:
Ms = 389.0 kNm

Composite beam: Mcs = 754.3 kNm

=> Mcs : Mc = 754.3 : 389.0 = 1.94 : 1

An increase of 94% in the moment resistance in the beam is achieved with proper provision of shear connectors. Similar increase in the flexural rigidity, (EI)cp of the beam is found. However, in some cases, design of composite beam for partial shear connection is more economical, depending on the applied moment.

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Prescriptive design approach

- Simplified load slippage curve
R-72 Typical
Not more than 20% decrease

QK
Shear force, Fs

0.5QK

Fs s

0.5 mm

5 mm Slippage, S

7 mm

Assume a rigid plastic load-slippage curve of shear connectors.

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Design procedures
For structural adequacy, the following checks should be satisfied: Ultimate Limit State
Section classification of composite cross-section Moment resistance with full shear connection Shear resistance Shear connection Moment resistance with partial shear connection Transverse reinforcement

Serviceability Limit State

Deflection Serviceability stresses
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Sagging moment resistance

Full shear connection For those composite beam with Rq the lesser of Rc and Rs [Case 1a] Plastic neutral axis in steel web [Case 2a] Plastic neutral axis in steel flange [Case 2b] Plastic neutral axis in concrete flange Partial shear connection For those composite beams with Rq < both Rc and Rs [Case 3a] Plastic neutral axis in steel web [Case 4] Plastic neutral axis in steel flange

Applicable only to symmetric I or H section with equal flanges

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Sagging moment resistance

The plastic moment capacity is expressed in terms of the resistance of the various elements of the beams as follows: Resistance of Concrete Flange: Resistance of Steel Beam: Resistance of Shear Connection: Resistance of Steel Flange: Resistance of Overall Web Depth: Plastic moment resistance of steel beam: Plastic moment resistance of composite beam:
Be Ds T D t d T B
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Rc = 0.45 fcu Be (Ds Dp) Rs = A py Rq = Na Q Rf = B T py Rw = Rs 2 Rf Ms = py Sx or 1.2py Zx Mc

Dp

Sagging moment resistance

Full Shear Connection : Rc < Rw [Case 1a] Plastic neutral axis in steel web
M c = M s + Rc
P.N.A

(D + D

+ Dp )

R c2 d Rv 4

Full Shear Connection : Rc Rw [Case 2a] Plastic neutral axis in steel flange (Rs > Rc)

( D s + D p ) (R s R c )2 T D + Rc M c = Rs 2 2 4 Rf
[Case 2b] Plastic neutral axis in concrete slab (Rs Rc)
P.N.A

Typical design

D R (D s D p ) M c = Rs + Ds s 2 2 Rc

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Section classification in composite cross-sections

In general, the moment capacities of composite cross-sections are limited by local buckling in the steel web or in the steel compression flange. For composite cross-sections of either class 1 plastic or class 2 compact, the moment capacities of composite beams are determined with rigid plastic theory, i.e. rectangular stress blocks. The section classification of a composite cross-section is often similar to that of the steel beam.

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Contribution of the concrete slab

Allowance is made for the in-plane shear flexibility (shear lag) of a concrete slab by using the concept of effective width
Mean bending stress in concrete slab

Idealized stress Actual stress

Effective width

Actual width

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Effective width of the concrete slab

Effective width, Be ,is calculated as follows: Be = bei
Beam span is perpendicular to slab span be = Lz /8 but not greater than b Beam span is parallel to slab span be = Lz /8 but not greater than 0.8b Beam at edge be = Lz /8 + projection of slab beyond centreline of beam
be1 be2

Lz = distance between points of zero moments b = actual width

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Effective breadth of the concrete slab in continuous beams

0.25(L1 + L2) 0.25(L1+ L2) 1.5L4 but L4 + 0.5L3 L1 0.8L1 L2 0.7L2 L3 0.8L3 - 0.3L4 but 0.7L3 L4

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Shear resistance
It is assumed that the vertical shear due to factored loading is resisted by the steel section only. The calculation of the shear resistance (Pv) should be with reference to BS5950: Part 1. Pv = 0.6py x Av where Av = shear area of the steel section = D x t for rolled sections = d x t for fabricated sections

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Moment resistance under high shear

Where the shear force Fv exceeds 0.5Pv, the moment capacity should be reduced to allow for the influence of shear. The reduced moment capacity Mcv should be determined from the following equation:

M cv

2 Fv = M c (M c M f ) 1 P v

Mc = Plastic moment capacity of composite beam Mf = Plastic moment capacity of the remaining composite section after deducting the shear area (Av) of the steel section defined in BS5950: Part 1 Pv = Lesser of shear capacity and the shear buckling resistance, both determined from BS5950: Part 1
The above equation is only applicable for a web that is plastic and compact.

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Moment resistance under high shear

Moment - shear interaction curve for a composite beam

Pv

Non-linear interaction

Shear, Fv

0.5 Pv
Linear interaction

Mf Moment, M

Mc

The interaction between moment and shear is considered not to be significant.

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Sagging moment resistance

Partial shear connection : Rq < Rw [Case 3a] Plastic neutral axis in steel web

R q (D s D p ) R d D M c = M s + Rq + D s 2 Rc 2 Rv 4
2 q

P.N.A

Partial shear connection : Rq Rw [Case 4] Plastic neutral axis in steel flange

P.N.A
2

R q (D s D p ) (R s R q ) T D M c = Rs + Rq D s Rc Rf 2 2 4
Rq = NaQp
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Global transfer of force in slab

Beam Support Uniform compression in slab A 5 4
Very large shear forces acting at the shear connectors

3 3 2 1

Line of principle compression Transverse tension

Transverse compression

Transverse distribution of forces along the A-A

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Transverse reinforcement
Transverse reinforcement refers to the reinforcement in the concrete slab running transversely to the span of the beam. Sufficient transverse reinforcement should be used to enable the concrete slab to resist the longitudinal shear transmitted by the shear connectors, both immediately adjacent to the shear connectors and elsewhere within its effective breadth, Be. When profiled steel sheets are used, they may also act as transverse reinforcement.

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Longitudinal shear force

The total longitudinal shear force per unit length (v) to be resisted at any point in the span of the beam should be determined from the spacing of the shear connectors by the following equation:

v=NQ/s
N = Number of shear connectors in a group s = Longitudinal spacing of shear connectors Q = Smaller of Qp and Qn Qp = Resistance of shear connectors in sagging moment (positive) Qn = Resistance of shear connectors in hogging moment (negative) For structural adequacy, the longitudinal shear force, v, should not be larger than the local shear resistance in the concrete slab, vr :

v vr

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Longitudinal shear force

Transverse reinforcement

v=NQ/s

Q Longitudinal Q shear force

Section A-A

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Local shear resistance

The local shear resistance of the concrete slab is given by

vr = 0.7 Asv fy + 0.03 Acv fcu + vp but vr 0.8 Acv fcu + vp

fcu = characteristic cube strength of concrete in N/mm2 but 40 N/mm2

= 1.0 for normal weight concrete and 0.8 for lightweight concrete
Acv = mean cross-sectional area, per unit length of the beam, of the concrete shear surface under consideration = (Ds + Dp )/2 Asv = mean cross-sectional area, per unit length of the beam, of both the top and bottom reinforcement crossing the shear surface vp = contribution of the profiled steel sheeting, if any.
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a) Solid slabs

At

Transverse area crossing the shear surfaces, Asv

Shear surface 1-1 2-2 3-3 Asv (Ab+At) 2Ab At

Ab

d) Composite slab.
Profiled decking spanning perpendicular to the beam

e) Composite slab.
Profiled decking spanning parallel to the beam

At

At

Lap joint in profiled decking

Profiled decking

3 3

3
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Contribution of profiled decking

Profiled decking may be assumed to contribute to the transverse reinforcement provided that it is either continuous across the top flange of the steel beam or that it is welded to the steel beam by stud shear connectors. a) Continuous profiled decking with ribs perpendicular to the beam span

vp = tp pyp
b) Discontinuous profiled decking with studs welded to the steel beam

vp = (N/s)(n d tp pyp) but

vp tp pyp

d = nominal shank diameter of the stud n =4 pyp = design yield strength of profiled decking tp = thickness of profiled decking
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Deflection
Deflection needs to be checked under the serviceability limit state in both the construction and the composite stages. The deflections for both stages (con & ) are then added up to determine if any precamber is necessary. Construction stage (con) Dead loads (Steel beam and slab weight) Deflection calculations based on steel beam

Composite stage ( ) Imposed loads only Deflection calculations based on composite beam Depends on the degree of shear connection

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Deflection for composite stage

An effective modular ratio, e, is used to express the elastic section properties of the composite section in terms of an equivalent steel section. It is determined from the proportions of the both short and long term loadings.

e = s + l (l s)
l = (Dead load + 1/3 Imposed load) / Total load

Short term

s
6

Long term

Normal weight concrete Lightweight concrete

18 25
48

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Deflection for composite stage

Deflection calculation is based on the gross uncracked composite section. Reference for the calculation of the second moment of area, Ig, can be made to Appendix B.3.1 for steel beam with equal flanges and any concrete within the depth of the ribs of the profiled decking is neglected.

Ig = Ix +

Be (D s D p ) 12 e

AB e (D s D p )(D + D s + D p ) 4{A e + Be (D s D p )}

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Deflection for composite stage

The increased deflection under serviceability loads arising from partial shear connection should be determined from the following equations: Propped construction

= c + 0.5(1 Na / Np)(s c)
Unpropped construction

= c + 0.3(1 Na / Np)(s c)
s = Deflection of steel beam under dead loads = con c = Deflection under imposed loads of composite beam with full
shear connection
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Serviceability stress
Serviceability stresses need to be checked for the construction and composite stage. It is to be checked under the serviceability limit state with the allowable stresses. Construction stage Dead loads (Md) Elastic properties based on the steel section Composite stage Imposed loads (Mi) Elastic properties based on the composite section Either cracked or uncracked sections should be considered, depending on the position of the neutral axis.
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Serviceability stress
Construction stage Dead loads Self weights of steel section, concrete slab and profiled decking Elastic properties based on steel section Calculate bending stresses in the steel section only

Bending

stress =

Md Zx

Zx = Elastic section modulus of steel section

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Serviceability stress
Composite stage Need to check whether the concrete slab is cracked (Case 1) or uncracked (Case 2) Appendix B.4.1 Case 1: Elastic neutral axis in the concrete slab

(D D ) B A< (D + 2 D )
2 s p p

Case 2: Elastic neutral axis in the steel section

(D D ) B A (D + 2 D )
2 s p p

A = cross-sectional area of steel section

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Serviceability stress
Composite stage Case 1: Elastic neutral axis in concrete slab The concrete on the tension side of the elastic neutral axis is taken as cracked and the properties of the cracked section is used. Concrete slab: Bottom flange of steel section: Zp = Ipe / ye Zs = Ip / (D + Ds ye)

3 Be ye D + A + Ds ye I p = Ix + 3 e 2

ye =

(D + 2 Ds )
B 1 + 1 + e (D + 2 Ds ) A e
0. 5

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Elastic analysis of a composite beam

Be / e Ds Dp D

Stress 0.5fcu Ds Dp E.N.A

Transformed section
E.N.A

Stress 0.5fcu

Composite stage

Construction stage

Composite stage

Unpropped construction

Propped construction
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Serviceability stress
Composite stage Case 2: Elastic neutral axis in steel section The concrete is uncracked and the gross section properties apply. Concrete slab: Bottom flange of steel section: Zg = Ige / yg Zs = Ig / (D + Ds yg)
2

yg =

A e (D + 2 D s ) + B e (D s D p ) 2 {A e + B e (D s D p )}

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Serviceability stress
Bending stress at extreme fibre of member Concrete slab (Compression) Steel section (Tension) Allowable stress Cl 2.4.3

Applied stress

Mi / Zp (Case 1) Mi / Zg (Case 2)

0.5 fcu

Md / Zx + Mi / Zs

py

Assume composite beam is simply supported.

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Comparison between different approaches

Prescriptive design approach in design codes
Simplified design assuming rigid and ductile shear connectors in strength calculation. Empirical formulae to allow for partial shear connection in deflection calculation.

Performance-based design approach

Allow non-linear deformation characteristic of shear connectors. Allow non-uniform distribution of forces and deformations of shear connectors along beam length. Allow various failure criteria. Accurate prediction in deflection, allowing for actual deformations of shear connectors. Important in continuous composite beams with both hogging and sagging moment regions.
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Conclusions (1)
1. Composite beam design is well established to achieve effective use of materials, i.e. the concrete slab in compression and the steel section largely in tension. 2. Composite action is achieved with proper provision of shear connectors. 3. Design rules for composite beams under sagging moment are provided. 4. Dimensional detailing on the installation of shear connectors should be carefully considered. 5. Transverse reinforcement should be provided to avoid longitudinal splitting in the concrete slab.

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Conclusions (2)
6. Deflection calculation is very similar to that of reinforced concrete beam. 7. Serviceability stresses in both steel sections and concrete flanges may be readily evaluated.

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