Work

Experimental Investigation on the Bending Performance of Steel–Concrete Composite Beams After Creep

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The long-term flexural performance of steel-concrete composite beams after creep is influenced by multiple factors such as the degree of shear connection, cross-sectional form, and boundary conditions. The engineering community has an ambiguous understanding of the coupling effects of these factors. To address this issue, this paper conducts systematic experimental research: six simply supported beams (three box-shaped, three I-shaped) and four continuous beams (two box-shaped, two I-shaped) were designed with three degrees of shear connection (0.57, 1.08, 1.53). These beams first underwent simulated creep tests (24 °C, 80% relative humidity, 10 kN load, 180 days), followed by monotonic bending tests. The results indicate: (1) A high degree of shear connection (1.53) reduces creep deflection by 15-20% compared to partial connection (0.57) and delays the initiation of interface slip to 30% of the ultimate load; (2) Box sections exhibit 10-15% lower creep deflection than I-sections, though both experience 40-60% stiffness reduction after creep; (3) Continuous beams show a 25% improvement in crack resistance in the negative moment region and a 50% increase in flexural capacity at mid-span compared to simply supported beams; (4) After creep, the elastic modulus of concrete decreases by 40-60% (inversely related to the degree of shear connection), with fully connected specimens retaining 55-61% of their strength, while partially connected specimens retain only 43-49%. This study quantifies the degradation patterns of concrete performance, clarifies the influence mechanisms of key structural factors, and provides theoretical and experimental support for the long-term performance design of composite beams. Shear connection design is crucial for mitigating creep effects.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18235332

Authors: Faxing Ding, Yang Dai, Xiaolei He, Fei Lyu, Linli Duan

Institution: Central South University

Language: English

Topic: Structural Load-Bearing Analysis

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province