• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.705-716
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• 2021

An innovative partially precast partially encased composite beam (PPECB) is put forward based on the existing research. In order to study the flexural performance of the new composite beam which has precast part and cast-in-place part, six prefabricated specimens and one cast-in-place specimen are designed with considering the influence of the production method, the steel flange thickness, the concrete strength grade and the stirrup process on the behavior of the composite beam. Through four points loading and test data collection and analysis, the behavior of partially prefabricated specimen is similar to that of cast-in-place specimen, and the casting method, the thickness of the steel flange, the concrete strength grade and the stirrup process have different influence on the crack, yield and peak load bearing capacity of the component. Finally, the calculation theory of plastic bending of partially precast partially encased concrete composite beams is given. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which can be used for practical engineering theory guidance. This paper can provide reference value for further research and engineering application.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1305-1322
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical model analyses on partially encased composite columns under concentric loads. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of replacing the conventional longitudinal and transverse steel bars by welded wire mesh on the structural behavior of these members under concentric loads. To achieve these goals experimental tests on four specimens of partially encased composite columns submitted to axial loading were performed and the results were promising in terms of replacing the traditional reinforcement by steel meshes. In addition, a numerical FE model was developed using the software DIANA$^{(R)}$ with FX+. The experimental results were used to validate the numerical model. Satisfactory agreement between experimental and numerical results was observed in both capacity and deformability of the composite columns. Despite of the simplifying assumptions of perfect bond between steel and concrete, the numerical model adequately represented the columns behavior. A finite element parametric study was performed and parameters including thickness of the steel profile and the concrete and steel strengths were evaluated. The parametrical study results found no significant changes in the partially encased columns behavior due to variations of the steel profile thickness or yield strength. However, significant changes in the post peak behavior were observed when using high strength concrete and these results suggest a change in the failure mode.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2019

This paper presents the results of an experimental study to investigate the mechanical behavior of partially encased composite columns confined by CFRP under axial compression. The results show that the failure of the partially encased composite columns confined by CFRP occurred due to rupture of the CFRP followed by local buckling of the steel flanges. External wrapping of CFRP effectively delayed the local buckling of the steel flanges. The load carrying capacity of the column increased with the application of CFRP sheet. And the enhancement effect of the column was increased with the number of CFRP layer.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.305-323
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• 2014

This paper presents numerical simulations of partially encased composite columns (PEC) with equivalent steel sections. The composite section of PEC column consists of thin walled welded H- shaped steel section with transverse links provided at regular intervals between the flanges. Concrete is poured in the space between the flanges and the web plate. Most of the structural analysis and design software do not handle such composite members due to highly nonlinear material behavior of concrete as well as due to the complex interfacial behaviour of steel and concrete. In this paper an attempt has been made to replace the steel concrete composite section by an equivalent steel section which can be easily incorporated in the design and analysis software. The methodology used for the formulation of the equivalent steel section is described briefly in the paper. Finite element analysis is conducted using the equivalent steel section of partially encased composite columns tested under concentric gravity loading. The reference test columns are obtained from the literature, encompassing a variety of geometric and material properties. The finite element simulations of the composite columns with equivalent steel sections are found to predict the experimental behaviour of partially encased composite columns with very good accuracy.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.909-927
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• 2020

This paper addresses the results of an experimental study involving 10 partially encased composite columns under concentric and eccentric compressive loads. Parameters such as slenderness ratio, ordinary reinforced concrete and fiber reinforced concrete, load eccentricity and bending axis were investigated. The specimens were tested to investigate the effects of replacing the ordinary reinforced concrete by fiber reinforced concrete on the load capacity and behavior of short and slender composite columns. Various characteristics such as load capacity, axial strains behavior, stiffness, strains on steel and concrete and failure mode are discussed. The main conclusions that may be drawn from all the test results is that the behavior and ultimate load are rather sensitive to the slenderness of the columns and to the eccentricity of loading, specially the bending axis. Experimental results also indicate that replacing the ordinary reinforced concrete by steel fiber reinforced concrete has no considerable effects on the load capacity and behavior of the short and slender columns and the proposed replacement presented very good results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2015

In this paper, the standard fire resistance test under load and associated numerical study were carried out to evaluate the fire resistance of unprotected partially encased beams and slimfloor beams. The temperature evolution and the deflection increase of the composite beam specimens were investigated and the effects of the key behavioral parameters including the load ratio, the reinforcement, and the fire exposure were analyzed. The test results showed that the temperature rise of the partially encased beams and slimfloor beams is considerably slow compared to the conventional H-shape composite beams. Up to at least 90 minutes, the reinforcements in the partially encased composite beams maintained below the temperature at which the cold steel strength is sustained. Unprotected partially encased beams and slimfloor beams in the experimental program achieved the fire resistance more than 2 hours according to the limiting deflection criteria. This implies that unprotected partially encased beams and slimfloor beams can be very promising alternatives to enhancing the fire resistance of steel beams. This study also conducted the fully coupled thermal-stress analysis by using the commercial code ABAQUS to the thermal and structural behaviour of composite beams in fire. The numerical predictions provide acceptable correlations with the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1299-1319
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• 2015

This paper presents a detailed parametric study, conducted using finite element tools to cover a range of several geometric and material parameters, on the behaviour of thin-walled partially encased composite (PEC) columns. The PEC columns studied herein are composed of thin-walled built-up H-shaped steel sections with concrete infill cast between the flanges. Transverse links are provided between the opposing flanges to improve resistance to local buckling. The parametric study is confined to eccentrically-loaded columns subjected to major axis bending only. The parameters that were varied include the overall column slenderness ratio (L/d), load eccentricity ratio (e/d), link spacing-to-depth ratio (s/d), flange plate slenderness ratio (b/t) and concrete compressive strength ($f_{cu}$). The overall column slenderness ratio was chosen to be the primary variable with values of 5, 10 and 15. Other parameters were varied within each case of L/d ratio. The effects of the selected parameters on the behaviour of PEC columns were studied with respect to the failure mode, peak axial load, axial load versus average axial strain response, axial load versus lateral displacement response, moment versus lateral displacement behaviour and the axial load-moment interaction diagram. The results of the parametric study are presented in the paper and the influences of each of the parameters investigated are discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.883-898
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• 2022

A hollow-core partially-encased composite beam, named HPEC beam, is investigated in this paper. HPEC beam comprises I-beam, longitudinal reinforcement, stirrup, foam formwork, and cementitious grout. The foam formwork is located on both sides of the web, and cementitious grout is cast within the steel flange. To investigate the shear performance of HPEC beams, static loading tests of six HPEC beams and three control beams were conducted. The shear span ratio and the number of studs on the shear behavior of the HPECspecimens were studied. The failure mechanism was studied by analyzing the curves of shear force versus both deflection and strain. Based on the shear span ratio (𝜆), two typical shear failure modes were observed: shear compression failure when 1.6 ≤ 𝜆 ≤ 2; and diagonal compression failure when 𝜆 ≤ 1.15. Shear studs welded on the flange can significantly increase the shear capacity and integrity of HPEC beams. Flange welded shear studs are suggested. Based on the deformation coordination theory and superposition method, combined with the simplified modified compression field model and the Truss-arch model, Modified Deformation Coordination Truss-arch (M.D.C.T.) model was proposed. Compared with the shear capacity from YB9038-2006 and JGJ138-2016, the calculation results from M.D.C.T. model could provide reasonable predictions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.419-428
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• 2024

Prefabricated partially-encased composite (PEC) structural component is widely used in construction industry due to its superior structural performance and easy assembly characteristic. However, the solid web in traditional PEC components tends to split concrete into two halves, thus potentially reduces structural integrity and requires double concrete pouring. To overcome the above disadvantages, a new PEC beam with open-web π-shaped steel is proposed in this paper. Four open-web PEC beams with varying sectional height, flange thickness and web void rate were constructed and tested under flexural loads. During experimental tests, all beams exhibited typical flexural failure modes with strong moment capacities and excellent ductility. Owing to the unique construction form of web opening, steel-concrete bonding properties were enhanced and very small relative steel-concrete slips were observed. Experimental results also showed that the flexural capacity of such PEC beams increased with the increase of the sectional height and flange thickness, while was not affected by the web void rate. At last, a flexural capacity formula of the open-web PEC beam was proposed based on the whole section plastic rule. The formula results agreed well with experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.251-266
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• 2016

The paper combines two distinct parts. First the behavior of welded headed studs with small diameters of 10 and 13 mm acting as shear connectors (which are not embraced in current standards) is studied. Based on standard push tests the load-slip relationships and strengths are evaluated. While the current standard (Eurocode 4 and AISC) formulas used for such studs give reasonable but too conservative strengths, less conservative and full load-slip rigidities are evaluated and recommended for a subsequent investigation or design. In the second part of the paper the partially encased beams under bending are analyzed. Following former experiments showing rather indistinct role of studs used for shear connection in such beams their role is studied. Numerical model employing ANSYS software is presented and validated using former experimental data. Subsequent parametric studies investigate the longitudinal shear between steel and concrete parts of the beams with respect to friction at the steel and concrete interface and contribution of studs with small diameters required predominantly for assembly stages (concreting). Substantial influence of the friction and effect of concrete confinement was observed with rather less noticeable contribution of the studs. Distribution of the longitudinal shear and its sharing between friction and studs is presented with concluding remarks.