Behavior of steel-concrete composite cantilever beams with web openings under negative moment

Abstract

The effect of web openings on the mechanical behavior of composite beams under negative moment was studied through monotonically loading tests. Nonlinear finite element method based analysis was also conducted for cantilever composite beams. The test and the finite element analysis results indicated that the initial cracking loads of composite beams with web opening are lower than that without web opening. The first crack initiated from the concrete slab on the top of the opening. The beams with web opening failed due to shear failure of concrete slab upon the opening. It was also found that the load carrying capacity of beam decreases with the increase of the moment-to-shear ratio at the central line of the opening and the mechanical behavior of beam can be improved significantly by applying stiffening steel plates around the opening. To quantify the reduction of load carrying capacity, a method for calculating the load carrying capacity of beams with web openings under negative moment was derived with consideration of the interaction between moment and shear. Good consistency was obtained between the proposed method, the finite element method and the test results.