Experimental investigation on inelastic behavior of composite box girder under negative moment

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of negative bending moment zone in composite girder is very complex. The nonlinear characteristics due to the cracking of concrete slab need careful studies. In this experimental research, two specimens of steel-concrete composite box girder with inclined webs under hogging moment were cautiously conducted and tested. The relative slips between the steel and concrete, load-displacement relationship, the strain distribution of the steel girder, the reinforcements and the concrete slab, and the cracking behavior of the concrete slab were measured during the tests. The relatively small slips on the surfaces between the concrete slab and the top flange of the steel girder showed the full shear connection composite behavior of the girders. The initial cracking load was compared with the calculation results from linear analysis and nonlinear analysis based maximum strain. The strain of the steel web measured at different positions along the vertical direction showed the establishment of plane section assumption and the variation of neutral axis in the loading process. Moreover, shear lag effect was found in the strain distribution of the bottom flanges. The strain of concrete slab and the crack spacing showed the effect of the longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the cracking behavior of the concrete. The maximum crack width was observed in the loading process and compared with the calculation results according the design codes. The influence of reinforcement ratio on the strain of reinforcement and on the load capacity in serviceability limit state was studied in the context and it was found that the reinforcement ratio play an important role on the crack control of composite girder under hogging moment.