Flexural study on U-shaped steel–concrete composite beam cross joints with L-shaped connection longitudinal transition components

Abstract

The paper focuses on the U-shaped steel–concrete composite bottom beam cross joints of U-shaped Steel-concrete Composite Open-web Sandwich Plate (USCOSP), presenting a new type of cross joints transmitting the internal force of steel web by L-shaped connection Longitudinal Transition Component (LLTC). LLTC consists of sleeves, L-shaped connection plates and threaded rebars installed on the steel web using sleeves and L-shaped connection plates. Compared with the conventional cross joints which transmit internal force of steel web by Welded Longitudinal Transition Rebar (WLTR), the LLTC cross joints transfer eccentric internal force within the steel web. Through simple-point loading experiments with simply-supported at four ends, the research experimentally investigated the flexural behavior of the WLTR cross joints and the LLTC cross joints. The five specimens were varied to differ in the type of longitudinal transition components, the diameter of WLTR, the number of threaded rebars of LLTC and the strength grades of threaded rebars of LLTC. Experimental results showed that the failure mode of U-shaped steel–concrete cross joint was the buckling of steel web, the buckling of top longitudinal rebar and crush on the concrete under compression near the central region. The LLTC cross joints experienced higher load capacity and better ductility than WLTR cross joints because of little steel web buckling. The ultimate load capacity calculated according to JGJ 138–2016 and the deflection in the elastic stage calculated according to the displacement method agree well with the experiment results.