Resistance of Steel – Concrete Composite Girders with Corrugated Web

Abstract

The paper discusses the analysis of shear resistance of girders with corrugated web, combined with a concrete slab in a way that allows creation of a composite structure according to the definition of Eurocode 4. The results of the authors’ experimental tests of girders with a corrugated web connected to a concrete slab, and the results of tests on girders without a concrete slab were used. Experimental investigations concerned the effectiveness of SIN girder (i.e. with sinusoidal corrugation) WTA 500 / 300x15 strengthening with a concrete slab for shear resistance of the whole steel-concrete element and shear buckling resistance of the web. Load – displacements paths LDPs P(y) as well as the results of tensometric strain measurements of the web were analysed. The results of the composite girder tests were compared with the results of tests of SIN girder without a concrete slab with a similar static diagram and a similar failure mode due to the loss of the web stability. In addition, the first buckling load and slab contribution to shear force transferring were analysed. Based on the analysis of experimental results and available analytical models, the solution for estimating design shear buckling resistance in girders with corrugated web strengthened with a concrete slab was proposed. Using the proposed formula, the contribution of the web and concrete slab to the transfer of shear load for the whole series of girders with web heights hw = 500 mm to 1500 mm and thickness tw = 2 mm, 2.5 mm and 3 mm was shown. The proposed formula takes into account the mutual interaction between the local and global mode of shear stability of the web, which leads to the reduction in design shear buckling resistance. Additionally, improvement in the web boundary conditions as an effect of increased flange stiffness due to joining it to the concrete slab was taken into account. This paper also uses the results of tests concerning SIN girders without a concrete slab, with other web heights and thicknesses than in WTA 500/300x15.