Ultimate negative bending-moment capacity of outer-plated steel-concrete continuous composite beams

Static load tests and bearing capacity analyses are carried out for two outer-plated steel-concrete continuous composite beams. The load-deflection curve and the load-strain curve of specimens are obtained and analyzed. The test results indicate that effective cooperation can be achieved by the shearresistant connection between the reinforcement in the negative moment area and the outer-plated steel beam, and the overall working performance of the composite beams is favorable. At the load-bearing limiting state, the plastic strain on the maximum negative and positive moment section becomes fully developed so as to form relatively ideal plastic hinges. With the increase in the reinforcement ratio, the moment-carrying capacity of the composite beams improves significantly, but the ductility of the beams and the rotation ability of the plastic hinges decrease. The formulae for calculating the limit bending capacity in the negative moment area of outer-plated steel-concrete composite beams are proposed based on the test data. The calculated results agree well with the test results.

Field validation of UHPC layer in negative moment region of steel-concrete composite continuous girder bridge

Improving the cracking resistance of steel-normal concrete(NC)composite beams in the negative moment region is one of the main tasks in designing continuous composite beam(CCB)bridges due to the low tensile strength of the NC deck at pier supports.This study proposed an innovative structural configuration for the negative bending moment region in a steel-concrete CCB bridge with the aid of ultrahigh performance concrete(UHPC)layer.In order to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of this new UHPC jointed structure in the negative bending moment region,field load testing was conducted on a newly built full-scale bridge.The newly designed structural configuration was described in detail regarding the structural characteristics(cracking resistance,economy,durability,and constructability).In the field investigation,strains on the surface of the concrete bridge deck,rebar,and steel beam in the negative bending moment region,as well as mid-span deflection,were measured under different load cases.Also,a finite element model for the four-span superstructure of the full-scale bridge was established and validated by the field test results.The simulated results in terms of strains and mid-span deflection showed moderate consistency with the test results.This field test and the finite element model results demonstrated that the new configuration with the UHPC layer provided an effective alternative for the negative bending moment region of the composite beam.

Comparison of Studs and Perfo-Bond Strips on Mechanical Behavior of Composite Girders under Negative Bending

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of different types of shear connectors on mechanical behavior of composite steel and concrete girders under negative bending moment. Two overturned simply supported steel-concrete composite girders with different shear connectors including studs and PBLs （perfo-bond strips） were tested under point load in the mid-span. Based on the experimental observations, a three-dimensional FE （finite element） model capable of analyzing the composite girders subjected to negative bending moment was built. Load and deformation response, concrete initial cracking and composite girder ultimate load bearing capacity, strain development process of reinforcing bars before and after concrete cracking were observed in the test and compared with the numerical values. Results predicted by this modeling method are in good agreement with those obtained from the tests. Furthermore, the %rack closure＂ or ＂through crack＂ load were recorded by π-ganges in the tests and compared with the code-specified ultimate load.