Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis and Design of Composite Beams Subjected to Shear and Bending

The shear strength and the moment-shear interaction in steel-concrete composite beams was previously evaluated by the authors through an experimental program comprised of fourteen tests on simply-supported composite beams. In this paper, a nonlinear finite element model is developed to simulate the behavior of the experimental section. The model was assessed in terms of the ultimate strength and the failure modes of the composite beams under shear and bending and found to be accurate in capturing the nonlinear response of the specimens. The numerical model was then used to carry out an extensive parametric study on the various factors that influence the shear strength of a composite beam. These factors include the slab thickness, the slab width, and the reinforcement ratio. Based on the results of the numerical study, design models are proposed for the calculation of the shear strength and the shear-moment interaction in composite beams.