Research on Steel-Concrete Composite Beams

This summary of British research on composite beams covers the period 1960 to 1968, during which emphasis was placed on the behavior of uncased beams at ultimate load (for buildings) and under repeated load (for bridges). The publications of the Drafting Committee for the British Code of Practice for Composite Construction are reviewed and related to the AISC and AASHO specifications. A more detailed account is given of the research at the University of Cambridge on uncased and concrete-encased beams. It is concluded that sufficient work has been completed to enable an ultimate-strength design method for continuous floor structures for buildings to be codified for composite construction in uncased mild steel and normal-density concrete. Further research is required on the composite behavior of lightweight concrete, high-yield steel and metal-deck flooring.