Experimental study on flexural behaviour of partially encased cold-formed steel composite beams using rebar as shear connector

Abstract

This paper focuses on the composite action of two samples each consisting of two composite beams and a composite slab with bent up rebar as a shear connector. The specimens were knowingly adapted to have different shear transfer capacities along the interfaces with different geometries of the composite beams. By using the four-point bending tests of the two full-scale specimens, the authors experimentally evaluated the flexural behaviour of the partially encased composite beams. Therefore, this paper presents experimental works on the structural performance of composite beams consisting of cold-formed steel (CFS) section with self-compacting concrete (SCC) by means of the shear connection mechanism of the proposed using deformed reinforcement bar. "The results have shown that the theoretical value of flexural capacities designed agrees well enough with the experimental results. Based on the present beam tests results it was realised that the new composite system showed slightly higher results than predicted with ultimate moment ratios between 0.89-0.91% and 0.83-1.08% for the 250 mm and 150 mm beam respectively. According to the experimental bending test results, the composite section can reach the ultimate strength without compression buckling failure or local shear when the proposed shear connector was presented in the composite action. Analysis and design of composite beams are studied to validate the present test results."