Experimental investigation of composite steel-concrete arches

Abstract EN

This research is concerned with behavior of composite steel-concrete arches under static load.

For this purpose, eight models of composite steel-concrete arches are fabricated as test specimens.

According to their supporting systems, the eight fabricated specimens are equally divided into Hinge-Roller and Hinge-Hinge supported arches in which varied numbers of shear connectors are used to investigate the effects of support conditions and degree of shear connection on the behavior of the composite arches.

The specimens are tested under monotonically increasing point load applied on their crowns (on the top of concrete slabs).

The mechanical properties of the used materials are determined by laboratory tests.

Push-out tests on three specimens, fabricated for this purpose, are also carried out to determine the properties of the stud shear connectors.

It is concluded that increasing the number of connectors tends to increase the ultimate load capacity and decrease both displacement and slip in the composite arches.

This trend is considerably satisfied when the horizontal movements of supports are constrained (Hinge-Hinge supported arches).