Composite steel-concrete systems with slim floor beams: structural performance and design considerations

Slim floor systems represent one of the major sources of innovation in the area of composite building construction in Europe. This generic term refers to a 'family' of structural solutions under continuous development. Despite significant differences, the current design philosophy and criteria remain basically the same as for traditional composite steel-concrete building systems. The main purpose of the present paper is to report on the principal outcomes of a study carried on at the University of Trento, which deals with different aspects of slim floor performance and design. The effect of semi-continuity is considered, and models able to approximate the response of the joint and the beam presented. Finally, a graphical method is illustrated, which allows to effectively account for sizing and checking semi-continuous slim floor beams under different design constraints for the sequential phases of construction and service.