Study on Stiffness of Composite Beam-to-Column Joints

Safe and economical design of new steel-concrete composite structures, as well as assessment of existing ones, depends not only on a load-carrying capacity of individual beams and columns, but it is greatly influenced by their mutual connection in joints. Stiffness of two types of composite joints is analyzed in the paper. The presented study is focused on the influence of reinforcement and slab thickness on the stiffness of composite joints. Fourteen variants of horizontal beams, several slab thickness, and appropriate modification of reinforcement ratios were performed in the study. Calculation procedures have been performed in accordance with the Component Method implemented into the current standards. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.