Numerical evaluation of deformation capacity of laced steel-concrete composite beams under monotonic loading

This paper presents the details of Finite Element (FE) analysis carried out to determine the limiting deformation capacity and failure mode of Laced Steel-Concrete Composite (LSCC) beam, which was proposed and experimentally studied by the authors earlier (Anandavalli et al. 2012). The present study attains significance due to the fact that LSCC beam is found to possess very high deformation capacity at which range, the conventional laboratory experiments are not capable to perform. FE model combining solid, shell and link elements is adopted for modeling the beam geometry and compatible nonlinear material models are employed in the analysis. Besides these, an interface model is also included to appropriately account for the interaction between concrete and steel elements. As the study aims to quantify the limiting deformation capacity and failure mode of the beam, a suitable damage model is made use of in the analysis. The FE model and results of nonlinear static analysis are validated by comparing with the load-deformation response available from experiment. After validation, the analysis is continued to establish the limiting deformation capacity of the beam, which is assumed to synchronise with tensile strain in bottom cover plate reaching the corresponding ultimate value. The results so found indicate about 20 degrees support rotation for LSCC beam with 45 degrees lacing. Results of parametric study indicate that the limiting capacity of the LSCC beam is more influenced by the lacing angle and thickness of the cover plate.