Hybrid steel–concrete sections for bridges: Definition and basis for design. (1st November 2022) - Lorenc, Wojciech
Highlight: Introduction to engineering of a new type of cross-section: steel–concrete hybrid cross-section. Providing a definition and a consistent design method. Answer to the question "how to distribute shear force into steel and concrete in a composite section" Abstract: This paper introduces (both formally and technically) a new concept: a hybrid steel–concrete cross section. The definition is based on the shear force transmission mechanism and it assumes the existence of a new type of shear connections, i.e. composite dowels. The hybrid cross-section is a generalization of composite steel-and-reinforced concrete cross sections and it is defined by a new way of dimensioning for vertical shear. The hybrid cross section concept is based on a specific approach to the lever arm of internal forces and an assumption that the local shear transfer mechanism of composite dowels is different than in the case of classic welded studs. The concept makes it possible to show by design calculations that the shear force is transferred through jointly the concrete part and the steel part. It is worth emphasizing that the proposed concept is a response to the new opportunities provided to engineers by composite dowels and to the fact that the bridge structures designed nowadays are different from the ones designed previously. The concept enables the design of completely new types of composite steel–concrete beams. The presented theoretical analyses verified by means of FEM show how the change of the shear connection level influences the division of the shear force in the cross section. This is included in the design concept through the internal lever arm of the hybrid section. The proposed concept has been shown to be internally consistent and complete.