Theoretical and experimental study of the behavior of composite beam-columns using double I section filled with reinforced concrete

Resumo

Composite beam-columns are cost-effective structural systems for buildings and warehouses. They can
be pre-cast with reduced formwork or can be cast in-place in order to reduce crane usage. This paper reports the
structural behaviour of a pre-fabricated composite system based on a theoretical and experimental study. The
structural model is composed of a double rolled I section constituting a built-up member by means of I-section
web connectors, then filled with reinforced concrete. A theoretical study based on linear and nonlinear static
analysis through the Finite Element Method was carried using ABAQUS software. Based on this study, an
experimental programme was developed to test full-scale members submitted to flexural tests in order to validate
the numerical results. The experimental results were compared to the numerical results and the design
recommendations of Brazilian standard. Lastly, the economic conditions for the implementation of the system
were evaluated and the structural efficiency was analysed for an industrialized construction method.