SHEAR CONNECTORS IN COMPOSITE BEAMS - A NEW ACCURATE ALGORITHM

In the present paper a new numerical method, which allows for the exac t consideration of the nonlinearities introduced in the analysis of co mposite beams of steel and concrete is presented. Experimental data sh ow a nonmonotone behaviour for the load-deformation curve of the shear connectors which join the steel and the concrete. The great influence of the softening branch is demonstrated through the analysis of a sle nder beam spanning 30.0 m. This analysis shows that the consideration of a simple monotone diagram may lead to dangerous conclusions regardi ng the safety of the beam at serviceability state.