Effective width of composite L-beams in buildings

Abstract

The latest AISC design specifications permit the use of wider effective widths for steel-concrete composite exterior beams (or L-beams) than previous editions. This sometimes results in more flexible beams which quite often support deflection-sensitive nonstructural components. An analytical study of composite L-beams was conducted within a practical range of span and spacing for buildings. Both the conventional stress-based and rational stiffness-based definitions of effective width were considered. Effective widths were computed from the results of finite element analysis of three-dimensional models permitting longitudinal slip between the concrete slab and the steel beam. It was concluded that the AISC effective width criteria for L-beams tends in an unconservative direction; a stiffness-based formula dependent on the spacing/span ratio is proposed.