Experimental investigation of impact concrete slab on the bending behavior of composite bridge girders with sinusoidal steel web

Abstract

Until recently, steel plate girders with corrugated steel members were used primarily as poles and girders in the construction of industrial buildings. Currently, they are also being used in the construction of bridges. Compared to traditional steel and rolled girders, steel plate girders weigh less and are more stiff, while also having a neater appearance. In this paper, the results of an experimental study are present. The aim of the study was to determine the behavior of a bridge girder with sinusoidal web geometry when subjected to a bending moment. The study was focused on a composite steel and concrete structure with pin connections, which is currently the most common solution. Three near-real scale beams were subjected to bending tests. The study found that composite corrugated-web steel beams and non-composite corrugated-web steel beams showed similar forms of failure. A reinforced concrete slab did not prevent web stress concentration at the point of connection with the flange. Furthermore, the study indicates that corrugated steel webs in bridge girders can have a much smaller thickness (less than 8 mm) compared with the traditional solution.