Experimental study on the use of steel-decks for prefabricated reinforced concrete beams

This paper presents an experimental study on the use of steel-decks for concrete beams. The purpose of this research is to determine the beam's capacity, and the loaddisplacement relationships due to the use of steel-decks. The failure mechanism was also studied, since the behavior differs significantly from conventional concrete members. For analysis purposes, two beam prototypes with steel-decks (GB1 and GB2), and two conventional concrete beams having the exact same material properties and dimensions (NB1 and NB2) functioning as control elements, were tested. Load was applied by a two-point loading system, creating a pure bending state. To monitor vertical deflections, two LVDTs were used. All precision instruments were connected to a data logger, and a computer. The results showed that the beams GB had a significant ultimate moment capacity increase, which is 2,3 times the control element NB. The main enhancement contribution is originated from the presence of the bottom steel-deck, which due to bonding to the concrete, functioned as additional tensile reinforcement. The deck also increased the member's ductility performance by 1.3 times. Specimen GB2 underwent bond loss in the transition zone between the deck and the concrete, reducing the initial stiffness of the member. (paper)