Nonlinear analysis of composite beams with partial interaction including the combined effects of bending and shear

Three different beam models for the nonlinear analysis of composite members with partial interaction are compared in this study. The considered models are obtained by coupling with a deformable shear connection two Euler-Bernoulli beams (only flexural deformability and flexural failure mode of each beam component), an Euler-Bernoulli beam to a Timoshenko beam (addition of the shear deformability and shear failure mode for one component only), two Timoshenko beams (addition of the shear deformability and shear failure mode for both components). Composite beams for which experimental results are available in the literature are used as benchmark problems to validate the numerical results. Aspects of the composite behaviour evaluated include (i) the effects of the shear deformability of the steel and slab components at various load levels; (ii) the differences in computed collapse loads obtained with the three beam models.