Numerical simulation of steel-concrete composite beams and slabs at elevated temperatures

Steel-concrete composite beams with shear studs providing composite action between the concrete slabs and steel beams are widely used in modern steel-framed building construction. Three-dimensional finite element modelling has been a viable option for investigating the fire behaviour of composite beams. Although many finite element models are available in the open literature, most of them are simplified models verified by limited test data. Meanwhile, early test data often did not have all the required information for finite element simulation, and some assumptions need to be made. But more detailed test data are now available in the open literature for steel-concrete composite beams, which can be used to develop a generalised finite element model. In addition, National Institute of Standards and Technology has proposed new stress-strain models for steels at elevated temperatures, which can be compared with the more widely adopted Eurocode 4 steel material models in simulating composite beams. Accordingly, this paper selected 22 specimens, including two reinforced concrete slabs, 12 composite beams with reinforced concrete slabs, two composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting, two steel-concrete composite push test specimens with profiled steel sheeting, and four composite beams with profiled steel sheeting, from nine references to verify the developed finite element model. The proposed finite element model can capture different failure modes of composite beams, such as steel yielding/local buckling, concrete cracking/crushing, debonding of profiled steel sheeting, and stud fracture, which is crucial to comprehend the composite beam behaviour at elevated temperatures. •A detailed FE model was developed for composite beams exposed to fire.•The constitutive models of steel and concrete materials at elevated temperature were considered.•Different types of failure modes of composite beams exposed to fire can be well predicted by the FE model.