Partial interaction behaviour of continuous composite steel-concrete beams

Current full interaction fatigue design techniques for the stud shear connection in composite steel-concrete bridge beams are both safe and simple as the reduction of the interfacial longitudinal shear flow due to partial interaction is not considered. However, in the assessment of composite bridges for increased live loads, extended lives or remedial work, accurate assessment techniques are required as an alternative to disruptive, expensive and time consuming load testing. A simple tiered approach was recently developed to assist in the assessment of the remaining strength or endurance of existing simply supported composite beams which allows for both partial interaction and interface friction. This paper presents the results of research that has been undertaken to extend the tiered approach to the more general case of continuous composite beams.