Experimental behaviour of composite beams under hogging bending

The internal joint regions of continuous composite steel-concrete structures are subjected to negative moment. The presence of stud shear connectors at these regions is not only important to develop composite action for flexure, but also responsible to distribute large longitudinal shear forces. In this paper, the results of a preliminary test series to investigate the behaviour of shear connection in these negative moment regions are reported. As part of a large-scale experimental project, three simply-supported composite beams with different degrees of shear connection were statically loaded under hogging bending. The preliminary tests have provided a useful insight into the behaviour of the connectors and also displayed encouraging signs for the application of partial shear connection (PSC) in the hogging moment regions where the concrete is cracked.