Characterisation of beam-to-column composite joints beyond current Eurocode provisions

Abstract

[EN] In EN 1994-1, design rules are given for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of structural steel-concrete composite joints (rotational stiffness, resistance and ductility) based on the component method offered in EN 1993-1-8 and adding specific components for composite joints. These rules cover only the situations for the joints subjected to shear forces and hogging moments. However, during the last decades, researches have been conducted on the behaviour of composite joints subjected to different kind of actions such as sagging bending moments, cyclic loadings, combined bending moments and axial loads, elevated temperatures etc. with the objective of improving/extending the rules presently proposed in the Eurocodes design rules. As an outcome of the Technical Committee 11 of the European Convention of Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) dedicated to the behaviour of composite structures, a publication summarising these recent developments and their main outcomes is under finalisation. Within the present paper, it is proposed to highlight these main outcomes which could be seen as proposals for future improvements of the beam-to-column provisions in Eurocodes in general and of Eurocode 4 in particular.