Design of Steel Structures

13

Composite Construction

13.1 Introduction

Composite construction means structures constructed using both structural steel and concrete by establishing the composite action between the two. The variety of structural elements constructed in this manner are composite beams, composite columns, and composite slabs (Figure 13.1). A portion of reinforced concrete slab supported on steel beam with a connection between the two so that they act as one section is known as a composite beam. In the case of composite columns, steel sections are encased in concrete columns. A composite slab may also be constructed using profiled sheet decking. In this introductory chapter on composite construction, only the design of composite beams is considered.