Lecture 7 Composite Steel Beams

Steel beams are usually used to carry a metal deck-supported concrete slab. In
non-composite construction, the beam does NOT interact structurally with the
slab the slab is simply dead weight. This is because the slab is not adequately
bonded to the beam.

Non-Composite Construction
The word composite means 2 or more different materials. In composite
construction, the slab is adequately bonded to the steel beam by means of
headed shear studs resulting in a composite beam. The concrete acts like a
large flange in compression, while a much greater portion of the steel beam
acts in tension. The result is a VERY efficient beam as much as 40% to 60%
lighter weight steel than non-composite.
Headed shear studs
welded thru metal deck to
beam flange

Composite Construction

Lecture 7 - Page 1 of 10

Comp.

Comp.

N.A

N.A

Ten.

Ten.
Composite Section

Non-Composite Section

Notice that the neutral axis (N.A.) in the non-composite beam is located in the
middle of the section. This indicates that half of the beam section is in tension
and half is in compression.
In the composite section, the compression is carried ENTIRELY by the concrete,
while the tension is carried by the beam.
Composite Design per LRFD

AISC Spec Ch. I3 (p. 16.1-83)

AISC Part 3 Table 3-19 (p. 3-156 thru 189)
AISC Part 3 Table 3-21 (p. 3-207)

From a side view, a composite beam looks like the following:

Concrete

Metal Deck

Shear stud
Ycon

Beam

Lecture 7 - Page 2 of 10

For LRFD composite design, the following terms are used:

b = Effective slab width

a
Y2

where: b = Effective slab width (from AISC Spec. p. 16.1-83)

BeamSpan
8
= smaller of

BeamSpacing
2
Distance to edge of slab

a = Effective concrete thickness

2 for initial trial size
=

As Fy

0.85 f ' c b
As = Cross-sectional area of beam
= from properties
fc = Specified concrete compressive strength
= 4 KSI (usually)

Y2 = Ycon -

a
2

Lecture 7 - Page 3 of 10

Ycon

The best way to see how the design of a composite beam is accomplished is thru
an example problem:
Example 1 (LRFD)
GIVEN: A floor structure using A992 steel beams and the following
superimposed SERVICE loads:

Service live load = 75 PSF

Service dead load (not incl. beam weight) = 63 PSF

In addition, use diameter shear studs, 4 concrete over 1 metal

deck and normal weight concrete fc = 4000 PSI.
REQUIRED: Design the lightest weight W14 beam A using composite
construction.

3@8-0 = 24-0

30-0

Beam A

Step 1 Determine factored maximum moment Mu:

Assumed beam weight

wu = 1.2D + 1.6L
= 1.2[8(63 PSF + 30 PLF)] + 1.6[8(75 PSF)]
= 1601 PLF
= 1.6 KLF
Mu =

wu L2
8

1.6 KLF (30' ) 2

8

= 180 KIP-FT

Lecture 7 - Page 4 of 10

Step 2 Determine Trial approx. beam weight:

M u (12" / ft )

Approx. Beam weight = 3.4

a
d

0.85Fy 2 + Ycon 2

Assume d = 14 (since using W14)

a = 2
Ycon = 4

180 KIP FT (12" / ft )

Approx. Beam weight = 3.4

2"
14"

0.85(50 KSI ) 2 + 4" 2

= 17.28 PLF
From AISC Table 3-19 p. 3-184 TRY W14x22
Step 3 Determine concrete flange force, Qn:

Qn = AsFy
where: As = Area of beam
= 6.49 in2 (from properties for W14x22)

Qn = (6.49 in2)(50 KSI)

= 324.5 KIPS
(NOTE: From AISC Table 3-19 p. 3-184 the value of Qn can
be found looking at Y1 = 0.000 Qn = 325 KIPS)

Lecture 7 - Page 5 of 10

Step 4 Determine effective concrete slab width, b:

BeamSpan
30' (12" / ft )
=
= 45 USE
8
8
BeamSpacing
8' (12" / ft )
=
= 48
2
2

b = smaller of

Distance to edge of slab = N/A

Step 5 Determine Y2 for usage in AISC Table 3-19 p. 3-184:

Y2 = Ycon -

a
2

where a =

As Fy
0.85 f ' c b
325KIPS
0.85(4 KSI )(45" )

= 2.12
Y2 = 4 -

2.12"
2

= 2.94
Use Y2 = 3
Step 6 Determine required beam size from AISC Table 3-19:
W14x22
Y2 = 3
Qn = 325 KIPS

Design strength in flexure = 240 KIP-FT > 180 KIP-FT

See Table 3-19 Below

Lecture 7 - Page 6 of 10

Page 3-184
Lecture 7 - Page 7 of 10

Step 7 Determine number of shear studs required:

Number of studs required =

2Qn
Qn ( stud )

where: Qn = AsFy
= 325 KIPS
Qn(stud) = Nominal horz. shear strength of stud
= From AISC Table 3-21 p. 3-207

= 17.2 KIPS

Number of studs required =

Normal wt. conc. fc = 4 KSI

Deck perpendicular
1 weak stud per rib

2(325KIPS )
17.2 KIPS _ per _ stud

= 37.8 studs
Use 38 dia. studs
Step 8 Check beam shear at coped end:
Assume beam is coped 1
1

13.7

W14x22 beam
Girder
Factored beam end reaction =

1.6 KLF (30' )

2

= 24 KIPS

Lecture 7 - Page 8 of 10

Set up a ratio of vVn for the full W14x22 beam section to the
reduced beam section:

vV n
Full _ depth

vV n
Re duced _ depth

From AISC p. 3-67 vVn = 94.8 KIPS for full depth

vV n
94.8KIPS
=
13.7"
(13.7"1.5" )
vVn = 84.4 KIPS > 24 KIPS for reduced section OK
Step 9 Draw summary sketch:
38 Dia. shear studs welded
thru metal deck along center of
beam spaced evenly along length
of beam

W14x22 A992 beam

30-0 span

Lecture 7 - Page 9 of 10

Example 2
GIVEN: The beam from Example 1. All loads and other conditions are
the same.
REQUIRED: Design lightest weight W14 Beam A using NONCOMPOSITE construction.
Step 1 Determine Mu:
Mu = 180 KIP-FT
Step 2 Design lightest weight W14 beam:
From AISC Zx Table p. 3-18:
Use W14x34 bMpx = 205 KIP-FT > 180 KIP-FT
(Note: The W14x34 non-composite beam is 55% heavier
than a W14x22 beam that is used as a composite beam.)

Lecture 7 - Page 10 of 10