COMPOSITE

CONSTRUCTION METHOD
What is a Composite material?

• Is a material made from two or more constituent materials with

significantly different physical or chemical properties that, when
combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the
individual components.

• The result of combining this two different materials together is a

material which is stronger, lighter, or less expensive when compared to
traditional materials.
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite
Materials include:

• Reinforced concrete
• Composite wood
• Reinforced plastics
• Ceramic matrix composites
• Metal matrix composites
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials

1. Reinforced concrete

Concrete in which steel is

embedded in such a manner that the two
materials act together in resisting forces.
The reinforcing steel—rods, bars, or mesh—
absorbs the tensile shear, and sometimes
the compressive stresses in a concrete
structure.
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials

2. Composite wood

Is a mixture of several components that

may include wood, plastic and straw.
The particles and fibers from different
woods are combined, and adhesives
keep them bound together.

Example: Plywood
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials

3. Reinforced plastics

A composite material made of a polymer

matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are
usually glass (in fibreglass), carbon (in carbon
fiber reinforced polymer), aramid, or basalt.

Example:

fibre-reinforced polymer or fiberglass

Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials

4. Ceramic matrix composites (composite

ceramic)

They consist of ceramic fibers embedded in

a ceramic matrix. Both the matrix and the
fibers can consist of any ceramic material,
whereby carbon and carbon fibers can also
be considered a ceramic material.
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials

5. Metal matrix composites

composite material with at least two

constituent parts, one being a metal
necessarily, the other material may be a
different metal or another material,
such as a ceramic or organic compound.
HISTORY OF COMPOSITE
MATERIALS
History of Composite Materials

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 What are the Advantages of Composite
Materials?
• Weight saving is one of the main reasons for using composite materials rather than
conventional materials for components. While composites are lighter they can also
be stronger than other materials, for example, reinforced carbon-fibre can be up
to five times stronger than 1020 grade steel and only one fifth of the weight,
making it perfect for structural purposes.

• Another advantage of using a composite over a conventional type of material is

the thermal and chemical resistance as well as the electrical insulation properties.
Unlike conventional materials, composites can have multiple properties not often
found in a single material.
COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION
What is a Composite Construction?

• Composite construction provides a method of using two materials

together so as to utilize each material to its best advantage.
• Is a modern building method that is based in the combination of
steel cross sections and reinforced concrete elements and is
aimed at the maximum possible utilization of their properties to
the benefit of the structure.
 Composite Structural Elements in a Building:

1.Composite Column
2.Composite Beam and girder
3.Composite Slab
4.Shear Connectors
Different Members in a Composite Structure:

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 Composite Metal Decking:

• Composite decking works together with the concrete fill to make a tiff,
light-weight, economical floor system

• Decking with deformed ribs (or embossed decking), as shown, is commonly

used
• The deformations on the ribs allow for a stronger bond between the
concrete and the decking
 Installation of Decking

• Metal decking is placed on the structural steel at

predetermined points in the erection sequence

• Metal decking may be installed by the steel erection

contractor or a separate decking contractor

• As an alternative to welding, powder actuated tools may

be used to attach metal decking to structural steel
• Powder actuated tools use the expanding gases from a
powder load, or booster, to drive a fastener

• A nail-like fastener is driven through the metal deck into

the steel beam

• The powder actuated tool, powder load, and fastener

must be matched to the thickness of the structural steel
beam flanges
 Shear Connectors:

• Shear connectors create a strong bond

between the steel beam and the
concrete floor slab which is poured on
top of the metal decking

• This bond allows the concrete slab to

work with the steel beams to reduce
live load deflection
 Installation of Shear Connectors

•The electrical arc process is commonly

used for stud welding
▪An arc is drawn between the stud and
the base metal
▪The stud is plunged into the molten
steel which is contained by the
ceramic ferrule Ferrule- is any of a number of
types of objects, generally used
▪The metal solidifies and the weld is for fastening, joining, sealing,
complete or reinforcement. They are
•The ferrules are removed before the often narrow circular rings
concrete is poured made from metal, or less
commonly, plastic.
Installation of Concrete

•Concrete is installed by a
concrete contractor on top of the
composite metal decking, shear
connectors, and welded wire
fabric or rebar grid (crack control
reinforcement)

•Pumping is a typical installation

method for concrete being placed
on metal decking
 The Principle of Composite Action:

• Concrete is good in compression and steel is good in tension. By joining the

twomaterials together structurally these strengths can be exploited to result in a
highly efficient and lightweight design.

• The reduced self weight of composite elements has a knock-on effect by reducing the
forces in those elements supporting them, including the foundations. Composite
systems also offer benefits in terms of speed of construction. The floor depth
reductions that can be achieved using composite construction can also provide
significant benefits in terms of the costs of services and the building envelope.
 Advantages of Composite Construction:

1. The concrete acts together with the steel to create a stiffer, lighter, less expensive
structure.
2. Speed and simplicity of construction- faster to erect, nearly 25% faster then traditional
construction.
3. Lighter construction than a traditional concrete building.
4. Less material handling at site.
5. Has better ductility and hence superior lateral load behaviour; better earthquake
resister.
6. Ability to cover large column free area in buildings and longer span for bridges/flyovers.
Disadvantages of Composite Construction:

1. Provide misleading messages about quality if poorly constructed or

misinterpreted.
2. Lead to simplistic policy conclusions.
3. Can be misused, if the construction process is not transparent and lacks
sound statistical or conceptual principles.
4. Selection of metrics and weights can be challenged by other stakeholders
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