Creep and shrinkage analysis of composite beams

The principal aspects concerning long-term behaviour of steel–concrete composite beams are illustrated by analysing separately the effects of static and geometrical actions, shrinkage and prestressing of the concrete slab. After having qualitatively described the time-dependent phenomena which occur in composite beams, the most important methods of creep analysis are discussed. An accurate numerical solution can be obtained by means of the step-by-step procedure of the general method, that must necessarily be computer processed. Alternatively, single-step solutions can be found by using approximated algebraic methods. The effectiveness of these simplified methods is subsequently estimated with reference to each single action. Finally, some practical design rules are provided in order to perform simplified creep analyses by means of pseudo-elastic analyses.