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Ultra high performance concrete, specifically Ductal® concrete, has begun to revolutionize the bridge design industry. This extremely high strength material has given smaller composite sections the ability to carry larger loads. As the forces being transferred through composite members are increasing in magnitude, it is vital that the equations being used for design are applicable for use with the new materials. Of particular importance is the design of the horizontal shear reinforcement connecting the bridge deck to the top flange of the beams. Without adequate shear transfer, the flexural and shearing capacities will be greatly diminished. The current design equations from ACI and AASHTO were not developed for use in designing sections composed of Ductal® and Lightweight concrete. Twenty-four push-off tests were performed to determine if the current horizontal shear design equations could accurately predict the horizontal shear strength of composite Ductal® and Lightweight concrete sections. Effects from various surface treatments, reinforcement ratios, and aspect ratios, were determined. The results predicted by the current design equations were compared to the actual results found during testing. The current design equations were all found to be conservative. For its ability to incorporate various cohesion and friction factors, it is recommended that the equation from AASHTO LRFD Specification (2004) be used for design. / Master of Science

Design of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) masonry in the United States is currently based on Appendix A of the 2008 Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) Code. Those provisions include the design of lap splices, and equations for the nominal capacity in interface shear transfer between grout and AAC. The provisions for lap splices are an extension of the provisions for concrete or clay masonry, modified to neglect the contribution of AAC to splice capacity. This thesis describes a testing program aimed at verifying the current provisions using tests of lap splices in grouted AAC masonry. Based on the results of those tests, the provisions are shown to be appropriate. The provisions on interface shear transfer between grout and AAC require that the transferred shear be checked against a nominal capacity based on limited test results. This thesis describes a testing program aimed at verifying and refining this nominal capacity using pullout tests of grout cores in AAC masonry units. Based on the results of those tests, the currently used nominal capacity is shown to be conservative, and a recommendation is made to increase it. / text

El fallo resistente de las losas mixtas se produce generalmente por el deslizamiento longitudinal entre la chapa nervada de acero y el hormigón. La dificultad de diseño de chapas para losas mixtas reside en asegurar su comportamiento efectivamente mixto; en diseñar sistemas de retención que consigan una elevada resistencia al deslizamiento longitudinal relativo entre acero y hormigón.Para cumplir las funciones encomendadas a la chapa, encofrado perdido y armadura de tracción, existen muchos tipos de diseño, creados sobre la base de la experiencia acumulada y cuya eficacia debe siempre ser evaluada empíricamente.Los actuales diseños de chapas incorporan un patrón de embuticiones que se repiten a lo largo de toda la longitud de la chapa. Su función es dificultar el deslizamiento longitudinal, análogamente al corrugado de las barras para el armado del hormigón, pero sus mecanismos resistentes son completamente distintos. En las losas mixtas, el efecto de cuña de las embuticiones transforma el deslizamiento en esfuerzos perpendiculares a la chapa que provocan su flexión transversal y, en algunos casos, la desconexión total.El ángulo de conformado que define los nervios de la losa, la posición de las embuticiones, su profundidad, longitud, etc., son algunos de los parámetros importantes de diseño, ya que contribuyen significativamente a bloquear el deslizamiento. El proceso de diseño y optimización de esta geometría, y también la comprobación de su eficacia, se realiza actualmente de forma completamente empírica. También los métodos de cálculo adoptados por las normativas de todo el mundo para el cálculo de losas mixtas, están basados en parámetros experimentales, obtenidos del ensayo de modelos estándar reducidos. Estos ensayos intentan reproducir, con mayor o menor fidelidad, las condiciones reales de funcionamiento.Esta tesis se enmarca en una línea de investigación destinada a mejorar la conexión entre el acero y el hormigón de los actuales sistemas e idear conceptos innovadores que, a más largo plazo, puedan significar la conexión total sin deslizamiento.Se han desarrollado dos actividades principales:- Experimental: ensayos reducidos de Pull-out y ensayos de flexión de losas completas según método normativo m-k, instrumentadas con galgas extensométricas.- Numérica: establecimiento de un procedimiento validado para la elaboración de modelos tridimensionales de elementos finitos. Simulación del fallo por deslizamiento y estudio paramétrico descriptivo.Con el objetivo general de aportar conocimiento y afianzar la comprensión del comportamiento mecánico de la losa mixta, la tesis aborda el estudio numérico y experimental del fallo por deslizamiento longitudinal, consiguiéndose las siguientes aportaciones particulares:- Procedimiento de simulación numérica local tridimensional y no-lineal del deslizamiento entre la chapa de acero y el hormigón, con el que se describe exactamente la mecánica de funcionamiento de algunos diseños existentes en el mercado.- Análisis del efecto que tienen distintos parámetros físicos y geométricos en la resistencia de la losa mixta frente al deslizamiento longitudinal: rozamiento, profundidad de embutición, longitud, posición, ángulo de conformado, espesor de la chapa, etc., mediante los modelos de elementos finitos.- Evaluación, mediante los modelos numéricos, del perfil de distribución de tensiones longitudinales en tracción simple, con el fin de cuantificar las sombras de tensión que provocan las embuticiones,- Evaluación de la influencia de las condiciones superficiales de la chapa durante el hormigonado en la resistencia al deslizamiento.- Evaluación de la uniformidad de distribución de esfuerzos rasantes transmitidos por las embuticiones. Las losas ensayadas a flexión se han instrumentado, en los tramos de luz rasante, con galgas extensométricas fijadas en varias secciones situadas a distintas distancias de los apoyos.- Recomendaciones generales de diseño. Aplicación al diseño del nuevo perfil "T80" y ensayo.El nuevo perfil "T80", ha sido ya producido en serie, comercializado y puesto en obra en edificios de gran altura, presentando resultados muy satisfactorios. / The resistant failure of composite slabs is generally due to longitudinal slip between the profiled steel sheet and concrete. The main goal when designing sheets for composite slabs, consists of ensuring its effective composite behaviour; conceiving retention systems that achieve higher longitudinal slip strengths.To carry out these functions entrusted to steel sheet, i.e. permanent formwork and traction reinforcement, lots of design types are available, created on the basis of prior experience and which effectiveness has to be evaluated empirically.Current sheet designs show a repeating embossments pattern all along the span. Its function is to inhibit the longitudinal slip in a similar way than the reinforcing bar corrugations for concrete; however, their resistant mechanisms are quite different. In the case of the composite slabs, the embossments wedge effect transforms the slip to normal efforts that produce the transversal bending of the sheet and, sometimes, the connection loss.The profiling shape that defines the ribs of the slab, the embossment locations, its depth, length, etc. are some of the main parameters that significantly contributes to lock the slip.Currently, the design and optimization processes for the geometry, and also the checking of its effectiveness, are just empirically evaluated.In the same way, also the composite slabs calculation methods adopted by all national and international standards are based on experimental parameters, obtained from the test of reduced specimens. These tests attempt to reproduce the real behaviour conditions.The framework of this thesis is a research line devoted to improve the longitudinal shear connection between steel and concrete of the current designs as well as conceive innovative concepts that might achieve the permanent connection.Two main activities have been developed:- Experimental: reduced Pull-out tests and standard m-k bending tests, with the use of strain gauges technology.- Numerical: state a validated procedure for making parametrical 3D non-linear finite elements models to simulate the failure micro-mechanics due to longitudinal slip. Within the global aim of improving the knowledge and to strengthen the comprehension of the micro-mechanical behaviour of the composite slabs, this thesis approach the numerical and experimental analysis of the longitudinal slip failure micro-mechanics, achieving the following particular contributions:- Stating a procedure for creating non-linear 3D finite elements models to simulate the slip between steel sheet and concrete, by which the failure mechanics of several existing designs has been exactly described and analysed.- Analysis of the shear strength dependency on several physical and geometrical parameters, such as: friction coefficient, embossment depth, length, location, profiling angle, sheet thickness, etc., by means of the above said FEM procedure.- Evaluation, by FEM, of the distribution of longitudinal stresses in simple traction, for quantifying the stress shadows due to embossments.- Effect of the sheet surface conditions, prior to setting the concrete, in the longitudinal shear strength.- Distribution analysis of the longitudinal shear forces transmitted by the embossments all along the shear span. Strain gauges have been bonded to the free steel surface of several composite slabs, in different locations along the shear span.- General design recommendations. Pre-design, optimization and test of the new "T80" open-rib profile.This new "T80" profile is being manufactured, commercialized, and used in many outstanding buildings and skyscrapers, showing very good results in comparison to other existing open-rib designs.

[pt] Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a resistência à força cortante de vigas de concreto reforçado com barras de fibras de vidro e investigar a contribuição dos diferentes mecanismos de transferência do esforço cortante para a resistência final da viga. Um programa experimental foi conduzido, incluindo ensaios para: caracterização do material, para avaliar o efeito de pino, para avaliar o engrenamento dos agregados e, por fim, ensaios de flexão de quatro pontos em vigas. Diferentes parâmetros foram investigados, como a quantidade de barras longitudinais para o efeito de pino, dimensão máxima do agregado graúdo para engrenamento dos agregados e a presença de estribos para os ensaios de vigas. O monitoramento do desenvolvimento da fissura crítica foi realizado com auxílio de correlação de imagem digital (digital image correlation, DIC, em inglês). Os resultados mostraram que não foi evidenciada diferença no comportamento de efeito de pino e de engrenamento dos agregados através dos ensaios realizados. Para os ensaios de vigas, observou-se que todos os espécimes apresentaram ruptura por tração da diagonal crítica e, para vigas sem estribos, a ação do efeito de pino pareceu contribuir significativamente para a resistência ao cisalhamento após a fissura, quando a carga diminui e as deflexões aumentam, resultado do menor engrenamento dos agregados à medida que a fissura se abre. Foi observado que a presença de estribos aumentou em até três vezes a resistência ao cortante das vigas ensaiadas e que houve ruptura do estribo na parte da dobra. / [en] This work aims to evaluate the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams with glass fiber reinforced polymer bars and to investigate qualitatively the contribution of the different shear transfer mechanisms to the final strength of the beam. An experimental program was conducted, including material characterization, dowel action tests, push-off tests, and finally, four-point bending tests on beams. Different parameters were investigated, such as the number of longitudinal bars for dowel action effect, maximum size of the coarse aggregate for aggregate interlock and the presence of stirrups for the beam tests. The monitoring of the development of the critical crack was performed with the aid of digital image correlation (DIC). The results showed that there was no difference in the behavior of the dowel action effect and the aggregate interlock through the tests performed. For beam tests, it was observed that all the specimens exhibited a concrete diagonal tension failure and for beams without stirrups, dowel action seemed to provide significant contribution to the shear strength after the crack, when the load reduces and the deflections increases, resulting from the loss of aggregate interlock as the crack opens. It was also observed that the presence of stirrups increased up to three times the shear strength of the beams tested and that there was rupture of the stirrup at the bent region.