Analytical procedure for the design of PFRP-RC hybrid beams including shear interaction effects

Hybrid beams made of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (PFRP) shapes connected to reinforced concrete (RC) slabs are regarded as novel cost-effective and structurally-efficient elements. The current study addresses the need for a robust analytical procedure for the design of such members considering the structural implications of shear interaction effects. The discussed analytical procedure is based on the Timoshenko beam theory and on the elastic interlayer slip model extended from steel–concrete and timber–concrete composite beams, and presents the necessary mathematical tools for evaluating deflections, flexural capacities and stress distributions of hybrid beams. Partial interaction effects are quantified by using a proposed dimensionless parameter that depends mainly on the connection’s stiffness. The analytical equations were validated successfully against available experimental data and conclusions indicate that the simplified model for partial interaction is viable and should be used even for specimens with full interlayer shear capacity.