Longitudinal cracking of concrete slabs in composite beams with ribbed metal deck

The results of three-dimensional finite element investigation to study the longitudinal cracking phenomena in the slab of composite steel–concrete beams with ribbed metal deck are presented. The effect of eight parameters on the development of longitudinal cracking is investigated. These parameters are: type of loading, compressive strength of the concrete slab, yield stress of the steel beam, beam span to slab width ratio, steel beam size, existence of the ribbed metal deck, height of the ribbed metal deck, and percentage of transverse reinforcement in the slab. Design curves correlating the moment at which the longitudinal cracking initiates to span to width ratio, percentage of transverse reinforcement, Fy/fC′, and degree of shear connection are also presented in this paper.