A Numerical Study on Structural Performance of Demountable Composite Beam

Demountable composite beams (DCBs) offer a promising solution for sustainable construction by enabling the reuse of components at the end of their life cycle. These innovative beams typically comprise precast concrete slabs and steel beams connected by high-strength friction-grip bolts that are not embedded in the concrete. This paper presents a numerical study investigating the flexural performance of DCBs using a simplified spring-based model developed in ABAQUS software. This approach employs a nonlinear spring to represent the interface slip between concrete slab nodes and the steel flange, incorporating the high-strength friction-grip bolt connector’s strength and stiffness characteristics determined from prior push-out tests. The model incorporates interactions between structural components, material, and geometrical nonlinearities, and its accuracy is verified against experimental data from previous studies. This approach offers significant computational advantages, making it ideal for numerous simulations and further advancing the design of sustainable DCBs.

A Numerical Study on Structural Performance of Demountable Composite Beam Keywords:

Demountable composite beams , Numerical study , Spring-based model , High-strength friction-grip bolt