Where Structural Steel and Concrete Meet

Traditionally “steel structures” and “concrete structures” formed more or less two different worlds in structural engineering. Fortunately this situation is changing rapidly. It is now recognised that each of the two materials have advantages and disadvantages and that often an optimal solution is found by combining both materials. This may be a combination of steel and concrete in an element as is the case in “Composite steel-concrete construction” or the combined use of concrete elements and steel elements in “Mixed construction”. For the design of composite steel-concrete elements specific design standards have been developed. However for “Mixed construction” a combined use of steel design standards and concrete design standards is necessary. It is important that the design rules for the two materials are consistent, especially for those components connecting both materials. However, in the past the design standards and recommendations for concrete and steel have been developed separately. So evidently, at this moment there are considerable differences in design assumptions and treatment of various aspects. In the paper design methods for connections between structural steel and concrete will be discussed. The methods will be illustrated for column bases, being the most frequently used type of connection between steel and concrete, though the information can also be used for related types of connections.