Behaviour of steel–concrete–steel sandwich composite beams with lacing subjected to reversed cyclic loads:

Steel–concrete–steel (SCS) sandwich composite system consists of steel plates covering both sides of the concrete core and connected by mechanical means such as shear connectors. In conventional steel–concrete–steel system, shear connectors are welded to the steel cover plates. Laced steel–concrete composite (LSCC) system is a new form of steel–concrete–steel, proposed earlier by the authors. In LSCC system, steel cover plates are connected in a novel way using lacings and cross rods and hence is devoid of welding. Proposed sandwich composite system is being evaluated systematically for its structural behaviour under various modes of loading for use in special structures under severe loading such as blast loading. Damage under cyclic loading and energy absorption are extremely important, which are highlighted in this paper. An experimental investigation on the cyclic response behaviour of two LSCC beams is carried out. Angle of lacing is the parameter that is varied between the two beams. Both the beams a...