Push-out and bending tests of steel-concrete adhesively bonded composite elements

Abstract Adhesive bonding connection was studied by means of push-out and bending tests performed on specimens cast in the same batch in order to better understand the correlation between interface characterisation and structural bending behaviour. The influence of concrete properties, cross-section and bonding joint geometry or bending configuration were investigated. Results showed that bonding connection allows full interaction, similar behaviour than that of mechanical connector and significant structural ductility if shear failure is avoided. Bending tests are also performed in the case of hogging moment, cyclic loads and creeping loads and the results shows that bonding connection is also efficient in these situations usual for bridges or buildings. The EC4 provisions are finally applied to the tested beams and design results are compared to measurements. The discrepancies remained acceptable and showed that Eurocode is conservative and could be used to design steel-concrete structural elements with bonding connection.