Simplified formulation to evaluate forces due to shrinkage in composite steel- concrete beams with perfect connection

Abstract It has been known for a very long time that time-dependent effects such as creep and shrinkage of concrete greatly influence the behavior of composite steel-concrete beams. It is therefore very important to take these effects into account when calculating the strength and safety of composite steel-concrete beams. To this end, many theoretical and numerical researches have been established to control this phenomenon. Most of this research presents laborious processes and calculations requiring complex techniques. To overcome the excessive amount of calculations and the various difficulties associated with analytical or numerical methods to estimate the additional stresses brought by the shrinkage of concrete in composite steel-concrete beams, we thought of proposing a simplified analytical methodology while ensuring safety desired. In this article, we have tried to simplify an existing analytical model based on the theory of linear viscoelasticity established in 2012. This model consists of combining the static equilibrium equations and the two compatibility relations, in curvature and in deformation, of the composite steel-concrete cross-section with the differential equation resulting from creep rate theory (RCM). Our idea then aims to take this model and simplify it to avoid difficult mathematical transformations. The results from this simplified approach are very satisfactory when compared to those given by the analytical model.