Behavior of Thin Web Hybrid Beams Subjected to Static Loads

Hybrid beams combine strength and economy in steel design. They are the latest attempts from the steel industry to meet the competition presented by pre-stressed concrete. Hybrid beams are fabricated by welding high-strength steel flanges to a lower strength steel web. The primary objectives of this investigation are to determine the structural behavior and to study the stress distribution in the webs and flanges of a varying depth-to-thickness ratio in webs of hybrid beams. The plastic design method of analysis is adopted in this investigation. All beams will be subjected to symmetrical 4-point loading and to stimulate as much as possible uniform loading condition. The cases of pure bending, and combined sheer and bending, will be studied and analyzed. Strain-gage and deflection results obtained from actual beam tests will be analyzed and compared with the expected theoretical results. (see more in text