A push test study on the behavior of post-tensioned composite steel-concrete slabs

Post-tensioned composite steel-concrete slabs represent an innovative form of building floor application, which combine the structural advantages of the two most popular flooring systems, comprising post-tensioned slabs in the case of concrete structures and profiled composite slabs in the case of steel structures. The complex interaction between the profiled steel sheets and concrete is usually determined through a push test. A significant step toward understanding the bond behaviour is to generate a local bond stress-slip relationship. In this context, this paper presents results from a preliminary push test study using profiled steel sheets to determine the possible influence of prestress on the bond between the profiled steel sheets and concrete. The variables investigated in the study were (1) level of prestress and (2) height of push specimen. The results of this study indicate that prestress has a negative effect on the bond between the profiled steel sheets and concrete in post-tensioned composite slabs. This is an important finding, which needs to be considered in the ultimate strength of post-tensioned profiled composite slabs