Experimental behavior based on effective slab width acting as a flange with supporting steel beams in composite floors with openings

An experimental study with many variables was carried out to investigate the effective width of simply supported composite beams (T&L sec. beams) with & without slab opening. Three full-scale composite slab models with six different carrier simply supported composite beams (three with T-sec. & three with L-sec.) with constant slab rectangularity was tested. Each model loaded by uniform load (in the elastic zone) then loaded by means of two-concentrated load system acting at equal distances from supports till failure. One of them without slab opening and the others with two symmetric slab openings and constant opening horizontal position. All standard tests were performed and all instructions and precautions were followed as perfect as the laboratory instruments permitted. All experimental steps were executed in a manner such that meeting practical conditions as exactly as could. In this research, the tested model features, materials properties and measurement instrumentations are described in brief. The maximum load carrying capacity; crack patterns, generated strains and deflections at different positions were experimentally investigated. For the sake of analysis generalization and error minimization, all results were analyzed by means of dimensionless relations. The results were recorded and analyzed guided by their mechanical behavior. Interesting gained results, conclusions and recommendations are introduced.