Experimental Analysis of Composite Beams

Composite polymer-concrete beams represent new modern structures that can take an advantage of the polymer's practical tensile properties and combine them with the concrete's favourable compressive properties. Drawing on this knowledge, a set of polymer beams acting compositely with a concrete slab was designed and manufactured. The aim of the research was to utilise the low weight and high strength of the polymer I-sections and combine them with the high stiffness of the concrete slab, which forms the upper part of the cross-section. The advantage of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) beams is their anisotropy, where the strength of the material is increased by placing the fibres uniformly in one direction, and the composite elements are then stressed in the most reinforced direction. To ensure the interaction between the polymer element and the concrete slab, strip shear connectors of a precisely defined shape were developed and utilised. The designed composite beam simulates a pre-cast