Comparative study of steel-concrete composite beams for railway bridges

Abstract

Abstract Steel-concrete composite bridges are a popular solution due to the structural benefits of both steel and concrete. The typical system of a concrete slab and steel I-girders for small and medium-span bridges often displays the most economical results. However, other solutions emerge as innovative alternatives for bridge construction, such as composite beams with composite dowels and pre-cambered composite beams. This paper aims to develop a comparative study of these composite beam solutions to delimitate their efficiency, performance, and economy. Thus, a case study for the superstructure of a two-way simply supported railway bridge is detailed to define the composite beam’s performance indicators. The innovative alternatives presented benefits when compared to the traditional system, demonstrating the positive impact of their use on bridges.