Accuracy Evaluation of Creep and Shrinkage Calculation Methods According to EC4

Abstract

In the paper, the creep and shrinkage calculation methods for composite steel-concrete beams are presented. The approximate methods AAEM, EM and methods according to Eurocode 4, as well as, the exact method based on the integral relation between stress and strain for concrete are used. For doubly-clamped composite beam, stresses at characteristic points of the cross-section for permanent loading and shrinkage effects are determined. Using the creep limit functions for concrete, the upper and lower limits for stresses are determined. According to these limits, the accuracy of the methods for creep and shrinkage calculation given in EC4 is evaluated.