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Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 10000

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Editors

Dr. Jiang Liu

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Guest Editor

School of Highway, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
Interests: steel–concrete composite girder bridges; concrete-filled steel tubular bridges; steel bridges; bridge temperature action; long-life design theory
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Dr. Mingjin Zhang

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Guest Editor

Department of Bridge Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
Interests: wind characteristics measurement; numerical simulation; wind tunnel test wind-induced vibration of the bridge; etc.
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Dr. Yinping Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: concrete-filled steel tubular structures; truss bridges; steel and UHPC composite structures; structural analysis
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Dr. Lipeng Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Architecture, Civil And Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: steel–concrete composite bridges; steel bridges; structural stability; steel–UHPC composite structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Steel–concrete composite bridges can fully leverage the advantages of both steel and concrete and feature outstanding mechanical performance, convenient construction, and excellent economy. The development of new materials, new structures, and new technologies has greatly promoted the application of composite structures in high-rise buildings, small- and medium-span girder bridges, large-span arch bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and suspension bidges. In the face of increasingly complex structural forms and harsh service environments, coordinating the significant differences between steel and concrete, in terms of their mechanics, heat transfer, and forming methods, is still the key to achieving the excellent performance of composite structures.

This Special Issue, entitled “Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition”, aims to showcase state-of-the-art investigations of steel–concrete composite buildings and bridge structures worldwide. Theoretical analysis, experimental research, case studies, and comprehensive review papers are invited for publication and relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

Innovation in new form of steel–concrete composite structures;
Steel–concrete composite bridge decks, girders, arch ribs, piers, and pylons;
Composite structures with UHPC and other high-performance materials;
The construction technology of composite buildings and bridge structures;
The action of temperature, wind load, and other environmental impacts;
The long-term performance of composite structures;
Long-life design theory for composite structures;
Refined numerical simulation method.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jiang Liu
Dr. Mingjin Zhang
Dr. Yinping Ma
Dr. Lipeng Sun
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

steel–concrete composite structures
high-performance structures
high-performance materials
industrial construction
long-term performance
temperature action
wind load
environmental impact
numerical simulation
test method

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Related Special Issue

Advances in Steel–Concrete Composite Structures in Buildings (14 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 29701 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Mechanism and Restoring Force Model of Precast Concrete Superposed Shear Walls with Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular End Columns

by Bian Wu, Min Zhang and Feng-Liang Zhang

Buildings 2026, 16(14), 2785; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16142785 - 13 Jul 2026

Viewed by 1284

Abstract

Precast concrete (PC) structures are increasingly adopted in building construction for their sustainable construction advantages. However, theoretical models for seismic design of precast concrete walls with concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) elements remain limited. The lack of such models hinders the performance-based seismic design and resilience assessment of these hybrid structures. This study investigates the seismic mechanism and develops a restoring force model for precast concrete superposed shear walls with CFST end columns (PCSSWEC). A refined three-dimensional finite element model was established using ABAQUS and validated against quasi-static cyclic test results of three full-scale specimens. The four-stage loading mechanism—elastic, wall cracking, elastoplastic yielding, and ultimate failure—was revealed, with the precast–postcast concrete interface identified as the primary weak link governing post-peak strength degradation. Comprehensive parametric studies examined the influence of shear span ratio (λ = 0.75–3.25), axial compression ratio (n_a = 0.1–0.6), steel tube width-to-thickness ratio (B/t = 20–80), and concrete strength (C30–C60) on seismic performance. Results indicate that intermediate walls (λ = 1.75–2.25) exhibit optimal ductility, and a steel tube with B/t = 40–60 provides a balanced combination of strength and deformation capacity. A tri-linear backbone curve model with explicit formulae for equivalent stiffness and load capacity was developed, along with modified Clough-based hysteretic rules incorporating stiffness degradation through a common yield-point approach. Validation against experimental and numerical results demonstrates reliable model performance for primary structural parameters: lateral load bearing capacity and ultimate drift ratio are predicted within ±10%, while yield load and ductility predictions show larger scatter due to inherent challenges in cyclic behavior characterization. The proposed restoring force model provides a practical tool for performance-based seismic design and resilience assessment of precast concrete buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 5878 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Analytical Framework for Prestressed Steel–Concrete Composite Beams: Verification and Parametric Evaluation

by Islam Salama and Ayman El-Zohairy

Buildings 2026, 16(13), 2632; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16132632 - 1 Jul 2026

Viewed by 297

Abstract

This study develops a comprehensive analytical framework to predict the flexural behavior of externally prestressed steel–concrete composite I-girders (EPCIBs) subjected to positive bending. The analytical model is formulated using strain compatibility and internal force equilibrium and accounts for elastic–plastic behavior of concrete, structural steel, and external tendons. Validation against three independent experimental programs demonstrated strong accuracy, with differences in ultimate moment within 5–8%, mid-span deflection within 6–10%, and tendon stress increments within less than 6% compared with measured results. Additional validation against nonlinear ABAQUS finite element (FE) models confirmed similar accuracy, with ultimate moment discrepancies generally below 8%. A comprehensive parametric study quantified the sensitivity of EPCIB behavior to span length, shear-span ratio, prestressing level, concrete slab properties, and steel-section geometry. Increasing the initial prestressing force from 160 kN to 300 kN increased the ultimate moment capacity by 10–15% and reduced service-level deflection by 18%. Increasing slab thickness from 60 mm to 120 mm enhanced capacity from 230 kN·m to 380 kN·m (a 65% increase), while increasing slab width from 600 mm to 1200 mm produced a moderate 10–12% capacity gain. Enhancing steel section dimensions showed the highest influence: increasing bottom-flange width from 200 mm to 300 mm increased strength by 30–35%, increasing bottom-flange thickness from 8 mm to 14 mm improved capacity by 55–60%, and increasing web depth from 200 mm to 400 mm more than doubled the flexural capacity (up to 150% increase, reaching 780–800 kN·m). Web-thickness variations (4–8 mm) produced smaller gains of 25–30%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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34 pages, 13418 KB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Mechanical Interactions in Energy Pile Groups: Numerical Modeling of Cross-Thermal Effects and Settlement Behavior

by Chunyu Cui, Fangyu Wu, Cunyou Lin, Bin Dou, Zhongren Liu and Yang You

Buildings 2026, 16(13), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16132544 - 26 Jun 2026

Viewed by 385

Abstract

Energy pile groups present a dual-functional solution for structural support and geothermal energy utilization, yet their thermo-mechanical interactions with conventional piles remain insufficiently understood. This study establishes a 3D transient finite element model incorporating thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling to investigate thermal interference and differential settlement in hybrid pile groups under seasonal thermal loading. Systematic parametric analyses of pile length (10–30 m), diameter (1–2 m), and spacing (2D–3D) reveal two key findings: (1) Thermal perturbations in adjacent conventional piles exhibit distance-dependent attenuation characteristics, with measurable temperature variations (1–4 °C) observed within 4D spacing distances; (2) Differential settlement patterns demonstrate significant dependence on thermal operation modes, where heating cycles induce upward thermal stresses while cooling enhances consolidation settlement. The numerical framework is validated against field monitoring data and benchmarked with COMSOL 5.6/ABAQUS 6.14 simulations. Through optimized pile arrangements and spacing configurations, we demonstrate effective mitigation strategies for thermal interference and structural deformation, providing key guidance for the design of geothermal-energy-integrated foundation systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 2620 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inheritance and Optimization of Mechanical Traits for Hybrid Girder Bridges: A Novel Bionic Perspective

by Bing Shangguan, Qingtian Su, Junyong Zhou and Liang Dai

Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1472; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081472 - 8 Apr 2026

Viewed by 426

Abstract

Hybrid girder bridges can be likened to plant grafting, where mechanical traits are inherited from both rootstock and scion girders, enabling performance that exceeds that of the individual components. To quantitatively evaluate this inheritance and optimize hybrid girder performance, this study develops a bionic binary grafting model inspired by the genetic principles of quantitative trait inheritance. By analyzing the flexural behavior of hybrid girders through classical beam theory, the research explores two sequential phases: trait inheritance and trait optimization. In the inheritance phase, the bending moment is governed by the hybrid ratio and the positional advantage of scion girders. In the optimization phase, iterative refinements in girder height and internal force further enhance structural performance. The key contributions of this study are as follows: (1) a novel bionic framework is proposed to quantitatively characterize mechanical trait inheritance in hybrid girders, introducing inheritance ratios to describe the distribution of bending moment between rootstock and scion girders as functions of the hybrid ratio, stiffness ratio, and load ratio; (2) a design-oriented framework for mechanical trait optimization is developed, demonstrating that hybrid girders can achieve equivalent stress performance with reduced structural height; and (3) the proposed inheritance and optimization formulations are validated against representative engineering cases, confirming their accuracy in estimating the optimal inheritance ratio and girder height for hybrid girder bridges. This bio-inspired framework enhances our understanding of hybrid girder performance enhancement mechanisms, enabling the efficient optimization of structural systems during conceptual design by leveraging materials with diverse mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 6451 KB

Open AccessArticle

Joint Action of Wind and Temperature for a Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridge in Plateau Canyon Regions Using SHM Data and Copula-Based Probabilistic Modeling

by Jiang Liu, Zefan Liu, Zhiyuan Ma, Yagang Tong, Chendi Wang, Licheng Zhu and Yongjian Liu

Buildings 2026, 16(5), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16050916 - 25 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 485

Abstract

Current bridge design codes specify combination coefficients for wind–temperature joint actions, yet few studies have addressed these for bridges in plateau canyon regions. This study investigates the joint actions and combination coefficients for Haihuang Bridge, which is in a plateau canyon region surrounded by mountains. Using long-term structural health monitoring data, trivariate normal copulas and Con-KRP were applied to estimate joint probabilities of wind speed and air temperature in different directions. The combination coefficients range from 0.68 to 0.92 for temperature actions and 0.56 to 0.75 for wind actions, obtained based on the principle that bivariate Con-KRP equals univariate Con-KRP. Significant differences in the joint actions are found in different directions. Furthermore, the combination coefficients in the plateau canyon region are much larger than those in the subtropical coastal plain region, indicating a need for further study on the regional difference. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 3633 KB

Open AccessArticle

Shear Mechanism of Precast Segmental Concrete Beam Prestressed with Unbonded Tendons

by Wu-Tong Yan, Lei Yuan, Yong-Hua Su and Zi-Wei Song

Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2668; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152668 - 28 Jul 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1163

Abstract

The shear tests are conducted on six precast segmental concrete beams (PSCBs) in this paper. A new specimen design scheme is presented to compare the effects of segmental joints on the shear performance of PSCBs. The failure modes, shear strength, structural deflection, stirrup strain, and tendon stress are recorded. The factors of shear span ratio, the position of segmental joints, and hybrid tendon ratio are focused on, and their effects on the shear behaviors are compared. Based on the measured responses, the shear contribution proportions of concrete segments, prestressed tendons, and stirrups are decomposed and quantified. With the observed failure modes, the truss–arch model is employed to clarify the shear mechanism of PSCBs, and simplified equations are further developed for predicting the shear strength. Using the collected test results of 30 specimens, the validity of the proposed equations is verified with a mean ratio of calculated-to-test values of 0.96 and a standard deviation of 0.11. Furthermore, the influence mechanism of shear span ratio, segmental joints, prestressing force, and hybrid tendon ratio on the shear strength is clarified. The increasing shear span ratio decreases the inclined angle of the arch ribs, thereby reducing the shear resistance contribution of the arch action. The open joints reduce the number of stirrups passing through the diagonal cracks, lowering the shear contribution of the truss action. The prestressing force can reduce the inclination of diagonal cracks, improving the contribution of truss action. The external unbonded tendon will decrease the height of the arch rib due to the second-order effects, causing lower shear strength than PSCBs with internal tendons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 17723 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Hybrid Corrosion Inhibitor on Mechanical Characteristics, Corrosion Behavior, and Predictive Estimation of Lifespan of Reinforced Concrete Structures

by Duc Thanh Tran, Han-Seung Lee, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Hyun-Min Yang, Min-Gu Jeong, Sirui Yan, Izni Syahrizal Ibrahim, Mohd Azreen Bin Mohd Ariffin, Anh-Tuan Le and Anjani Kumar Singh

Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071114 - 29 Mar 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1661

Abstract

A fixed ratio amount, i.e., L-arginine (LA) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (TSP) at 2:0.25, is considered as a hybrid inhibitor. This research aims to extensively investigate the impact of utilizing the hybrid corrosion inhibitor on the corrosion resistance properties in accelerated condition, mechanical characteristics, and predictive estimation of the lifespan of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Various experiments, such as setting time, slump, air content, porosity, compressive strength, and chloride diffusion coefficient, were conducted to elucidate the influence of the hybrid corrosion inhibitor on the mechanical properties of the concrete matrix. Meanwhile, linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 10 wt. % NaCl under wet–dry cycles are utilized to assess the corrosion resistance property, corrosion initiation time, and kinetics of the passive film formation on the steel rebar. Alternatively, both deterministic and probabilistic-based predictions of service life by Life 365 software are utilized to demonstrate the efficacy of the hybrid corrosion inhibitor in protecting the steel rebar in RC structures. All the results confirm that the HI-4 mix (LA:TSP = 3.56:0.44) exhibits excellence in preventing the corrosion and extending the service life of RC structures, due to the adsorption of inhibitor molecules and formation of P-Zwitterions-(Cl)-Fe, Zwitterions-(Cl)-Fe, and FePO₄ complexes onto the steel rebar surface. However, HI-3 shows the optimal mechanical and electrochemical properties for RC structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 10856 KB

Open AccessArticle

Compressive Behavior of Long Simple and Multi-Cell CFT Columns When Using Tie Bars Connector Elements

by Nima Pahlavannejad Tabarestani, Morteza Naghipour and Stephen J. Hicks

Buildings 2025, 15(5), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050817 - 4 Mar 2025

Viewed by 1711

Abstract

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns are increasingly used in high-rise structures due to their improved resilience to lateral loads. However, the behavior of multi-cell CFT columns, connected with different tie bar spacings, has been under-considered. This study aims to investigate the performance of simple and four-cell CFT columns with tie bars at different spacings. Seven columns with different tie bar spacings (100, 300, and 500 mm) were examined under axial compression. The load–displacement curve, failure pattern, and concrete core failure characteristics were described. A calculation model for the axial pressure field of simple and four-cell CFT columns with tie bars at varying spacings was constructed using a finite element analysis software. The results showed that the axial compression load capacity of confined CFT columns was significantly higher in four-cell composite specimens, where the capacity increased by 15.6% and 33% with tie bar spacings of 500 mm and 300 mm, respectively. Also, compared to simple CFT specimens, the capacity increased by 14.7%, 27.8%, and 42.6% with tie bar spacings of 100 mm, 300 mm, and 500 mm, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 5319 KB

Open AccessArticle

Joint Action of Wind and Temperature on Long-Span Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Bridges in the Yellow River Basin

by Jiang Liu, Haotian Wu, Huajun Guo, Zhiyuan Ma, Feixiang Zheng, Yinping Ma and Yongjian Liu

Buildings 2025, 15(4), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040633 - 18 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1185

Abstract

Complex wind and temperature characteristics in the Yellow River basin (YRB) challenge the safety and durability of long-span concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) bridges greatly. To address this issue, it is important to accurately assess the joint actions of wind and temperature. In this paper, the joint actions of wind and temperature in eight typical YRB cities are analyzed. The joint distributions of wind speed and air temperature are developed with the Archimedean Copula, and the Kendall return period is used for occurrence probability estimations. Eight wind–temperature combinations are considered. Responses for these combinations are calculated and compared with specification actions. Results show significant wind–temperature variations in the YRB. When wind actions adopt the univariate representative values (URVs), the temperature actions are reduced by 20–40%; when temperature actions use URVs, wind actions experience a reduction by more than half of their URVs. The joint responses can sometimes exceed, but are mostly less than, the specification responses, with a maximum strength margin over 11 MPa. These efforts suggest that the proposed joint actions can expand the provisions in the General Specification and provide guidance for the design of long-span CFST bridges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structure—2nd Edition)

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