Study Programmes 2015-2016
GCIV0644-1  
Metallic and Steel-Concrete composite Structures
Duration :
40h Th, 20h Pr, 1d FW, 20h Proj.
Number of credits :
Master in civil engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in civil engineering (120 ECTS) (SUSCOS)5
Lecturer :
Jean-François Demonceau, Jean-Pierre Jaspart
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTIONS: A structural element of a construction is defined as composite if it is associating two materials of different nature and/or with different properties. The objective with a composite construction is to extract, from a mechanical point of view, the best contributions from the materials involved in this association. The most usual case in composite construction is the one associating steel and concrete. This is this type of composite construction which is considered within this course. The concrete and the steel, materials fundamentally different, are perfectly compatible and complementary. They constitute a perfect combination from the resistance point of view: concrete is very efficient to sustain compression while steel is substituted to concrete to sustain tension. Concrete also ensures a protection against corrosion and a thermal insulation for steel at elevated temperature. Moreover, it can stiffen slender sections for instability phenomena which may occur in elements partially or totally under compression. The actual practice in Europe demonstrates clearly that the composite construction can be competitive, in terms of global cost, if compared to « classical » steel or concrete constructions. In particular, for multi-storey buildings, it is true for cases with long span (12 m to 15 m) between columns, long span slabs or when a simple and rapid construction way on site is required. Consequently, in the domain of buildings, the composite solution may demonstrate mechanical, economical and architectural interests. Within the present course, the main design and application rules for composite beams, slabs and columns (used as structural elements in buildings) will be presented. STEEL CONSTRUCTIONS: The course is inscribed in the continuity of lectures given in third Bachelor, option "Constructions" (Calculation of Steel Elements) and of the here-above described course on "Composite Constructionss". The steel and composite constructions are here studied in terms of global structural response and no more only in terms of structural elements. The notions of analyses become very important. The first order and second ordre analysis methods and elastic/plastic analyses arel so be applied to building frames. The concept of rigid/semi-rigid joints is investigated. A particular attention is also paid to constructions with thin-walled members. Finally, aspects of fatigue and weld design are covered.
Learning outcomes of the course :
At the end of the lecture and the group exercices, the student will be able to design steel and steel-concrete composite structures, with account of the actual behaviour of joints. He will also be able to deal with constructions made of thin members.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Some basic knowledge in the following domain is required:
  • Mechanic of materials
  • Mechanic of structures
  • Steel constructions
  • Concrete constructions
For more details, the student can contact the professors.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Learning activities within this lecture:
  • Theoretical lessons: attendance recommended but not mandatory
  • Lessons with exercises: Attendance MANDATORY
  • Exercise in group: this work consists in designing a building structures using the concepts seen during the theoritical and exercises lessons and others to be learned by yourself
For the exercise in group, an hand-written calculation note in French will have to be delivered at a date fixed by the teachers. If requested by the students, meetings with the teacher who makes the corrections of the note can be organised in order to discuss about the mistakes identified within the performed work.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The courses are given face-to-face.
The course will be given in the second semester.
Recommended or required readings :
For this lecture, a set of documents covering the topic of the lecture will be given to the students. Also, the PowerPoint presentations used as a support for the theoretical lectures will be made available under a PDF format.
Assessment methods and criteria :
At the end of the exercise in group, a hand-written computation note will have to be delivered by the students and will be evaluated. This evaluation will be taken into account to establish the final quotation for this course.
In first session, a written and an oral examination will be organised.
For the theory, a particular attention will be paid to the understanding of the physic of the phenomena rather than a restitution of the content of the lecture
The written examination will be organised as "open books".
For the second session, only an oral examination will be organised during which theoritical and practical questions will be asked.
The final mark for this course will be fixed with the following subdivision:


  • First session: 15% for the exercise in group, 25% for the written exam and 60% for the oral exam
  • Second session: 15% for the exercise in group and 85% for the oral exam
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
General remark: the students who have particularly appreciated the topic of the course and want to push it further can choose, or even propose, the next year a subject in the domain for their graduation work.
Contacts :
Jean-François DEMONCEAU tel. +32-4-366.92.58 jfdemonceau@ulg.ac.be Jean-Pierre JASPART tel. +32-4-366.92.47 Jean-Pierre.Jaspart@ulg.ac.be