State of the art of steel–concrete composite structures in Brazil

Steel–concrete composite structures are now increasingly used in Brazil and are the subject of significant research by the country's leading universities. This paper summarises the typology, state of the art and usage of steel–composite structures from a Brazilian perspective. It presents the concepts, definitions and design philosophy for basic structural elements, including composite slabs, beams and columns, and also for various types of connections. Summaries of the extensive research findings are presented for each composite element. The paper concludes with a call for all the research results to be condensed into a single design manual, which in turn will help Brazil's fastgrowing construction industry take full advantage of the benefits of composite construction techniques.