Discussion of “Long-term analysis of steel–concrete composite beams: FE modeling for effective width evaluation” [Engineering Structures 2006;28:1110–21]
This paper presents a comprehensive work to evaluate the long-term influence of concrete on the shear-lag effect in steel–concrete composite beams, for which rather few tests and numerical studies have been reported. The FE study demonstrates that the effective width is greatly influenced by the analytic models: linear creep (CnSnC model) linear creep with shrinkage (CSnC model) creep with shrinkage and cracking (CSC model). Some numerical results were not well clarified, as discussed in the following.
This paper gives an overview of the developing educational policy information network and shows how this European initiative together with parallel initiatives in the UK have lead to the establishment of the Educational Policy Information Centre (EPIC) project at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). The LEA experiment, within the EPIC framework is outlined. Similarities and differences in approach and actual and potential problems at both the Community and the UK level are set out.