New Type of Transition Zone for Steel-concrete Hybrid Beams in Bridges

A new kind of composite connection is implemented in bridge engineering in Poland, which leads to a new type of steel‐concrete beams. First innovative bridges are constructed based on in‐depth scientific works. Perfobond shear connector (PBL) concept has been combined with standard geometries of composite dowels and in this way, efficient shear connection has been created that is used in combination with composite dowels. It enables a new type of beams that have more general forms than standard composite beams – they are named hybrid beams. There are intensive R&D works going on towards optimization of the transition zone concept. The article widens the already executed experimental tests, summarises the development of the hybrid beams, and presents the application of the hybrid beams in bridges.