An Experimental Study on Behavior of Variable I Sectioned Beams Under Flexure Produced by Normal and Lightweight Concrete

Nowadays, prefabricated in industrial structures, having long spans and in structures having high loads with long spans, selected cross-sections and construction materials become important to produce optimal members. Researches on normal, lightweight concrete beams, having variable I cross sections according to moment variation along the span and stress variation along the section height will give important results for optimal design of members. As a result 1/1 scaled, variable sectioned I beams made of lightweight and normal weight concrete are tested and relation between load and deflection, cracking mechanism and energy absorption capacities are obtained and compared for both materials. Also, research had given idea if the calculation method being used for reinforced normal concrete beam members under flexure is valid and can be used for lightweight concrete members.