Experimental study of weathering steel composite beams under combined effect of loading and corrosion

Abstract Weathering steel has excellent corrosion resistance and its use in composite girder bridges can reduce maintenance costs, especially when used without painting. However, there are few studies on weathering steel concrete composite beam (WSCCB) and overall accelerated corrosion tests. Therefore, this paper firstly proposes an experimental programme for the overall accelerated corrosion of pre‐cracked WSCCBs under the combined effect of positive or negative moments and corrosion. Then, their failure mode, crack pattern, interface slip, and strain distribution are investigated. Finally, regression and coupling analyses are carried out by FEM simulation. The research results provide new ideas for experimental studies on the durability of steel–concrete composite beams.