This document discusses the merits of composite constructions. It begins with an introduction and overview of composite slabs, beams, and columns. It then provides examples of built composite structures, including the Cristal Palace in London from 1850. The main section outlines the key advantages of composite constructions, such as high bearing capacity, stiffness, and fire safety. It also notes their ability to allow for wide spans without interior columns, slenderness in design, prefabrication advantages, and faster construction times. The document concludes by thanking the reader for their attention.

1. The merits of composite constructions
by
Prof. Dr. Bert Hofmann
● Introduction
● Composite constructions
Composite slabs
Composite beams
Composite columns
● Built examples

2. Introduction
● Cristal Palace London – Joseph Paxton – 1850
● Exhibition Hall Leipzig – Gerkan/Marg/Richie – 1995
● Use of gray iron in historical columns and modern joints
● Eiffel Tower Paris – Gustave Eiffel – 1899
● Commerzbank Building Frankfurt – Norman Foster – 1997
● Gray iron Bridge Coalbrookedale – Abraham Darby – 1779
● Kronprinzenbrücke Berlin – Santiago Calatrava – 1996
● Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco – Charles Ellis – 1937
● Alamillo Bridge Sevilla – Santiago Calatrava - 1992

5. gray column exhibition hall Glasgow – Kibble – 1873
samples of gray columns in Mannheim Museum
„tree columns“ at Stuttgart airport with gray iron nodes

13. Main merits of steel constructions
● transparancy - lightness – boldness of forms
● wide spans – no internal colums – multi purpose use
● slenderness – freedom of design – keen architecture
● high bearing capacity – high stiffness – fire safety
● prefabrication – high production quality – small tolerances
● quick erection time – small storage place in narrow citysites
● save of prefinancing interests, early return of investment
● sustainability – recyclability – refunding by revenue of scrap

14. composite constructions
● Priciples of composite action:
slip – bond – degree of composite connection
bearing capacity – stiffness – fire safety
● Composite slabs
● Composite beams
● Composite columns
● Built examples

44. Main merits of composite constructions
● high bearing capacity – high stiffness – high fire safety
● wide spans – no internal colums – multi purpose use
● slenderness – freedom of design – keen architecture
● prefabrication – high production quality – small tolerances
● quick erection time – small storage place in narrow citysites
● save of prefinancing interests, early return of investment

62. The merits of composite constructions
by
Prof. Dr. Bert Hofmann
Thank you for your attention