TRAINING.

Overview

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Design composite steel–concrete beams in accordance with CSA S16, including systems with and without steel deck
• Evaluate and specify the degree of composite action required to meet strength and serviceability requirements
• Analyze flexural strength, shear resistance, and deflection of composite members, including time‑dependent effects
• Design composite columns, including concrete‑filled hollow structural sections and encased composite columns
• Apply CSA S16 composite design provisions confidently to real‑world structural design scenarios

Description

As a structural engineer or designer, you are often expected to deliver efficient, code‑compliant designs that balance strength, serviceability, constructability, and economy. Composite steel–concrete members offer significant performance advantages, but their design introduces additional complexities related to composite action, construction sequence, and time‑dependent behaviour of concrete.

This course focuses on the practical design of composite steel–concrete structural members in accordance with CSA S16:24. You will develop a clear understanding of how composite beams and columns behave, how load is transferred between materials, and how key design checks, such as flexural resistance, shear capacity, and deflection, are performed in practice.

Through worked examples and direct application of CSA S16 provisions, the course equips you with a structured, confidence‑building approach to designing composite beams and columns for real projects. Emphasis is placed on understanding design assumptions, common failure modes, and how code requirements translate into safe and efficient structural solutions.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Structural engineers involved in building design
• Designers and detailers working with steel and composite structural systems
• Consulting engineers and specification writers seeking deeper understanding of CSA S16 composite provisions
• Early‑career to experienced practitioners responsible for steel or composite member design

Special Features & Requirements

Textbook (not mandatory): the Handbook of Steel Construction, published by Canadian Institute for Steel Construction, CISC- Toronto, 12th Edition.

Please note: You can check other time zones here.

Syllabus

Day I

Welcome, Course Preview, and the Assessment Method

Design of Steel-Concrete Composite Beams

• Introduction and terminology
• Shear connectors
• Degree of composite action
• Flexural strength
• Shear strength
• Deflections
• Design examples

Design of Steel-Concrete Composite Columns

• Introduction and terminology
• Design of concrete-filled hollow structural sections
• Design of encased composite columns
• Design examples

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Instructor

Vahid Sadeghian, Ph.D, P.Eng.

Dr. Sadeghian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University. Prior to joining Carleton, he worked at the Structural Group of Arup in Toronto. He received his Ph.D. and MASc degrees from the University of Toronto, and his BASc from the University of Tehran.

With over 10 years of experience in teaching, research, and consulting, Dr. Sadeghian is a registered PEng with Professional Engineers Ontario. He has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed scientific publications in different areas of structural engineering. His research interests mainly focus on seismic design and assessment of buildings, nonlinear analysis, the behaviour of aging and repair structures, and structures built using innovative materials and construction techniques.