ABSTRACT
A composite-to-steel hybrid balcony overhang is tested in order to find strength and stiffness under imposed bending load at the second load cycle after initial failure. The specimens are loaded under shear at the first cycle until the failure occurs. The configuration tested is representative of a solution being considered for the balconies of cruise ships, where the substitution of steel by composites aims at weight saving. The steel component is a channel type of structure made of two plates that serve as external supports of the sandwich plate. The purpose of the current study is evaluating the reduction of ultimate strength and stiffness of the damaged structure and identifying the critical locations and failure progress in bending condition.
