Investigation on the behaviour of a hybrid beam is presented. Hybrid beam stands for an element with hybrid cross sections. This means sections that consist of steel and concrete parts, connected together with composite dowels, and both are considered for shear flow analysis. In practice, a more general solution may be used for bridges in the form of a beam in which the span sections are hybrid and the support sections are concrete. Recently such a solution has been introduced for bridge engineering in Poland and a new problem with performing a global analysis of hybrid beams was identified. The solution is new itself and requires also a new approach for internal forces determination. Discussion of this problem is made in the paper. Influences of (1) concrete cracking, (2) rheology of concrete and (3) methods of modelling on the redistribution of internal forces are highlighted. On an example of one of the real bridge girder (being currently under design) analysis is made to show how the abovementioned factors are affecting obtained results. Results are analysed and conclusions are presented. As a final step, a new concept of hybrid beam design is proposed. The proposed solution enables a quick and easy engineering approach to perform a static calculation of the considered structure.

The paper presents designing due to the instability in-plane problem of the net-arch bridge. Firstly, three essential nonlinear examples are benchmarked in a finite element software. Secondly, linear and nonlinear buckling analyses are conducted, with the purpose of investigating the impact of nonlinear behavior of cables on steel arch instability, involving a comparison of the critical load factor and form from both the linear buckling and the post-critical third-order theory analyses. The impact of prestress and tension, elevation, and hanger failure on instability is discussed. Moreover, a new method for determining nonlinear buckling form for the net-arch structure is proposed in order to allow implementation of Unique Global and Local Imperfection method in cable structures. Calculations are conducted in the finite element software. The model of the network arch bridge is based on the bridge over Vistula River in Cracow.