Long　and　complex　composite　steel-concrete　structures　are　becoming　common,　requiring　a　deep　understanding　of　the　effects　induced　by　the　simultaneous　action　of　axial　forces　and　bending.　In　fact,　the　axial　force　generated,　for　instance,　by　cable　inclination　in　cable-supported　structures　can　modify　the　stress　distribution　within　the　elements　compared　to　bending　scenarios,　thereby　necessitating　a　revision　of　the　effective　width　to　be　utilized.　Nonetheless,　current　design　codes,　including　Eurocode　specifications　and　others,　lack　provisions　for　addressing　the　combined　effects　of　axial　force　and　bending,　as　they　are　exclusively　tailored　for　bending.　This　limitation　can　introduce　design　complexities,　necessitating　the　implementation　of　intricate　Finite　Element　(FE)　models,　which　impose　substantial　computational　loads　and　design　efforts.　The　methodology　proposed　in　this　paper　overcomes　these　challenges　allowing　to　assess　the　stress　distribution　and　resistance　of　composite　deck　at　Serviceability　Limit　State　(SLS)　and　Ultimate　Limit　States　(ULS)　by　leveraging　results　obtained　from　standard　beam　models　typically　used　by　structural　designers　or　practitioners.　A　comprehensive　parametric　analysis　using　nonlinear　finite　element　models　is　performed　to　validate　the　developed　methodology.　A　comparison　with　the　Eurocode　4　formulations　highlights　that　the　proposed　method　provides　superior　accuracy　in　estimating　peak　stress　in　concrete　slabs　under　combined　compression　and　bending.　Additionally,　it　facilitates　straightforward　verification　at　the　ULS　in　compliance　with　Eurocode　requirements.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd