Evaluation of Load Carrying Capacity of the Perforated Shear Connector with Flange Heads

Abstract

In the construction of composite bridge structures, various types of shear connectors are usually used to provide an efficient load transfer and the composite action of two or more different materials. In the previous work conducted by authors, a new type of the shear connector was introduced, which is the perforated shear connector with flange heads (T-shaped perforated shear connector), and the structural behavior of the shear connector was discussed based on the results of push-out tests. For the practical design of new shear connector, it is necessary to develop the equation for the prediction of the load carrying capacity of the shear connector. In this study, the existing design equations for the Perfobond shear connector were briefly analyzed and the equation for the prediction of the shear capacity of T-shaped perforated shear connector was suggested empirically. By comparing the results obtained by the suggested equation, the existing equations for the Perfobond shear connector, and the experiment, the applicability and effectiveness of the suggested equation was estimated.