Numerical evaluation of the perfobond (PBL) shear connector with transverse rebar using coupled rigid Body spring model (RBSM) and solid finite element method (FEM)

Abstract

Numerical analyses focused on the detailed fracture process of concrete in a reinforced PBL shear connector with the transverse rebar subjected to a simple push-out test employing coupled RBSM and solid FEM model were performed to reveal the internal failure mechanism, quantitatively. The numerical model effectively captured the shear capacity and failure modes of test results. It was investigated as the shear resistance of the concrete dowel was enhanced against the increased diameter of the transverse rebar, the shear capacity was improved consequently, and the deformed behaviors transformed from shear to splitting failure. The internal failure process of a specimen with transverse rebar was highlighted; the normal stress distribution along the transverse rebar exhibited the presence of the compressive zones in the concrete dowel region due to the formation of compression struts and compressive stresses transferred from anchored parts of the transverse rebar towards the concrete dowel region and got localized around the concrete dowel and in side concrete blocks and reproduced the enhanced shear capacity compared with specimen without transverse rebar. It was evaluated that the change in shear capacity was similar to the change in axial force of the transverse rebar. The shear capacity of the PBL shear connector increased as the axial force increased, while the inverse response against rebar bending moment was observed and determined that the main contribution towards the increase in the shear capacity of the PBL shear connector was from the axial force of the transverse rebar.