Performance assessment of innovative concave type shear connector in a composite structure subjected to push-out loading

Abstract

The use of shear connectors in steel beams with reinforced concrete (RCC) slabs has increased in favor in the past few decades as it is advantageous for quick, simple, and cost-effective composite construction. The current study proposes an innovative concave type shear connector for the composite steel beams-RCC structure in buildings and bridges. Installation of headed shear connectors requires gun welding, which is costly and not readily available for small-scale works. In contrast, the novel concave shear connector developed can be economically installed using a simple arc welding technique by bending rebars readily available on site. Its performance was evaluated through numerical analysis. Nonlinear finite element (F.E.) analysis using ABAQUS software was performed on the push-out test of the shear connector using Eurocode 4 specification guidelines. For the effectiveness of shear connectors in the composite systems, the performance of the concave shear connector was compared with the 19 mm standard headed stud shear connectors. The main outputs were the load-slip characteristics like the ultimate slip and ductility, stiffness, and shear strength in the composite steel beams-RCC slab structure. The results indicate that concave type shear connectors offer 2.5 times higher stiffness and 20% connector material savings having identical shear strength compared to 19 mm diameter headed stud. Moreover, although the slip of the concave type shear connector was less than 19 mm headed stud, satisfying 6 mm ductility criteria as per Eurocode 4 specific guidelines.