New Test for Shear Connectors in Composite Construction.

Abstract

Composite beams formed by connecting the concrete slabs to the supporting steel beams have been in use for many years. Much of the research into this form of construction has concentrated on the more traditional reinforced concrete and metal deck construction. In composite beam design, the strength of the shear connector is of great importance since longitudinal shear forces must be transferred across the steel-concrete interface by the mechanical action of shear connectors. The shear strength and stiffness of the connection is not only dependent on the strength of the connector itself, but also on the resistance of the concrete slab to longitudinal cracking caused by the high concentration of shear force at each connector. Present knowledge of this behaviour is limited to shear connectors in solid reinforced concrete slabs and concrete slabs with profiled sheeting, little information is given for the shear connector capacity on composite steel beam with precast hollow core slabs. A new horizontal push off test is proposed to determine the shear capacity of the connector on the composite beams with precast concrete hollow cored floor slabs. The results showed the new test is compatible with all type of floor and shear connectors, and can replace the existing vertical push off tests.