Load Transferring Mechanism of Flexible Shear Connectors

In steel concrete composites, steel is provided as a web of the beam to take care of tension and concrete as top flange to take the compression. To ensure shear compatibility, the interaction between the steel and concrete plays a major role in steel concrete composites. Mechanism of composite interaction can be achieved through the mechanical connecting devices between steel and concrete members known as shear connectors. Typically, the mechanical shear connection is accomplished with headed studs. These studs resist longitudinal shear along the length of the beam and also prevent vertical separation of steel and concrete. The effectiveness of this shear transfer is determined by the strength of the stud, the resistance to crushing or cracking of concrete surrounding the stud shank and the slip of two materials. The shear capacity of connectors can be found out by using standard push-out test. Through this test, load-slip characteristics at the steel concrete interface and shear capacity of the shear connectors can be found. But there are certain difficulties in the standard push-out test. The existing vertical push-out test can be replaced by a new horizontal push-out test. In the new approach, specimens were cast in a horizontal manner. In the present work, initially, two specimens were cast for validation purpose. Then, specimens were cast with varying spacing of connectors and arrangement of connectors. By conducting a horizontal push-out test, load slip curve and shear carrying capacity of connectors could be found out. Therefore, this paper aims to model a new setup, its dimensions which can be used for all specimens and to find shear carrying capacity of headed stud connectors in steel-concrete composites by conducting new horizontal push-out test for the arrival of new expression.