Experimental and analytical investigation on shear mechanism of a novel composite shear connector

This study proposes a novel composite shear connector (CSSP-type) for interfaces subjected to large longitudinal shear, in which transverse studs are welded on the side faces of a slotted Perfobond Leiste (PBL) rib. Five push-out specimens, comprising a stud-only, a PBL-only and three CSSP-type specimens, were tested under monotonic static loading following Eurocode 4 and were modelled by calibrated finite elements. All specimens used C40 concrete (46.2 MPa measured cube strength) and Q235 steel, with a constant hole diameter of 40 mm, a slot width of 20 mm and a transverse stud diameter of 16 mm; the stud length ranged from 72 to 82 mm and the through-reinforcement diameter from 12 to 16 mm. Within these ranges, the ultimate capacity of the CSSP-type connector was 92% to 99% higher than that of the stud-only specimen and 31% to 36% higher than that of the PBL-only specimen. Steel strength and rib-plate length most strongly affect the ultimate capacity and stiffness, whereas the through-reinforcement diameter has a moderate effect on both and the slot width and hole diameter have the least effect.