Assessment of Shear Connection through Composite Beam Modeling. Issue 41 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sjaarda, Matthew; Walbridge, Scott; West, Jeffrey S.
• Is Part Of: Transportation research record. Volume 2672:Issue 41(2018)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Transportation -- Periodicals; Roads; Transport -- Périodiques; Routes -- Périodiques; Routes -- Conception et construction -- Périodiques; Roads; Transportation; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0361198118781685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0361-1981

Abstract

Steel-concrete composite construction is used extensively in bridges across North America. The welded shear stud is the standard connector used today, but other connectors, such as the through-bolt connector, may have advantages for precast construction or applications where better fatigue resistance or deconstructability is desired. The standard method of assessing the performance of a shear connector is through the use of push tests. However, the load-slip curves that result from these tests do not accurately predict load-slip behavior at the shear interface of the beams and girders they are meant to simulate. In this paper, a model is presented that predicts composite beam behavior using elastic material properties and nonlinear shear connector load-slip curves. The finite element (FE) model features link connector elements between a steel beam and concrete slab that can be programmed to simulate different connector types. Although the model can be used with push test load-slip curves as inputs, it is shown that a much better prediction can be made using force-deformation data from experimental beam tests or FE analysis. Results are discussed for stud connectors and through-bolt connectors, and it is shown that while through-bolts allow more interfacial slip and overall deflection, material stresses and composite interaction are not affected as much as might be expected. The outcome of this work is a comparison tool which can be used to assess the viability of current and future shear connection alternatives with the goal of achieving an economical and structurally sound shear connector.