Abstract:
The use of steel-concrete composite structures is growing in popularity within
the construction sector. In steel-concrete composite structure full composite
action between steel and concrete is developed using shear connector. Shear
connector transfer the transverse shear developed at the interface of steel and
concrete. Headed shear stud is the most common type of shear connector which
is conventionally welded perpendicularly to the flange surface of the steel beam
with zero inclination. Some of the shear connectors unconsciously get welded at
an inclined angle during this process. Design equations are not available for
inclined shear key in the current design codes like Eurocode 4, CSA S4-14, BNBC-
2020, AASHTO LRFD. Here an attempt has been made to investigate the
structural performance of inclined shear key in steel-concrete composite
construction. A numerical finite element model of push out test of steel-concrete
composite structure as per Eurocode is developed using FEA software ANSYS.
The developed FE push-out test model for a 19 mm perpendicularly placed
headed shear stud is validated and its results are compared with the previous
experimental test. The ultimate shear resistance of a perpendicularly welded
headed shear stud obtained from FE analysis is found to be very close to that
calculated using the BNBC-2020 & AASHTO LRFD recommended design
equations. The ultimate shear resistance of 15, 30 & 45-degree inclined headed
shear stud is found to be increased by 15 %, 17.33 % & 24 % respectively for the
inclination of headed shear stud along the direction of loading and decreased by
56 %, 42.57 % & 46.93 % respectively for inclination opposite to the direction of
loading. For inclination along the direction of loading, 15-degree & 30-degree
inclined Headed shear stud exhibits ductile behaviour with maximum slip value
10.79 mm & 7.97 mm respectively but for 45-degree inclination headed shear stud
is found to be brittle with maximum slip value 3.95 mm. Headed shear studs are
vi
found to be brittle for all the angles of inclination opposite to the direction of
loading having maximum slip less than 6 mm, which is the Eurocode 4
recommended minimum threshold for ductile behaviour. Hence, headed shear
stud shall be welded to the flange surface very carefully in steel-concrete
composite construction. Only if the direction of loading is known, inclined shear
keys may be a better choice for enhanced composite action of steel concrete
composite structures.
