A Study of Effect of Shear Connector in Composite Beam in Combined Bending and Shear

Abstract: The use of composite structures is increasingly present in civil construction works. Steel-concrete composite beams, particularly, are structures consisting of two materials, a steel section located mainly in the tension region and a concrete section, located in the compression cross sectional area, both connected by metal devices known as shear connectors. The main functions of these connectors are to allow for the joint behavior of the beam-slab, to restrict longitudinal slipping and uplifting at the elements interface and to take shear forces. This paper presents 3D numerical models of steel-concrete composite beams to simulate their structural behavior, with emphasis on the beam-slab interface. Simulations were carried out using version 14.0 ANSYS code, based on the Finite Element Method. The results obtained were compared with those provided either by Standards, experimental work or found in the literature, and such comparison demonstrated that the numerical approach followed is a valid tool in analyzing steel concrete composite beams performance