08.30: Experimental investigation and specific behaviour of X-HVB shear connectors in prefabricated composite decks

Construction industry is constantly facing new demands towards fast construction and smallest possibly quantity of work at the construction site. These increasing demands, in the field of composite construction of buildings and bridges, resulted in development of different types of prefabricated composite decks during decades and group arrangement of different types of shear connectors. Positioning of shear connectors into envisaged openings of prefabricated composite decks contributes to smaller quantity of concrete needed to infill openings of prefabricated composite decks. Composite action between steel profile and concrete decks can be achieved using X‐HVB shear connectors with powder‐actuated fasteners. Anchorage mechanisms developed between steel profile and fasteners during installation process of powder‐actuated fasteners are resulting in composite action between steel and concrete. Relatively simple and fast installation process, without requirements for additional equipment and electrical power on the site is characteristic for this type of shear connectors. Experimental investigation of X‐HVB shear connectors in prefabricated composite decks through standard push‐out tests, according to EN 1994‐1‐1 is presented in this paper. Shear connectors are positioned at the envisaged openings of prefabricated composite decks at the minimal longitudinal and transversal distances, recommended by the manufacturer. Two different orientations of shear connectors, forward and backwards to shear force direction are experimentally investigated and presented in this paper. Experimentally obtained characteristic shear resistance are compared with recommendations given by manufacturer. Characteristic slip at failure obtained from experimental investigation is compared with requirements given in EN 1994‐1‐1 in order to determine if this type of shear connector is considered as ductile. Eight specimens in two series are experimentally investigated through standard push‐out test. Different characteristic shear resistance and different failure modes are obtained for forward and backward orientation of shear connectors. Experimentally obtained results from standard push‐out tests for different orientations of shear connectors are compared with results obtained from extensive numerical analysis performed in Abaqus