New Shear Connector for Open Web Steel Joist with Metal Deck and Concrete Slab Floor Systems

Composite floor systems consist of a concrete slab poured on steel sheets, supported over Open-Web Steel Joists (OWSJ); it is widely used in commercial and industrial buildings. To achieve the desirable strength, shear connector (studs) have to be welded on the OWSJ to ensure composite action of the three components. Extending the application of this composite floor system into residential buildings, alternative shear connectors such as puddle-welds and Hilti-screws would greatly reduce the expense and accelerate construction. Yet the current design codes consider these alternates structurally inadequate due to lack of research. The objective of this research is to investigate the ability of puddle-welds and Hilti-screws to develop composite action. Experimental testing under different loading conditions had been carried out on small and large-scale composite floor prototypes to investigate the behaviour of the proposed shear connectors. Test results showed that significant composite action is developed using both shear connectors and their behaviour meets the code requirements for residential applications