Using Locally Fabricated Channels as Shear Connector

The most important and frequently encountered combination of construction materials is steel and concrete. The use of composite structures in multistory buildings and high-way bridges becomes wide spread practice. Shear connectors are used for the transfer of the longitudinal shear force developed at interface between concrete slabs and steel beams and hence develops a full flexural action. The strength and ductility of shear connectors greatly influence the capacity of composite system. Headed shear studs are currently accepted shear connectors, however they are unobtainable on market specially in developing countries and requires special welding equipment which needs high voltage for operation, hence other alternative shear connectors need to be developed. To find out the strength and load-slip behavior of shear connectors push-out tests are most commonly used worldwide. In this paper an experimental study is designed to study overall behavior of locally fabricated channel shear connector (LFCSC). The experimental program consisted of 15 push-out tests in five series, each with three identical specimens. The load carrying capacity, failure modes, load-slip behaviors and ductility of this connector is presented well. Crushing-splitting of concrete and channel fracture were observed failure modes in push-out specimens. The strength of concrete affects both load carrying capacity and ductility of shear connector. The experimental push-out test results were compared against available predicting equations formulated in Canadian, Chinese and American code provisions. Canadian and Chinese code provisions are conservative whereas the American code provision provides overestimate prediction.