Short-span composite beam tests to evaluate stud resistances

The results of a parametric study on ten short-span composite beam tests with small degrees of shear connection between 12 and 46% are presented. The beam tests were conducted using composite slabs with two modern forms of profiled steel sheeting. Important parameters of the shear connection, such as stud diameter, number of studs per rib, reinforcement pattern, welding procedure and concrete strength, were varied. All the test configurations were selected in accordance with a previously conducted study on the behaviour of shear connectors in push-out specimens. A comparison of the bending resistance of the beam tests and the calculated plastic bending resistance is presented. The shear connector resistances were taken either from the push-out test results or from the analytical methods of Konrad, EN 1994-1-1 and Nellinger. Evaluation of the push-out and beam test results showed that the current shear connector resistances in EN 1994-1-1 insufficiently predict the observed concrete failure modes and resistances in the presence of modern forms of steel decking. New approaches to the shear connector resistance proposed by Konrad and Nellinger led to more accurate predictions of the shear resistance of headed studs and the plastic bending resistance of the composite beam tests.