Study of single perfobond rib with head stud shear connectors for a composite structure

The head stud connector and the perfobond rib connector are the most common forms of ductile and rigid shear connector, respectively, but have strengths and weaknesses. This study evaluates the behaviour of a single perfobond rib with head stud shear connector that combines the advantages of both. First, a shear resistance equation is proposed to predict the strength of the single perfobond rib with head stud shear connector based on equations for the head stud connector and the single perfobond rib shear connector. Five groups of single perfobond rib with head stud shear connectors, ten push-out test specimens in total, were used to investigate the fracture failure mode, load-slip relationship, shear capacity and ductility of the specimens. Based on the test results, the influences of the parameters of the shear connector on shear capacity are discussed. The experiments show that the single perfobond rib with head stud shear connector is superior in terms of shear resistance and ductility. Shear capacity and corresponding relative slip of the specimens increase with increasing diameter of the head stud and transverse rebar, whereas ductility decreases. The accuracy of the proposed shear-capacity equation is verified by comparison with the test results.