Behavior investigation of powder actuated shear connectors in composite beams with profiled sheeting

Abstract

Eurocode 4 and Russian SP266.1325800.2016 composite structure design codes require touse shear connectors for providing a combined action of steel beam and concrete slab. Both codes also allow use steel profiled sheeting as a stay-in-place formwork. In this case, the designer has to use a reduction factor to define the real shear resistance. However, the existing method is mostly based on round-shape welded studs and does not take into account the peculiarity of powder actuated shear connectors. This paper presents the result of an investigation of the behaviour of powder actuated shear connectors Hilti X-HVB in composite beams. One of the goals was to explore the influence of the steel profiled sheeting`s geometry on shear resistance of the connectors. Fifteen test series were conducted with different numbers of connectors, slab thicknesses, installation parameters of the connectors and types of profiled sheeting. All types of sheeting that were used as the test samplesare manufactured according to the Russian national standard and are widely used for composite slab design. Some test cases had smaller edge distances for shear connectors installation in profiled sheeting than allowed by the technical data of the producer, because they took place in real practice in CIS countries. The test results have been evaluated according to Appendix B of Eurocode 4. The results for samples with solid slabs are in fully agreement with external experience. Most of series with profiled sheeting also match predicted design values; however, there were some series with insufficient results. Therefore, a deeper analysis and additional testing are necessary. The current investigation results could be used to specify the existing reduction factor that is included in the Russian composite structure design code SP266.1325800.2016