A parametric study of perfobond rib shear connectors

This paper summarizes the results of 40 push-out test specimens with a new type of shear connector called perfobond rib. This connector is a flat steel plate with a number of holes punched through. The test specimens were designed to study the effect of a number of parameters on the shear capacity of the connection. These were the number and spacing of rib holes, transverse reinforcement, and compressive strength of concrete. The main objective of this study was to derive an expression for predicting the capacity of perfobond rib connector based on the results of the parametric study.The test results indicate that the shear capacity of the perfobond rib connector increases with the number of rib holes as long as the hole spacing is at least 2.25 times the diameter of the holes. The effect of increasing the transverse reinforcement ratio from 0.27% to 0.36% was an increase of approximately 16% in the shear capacity of the connection. Similarly, an increase of 36% in the shear connection capacity was achieved due to a 63% increase in concrete strength.An expression for computing the shear capacity of perfobond rib connectors is proposed. A regression analysis, which is based on a model that takes into account the contributions of concrete dowels formed by the rib holes, the transverse reinforcement, and the strength of concrete, was used in the derivation. Key words: composite beam, perfobond rib connector, headed stud, push-out test, compressive strength of concrete, transverse reinforcement.