Push‐out tests of demountable shear connectors for sustainable composite structures

Abstract The demountable shear connector is the most important component of sustainable composite structures, as it allows the elements to be reused. The ongoing research and development project – in the cooperation of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and KÉSZ Group, bim.GROUP Ltd., Hungary – aims to design a new demountable steel‐concrete composite structural system. In the current research, bolted shear connectors with embedded bolts and threaded rods, which can fit the applied technology of the industrial partner, are being developed and studied. One of the main aspects of this connection is to consider the bolt hole clearance – to decrease initial slip and stiffness reduction – and also to provide the proper strength and ductility features. A push‐out experimental programme was designed and completed to study the behaviour of the developed shear connections. It is observed that the examined shear connectors have proper structural behaviour with adequate resistance and ductility, which is applicable according to the Eurocode 4 standard and fits the objectives of the current research project. This paper presents the developed structural details, the observations and the evaluation of the push‐out experimental results with the conclusions and statements.