• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1157-1182
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• 2016

A newly puzzle shape of crestbond rib shear connector is a type of ductile perfobond rib shear connector. This shear connector has some advantages, including relatively easy rebar installation and cutting, as well as the higher shear resistance strength. Thus, this study proposed a newly puzzle shape of crestbond rib with a "${\mho}$" shape, and its shear resistance behaviors and shear strengths were examined using push-out tests. Five main parameters were considered in the push-out specimens to evaluate the effects of shear resistance parameters such as the dimensions of the crestbond rib, transverse rebars in the crestbond dowel, concrete strength, rebar strength, and dowel action on the shear strength. The shear loading test results were used to compare the changes in the shear behaviors, failure modes, and shear strengths. It was found that the concrete strength and number of transverse rebars in the crestbond rib were significantly related to its shear resistance. After the initial bearing resistance behavior of the concrete dowel, a relative slip occurred in all the specimens. However, its rigid behavior to shear loading decreased the ductility of the shear connection. The cross-sectional area of the crestbond rib was also shown to have a minor effect on the shear resistance of the crestbond rib shear connector. The failure mechanism of the crestbond rib shear connector was complex, and included compression, shear, and tension. As a failure mode, a crack was initiated in the middle of the concrete slab in a vertical direction, and propagated with increasing shear load. Then, horizontal cracks occurred and propagated to the front and rear faces of the specimens. Based on the results of this study, a design shear strength equation was proposed and compared with previously suggested equations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.1001-1019
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• 2016

The connector is the most important part of a composite beam and promotes a composite action between a steel beam and concrete slab. This paper presents the experiment results for three large-scale beams with a newly puzzle shape of crestbond. The behavior of this connector in a composite beam was investigated, and the results were correlated with those obtained from push-out-test specimens. Four-point-bending load testing was carried out on steel-concrete composite beam models to consider the effects of the concrete strength, number of transverse rebars in the crestbond, and width of the concrete slab. Then, the deflection, ultimate load, and strains of the concrete, steel beam, and crestbond; the relative slip between the steel beam and the concrete slab at the end of the beams; and the failure mechanism were observed. The results showed that the general behavior of a steel-concrete composite beam using the newly puzzle shape of crestbond shear connectors was similar to that of a steel-concrete composite beam using conventional shear connectors. These newly puzzle shape of crestbond shear connectors can be used as shear connectors, and should be considered for application in composite bridges, which have a large number of steel beams.