1

Shear Connection
in
Composite Structures
J Y Richard Liew
Department of Civil Engineering
National University of Singapore
2
Composite beam with composite slab using profiled steel deckings
Composite beam with solid concrete slab
D
B
Beam span perpendicular to slab span
D
B
D
p
D
s
Beam span parallel to slab span
D
s
D
p
D
B
2
3
Profiled steel deckings
4
Site welding of headed
shear connectors
3
5
Shear connection in composite structures
Interfacial shear resistance is important between
concrete and steel sections to ensure composite
sections.
Shear connectors are used to transmit forces
between concrete and steel sections.
Shear connectors should be strong enough to resist
high shear forces, stiff enough to limit relative
slippage without fracture, i.e. ductility.
6
Outline of Presentation
Basic considerations and material specifications.
Degree of shear connection vs. strength utilization in composite
beams.
Full shear connection versus partial shear connection
Possible arrangement of headed shear connectors.
Other shear connectors.
Push-out tests.
Shear resistance / initial stiffness / deformation capacity
Characteristic resistance of headed shear connectors.
Shape factor, k.
Dimensional detailing.
Different degrees of shear connection.
Shear connection in composite columns.
4
7
Headed Studs
Welded to the steel section, either directly or
through profiled steel sheets. The purpose of the
head of the studs is to resist any uplift component
of the forces applied to the studs.
Shear connectors
1.5 d
0.4 d
d
Typical dimensions
d ranges from 16 to 25 mm
headed shear studs with d = 19 mm are most commonly used.
minimum diameter and the minimum depth of the head of a headed
stud shall be 1.5 d and 0.4 d respectively.
8
Structural performance
Strength calculation:
Full shear connection vs. partial shear connection
Deflection calculation:
Rigid shear connectors vs. flexible shear connectors
Shear connectors
5
9
Basic resistances
How to mobilize full moment resistance of a composite section
R
c
= Resistance of concrete flange
= 0.45f
cu
B
e
(D
s
D
p
)
R
s
= Resistance of steel beam
= A p
y
R
q
= Resistance of shear connection
= N P
D
p
D
s
B
e
h
R
c
R
s
R
q
10
Full shear connection
1
R
R
and 1
R
R
k
s
q
c
q
sc
=
k
sc
= 1.0
i.e. full shear connection
Lot of shear connectors provided
R
q
R
c
or R
q
R
s
D
p
D
s
B
e Full shear connection
h
R
c
R
s
R
q
6
11
Compressive
force
Tensile
force
Lot of shear connectors provided
Moment resistance envelope
with full shear connection
Moment resistance
Applied moment (UDL)
12
Lot of shear connectors provided:
R
q
R
c
or R
s
; full resistance of concrete slab or steel section to be
mobilized.
Moment equilibrium: M
c
= R
s
x h or R
c
x h whichever is
smaller
Moment resistance at full shear connection
h
R
c
R
s
D
p
D
s
B
e
Rigid shear connector
Strain diagram Force diagram
7
13
Partial shear connection
1
R
R
and 1
R
R
k
s
q
c
q
sc
=
k
sc
1.0
i.e. partial shear connection
Few shear connectors provided
R
q
R
c
or R
q
R
s
D
p
D
s
B
e
Partial shear connection
h
R
c
R
s
R
q
14
Compressive
force
Tensile
force
Few shear connectors provided
Moment resistance envelope with
partial shear connection
Moment resistance
Applied moment (UDL)
Reduced moment resistance
8
15
Few shear connectors provided:
R
q
< R
c
or R
s
; neither full resistances of concrete slab and steel section to
be mobilized.
Moment equilibrium: M
c
= R
q
x h ; Resistance of shear connectors controls
Moment resistance at partial shear
connection
D
p
D
s
B
e
Rigid shear connector
Strain diagram
h
R
q
R
q
Force diagram
16
h
R
c
R
s
Rigid shear connector Full shear connection
Deformation
requirement
Strength
requirement
Slippage due to
flexible shear
connectors
Flexible shear connector
R
q
R
s
h
Partial shear connection
Additional deflection Reduced moment capacity
Strain diagram Force diagram
D
p
D
s
B
e
Summary of structural requirements
9
17
Degree of shear connection
The degree of shear connection, k
sc
, is a measure of the strength utilization
of a composite beam, and is defined as
1.0
smaller is whichever
R
R
or
R
R
k
s
q
c
q
sc
<
=
5 . 2 ~ 5 . 1
M
M
s
c

M
c
is the moment capacity of a composite section
M
s
is the moment capacity of a steel section
M
s
0 0.4 1.0 k
sc
a) b)
M
c
Design methods:
a) Linear interpolation method (LIM)
b) Plastic stress block method (PSBM)
18
Possible arrangement of headed shear stud
in solid concrete slab
One stud
per row
Two studs
per row
10
19
Possible arrangement of headed shear stud
in composite slab with profiled steel decking
- Secondary composite beam
One stud per
other trough
One stud
per trough
Two studs
per trough
20
Possible arrangement of headed shear stud
in composite slab with profiled steel decking
- Primary composite beam
One stud
per trough
Two studs
per trough
11
21
Other shear connectors
Concrete grade C30, f
cu
= 30N/mm
2
Youngs modulus, E
c
= 450f
cu
BS5400-5: 2005: Figure 1 & Table1
200
95
Bar with hoop
25 x 25 x 200mm bar
P
k
= 415kN
Headed studs
19 x 100mm
P
k
= 100kN x 2 = 200kN
102
150
Channels
102 x 51 x 10.42kg/m channel 150mm long
P
k
= 337kN
22
Material:
The stud material shall be mild steel with the following minimum
properties (before cold drawn or cold forging):
Ultimate tensile strength, f
u
: 450 N/mm
2
Elongation (on a gauge length of A
o
): 15%
where
f
u
is the ultimate strength of the stud material, and
A
o
is the original cross section area.
Push-out tests are often performed to determine the resistances of
shear connectors against longitudinal shear forces.
Headed shear studs
12
23
Push-out tests on headed shear studs
101.9 8.4
A
t
= 142 mm
2
2
5
7
1
3
0
750
6.1
A
t
= 142 mm
2
6
0
Notes:
1) All dimensions are in mm.
2) All shear connectors are 19 mm
headed shear studs.
3) The cylinder strength of concrete
is 24 N/mm
2
.
4) The yield strength of steel beam
is 275 N/mm
2
.
8
5
0
25
U
C

2
0
3

x

2
0
3

x

6
0
1
7
3
1
0
7
P
1
4
6
S
Popo-Ola, S. Push-out Test on Deep Decking System with Welded Shear Connector in
Normal Weight Concrete. The Steel Constitute Institute, 2003.
24
Load-slippage curves of headed shear
studs
Not more than
20% decrease
S
h
e
a
r

f
o
r
c
e
,

F
s
Slippage, S
0.5F
s
F
s
0.5 mm
5 mm 7 mm
Typical
F
s
s
13
25
The characteristic resistance of headed shear studs, P
k
, embedded in a
solid concrete slab is given by:
Q
k
=
where
d = diameter of headed shear studs, 16 mm d 25 mm
= for 3 4
= 1 for > 4
cm cu
E f d 8 . 0 29 . 0
2

4
8 . 0
2
d
f
u

+ 1 2 . 0
d
h
d
h
d
h
Characteristic resistance of headed
shear studs
26
Design of Shear Connection
BS 5950:Part3:3.1
Design capacity
R
q
= 0.8 Q
k
Cl 5.4.3
For light weight concrete
R
q
= 0.9 (0.8Q
k
)
14
27
In a solid concrete slab, the design resistance of headed shear
studs against longitudinal shear is given by:
For positive moments, R
q
= 0.8 Q
k
Forces acting in a headed shear stud
embedded in a solid concrete slab
Design resistance of headed shear studs
in solid concrete slab
28
Design resistance of headed shear studs
in composite slabs
In composite slabs, the design resistance of headed shear studs
against longitudinal shear is given by:
For positive moments, R
p
= 0.8 x k x Q
k
where
k is the shape factor to allow for strength reduction due to
the presence of profiled steel decking.
Forces acting in a headed shear stud
embedded in a composite slab
using profiled steel decking
15
29
Ribs perpendicular to beam
1 stud per rib: k = 1.0
2 studs or more per rib: k = 0.8
Ribs parallel to beam
All cases: k = 1.0
0.85 1
r
p p
b h
D D

0.6 1
r
p p
b h
D D

1 6 . 0
p p
r
D
h
D
b
In most modern deckings with wide troughs, k is equal to 1.0.
Decking Shape factor, k
30
Beneficial side for shear connectors
depends on the direction of force relative to
the position of central stiffeners in the
trough, and such effect is reflected in the
value of the shape factor, k.
Presence of large concrete
block to resist force effectively
Insufficient concrete to
resist force effectively
Effect of central
stiffeners in profiled
steel decking
16
31
Maximum longitudinal spacing lesser of 600 mm or 4D
s
Minimum spacing
Spacing
5d along the beam
4d between adjacent studs
3d between staggered studs
Unless located directly over the web, nominal diameter of a
stud 2.5 times the thickness of the flange to which it is welded
Diameter
Edge distance
20 mm
min.
50 mm min.
45
Dimensional details of headed shear studs
32
Use d = 19 mm for illustration
max. spacing = 600 mm or 4D
s
(slab depth) typically = 4 x 125 = 500 mm
edge distance > 20 mm
min. spacing = 5d = 95 mm along the beam
= 4d = 76 mm between adjacent studs
Staggered arrangement may be used.
B
> 4d
> 5d
> 20
> 20
Dimensional details of headed shear studs
> 4d
> 20 > 20
B
17
33
Provided that individual connectors
possess sufficient ductility, the shear
connection as a whole may be
designed assuming all those in a
shear span fail as a group
R Smaller of R or R
q s c
>
Rq = n kQ
s k
( )
Deck reduction factor
No of connector
No. of Shear Connectors for Full
Composite
34
Summary on Shear Stud Design
Characteristic strength Q
k
of stud from Table 5
Design capacity:
Normal concrete R
q
= 0.8 Q
k
x k
Lightweight concrete R
q
= 0.9 x 0.8 Q
k
x k
k = deck reduction factor
For concrete slab k = 1.0
Number of studs n = min (R
s
or R
c
) / R
q
,
to be distributed between max moment to zero
moment
18
35
Example 2:
From Example 1, determine the number of shear
studs required for full composite.
Design Data:
UB457x191x74
280kN
Span = 12.0m
Concrete slab depth = 125mm
Concrete Grade = 30
Shear Studs: 19mm, 95mm long
Loading
Dead Load = 15.0kN/m
Imposed Load = 16.0KN/m
Design moment = 839kNm
Design Shear force = 280kN
M = 839kNm
280kN
280kN
36
For UB 457 x 191 x 74
Smaller of Rc and Rs is 2615kN.
Capacity of shear connector (19mm diameter and 95mm long)
Q
k
= 100kN Table 5
Design capacity R = 0.8Q
k
= 80kN
No. of connectors per half span = 2615/(80) = 32.7
Use 34 connectors with two connectors per trough in pairs with spacing
as shown
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
R A kN
s y
= = 2615
Centre Line
19
37
Moment capacity of a composite beam
with different degrees of shear connection
M
s
0 0.4 1.0 k
sc
a) b)
M
c
Design methods
a) Linear interpolation method (LIM) conservative approach
b) Plastic stress block method (PSBM)
38
Design Methods
b) Plastic stress block method (PSBM)

+ =
2
D D
R
R
D
2
D
R M
p s
c
s
s s c
Full shear connection
( )
4
T
R
R R
2
D D
R
R
D R
2
D
R M
f
2
q s p s
c
q
s q s c

+ =
Partial shear connection
a) Linear interpolation method (LIM)
( )
s c sc s co
M M k M M + =
where k
sc
= degree of shear connection
20
39
Plastic moment capacity of partial composite
Case 3a:
R R
q w
<
(PNA in web)

Rq
y
y
y
x
Ms
2y
=
y Be
D
PNA
Rq
Rq
Dp
Ds
xt R and R td
y q v y
2 = =
x
R
t
d
R
R
q
y
q
v
= =
2 2
R R
y
D D
q c
s p
=

= y
R
R
D D
q
c
s p
( )
Take moment about the centre of steel
section
M
c
= M
s
+R
q
[D/2+D
s
-y/2]-R
q
x/2
Substituting for x & y:
M M R
D
D
R
R
D D R
R
d
c s q s
q
c
s p q
v
= + +

2 2 4
2
R
w
=Dt
y
R
v
=dt
y
40
Case 4: R R
q w

(PNA in steel flange)

D
s
- D
p
y
R
q

y

2
y

x
D
PNA
R
s

R
q

D
s
B
e

R
s
-R
q

D
p
x
R R
B
R R
R T
s q
y
s q
f
=

=

2 2 /
in which R
f
= 2BT
y
y
R
R
D D
q
c
s p
= ( )
Moment about top of steel flange
2
x
) R R (
2
y
D R
2
D
R M
q s s q s c

+ =
4
T
R
) R R (
2
) D D (
R
R
D R
2
D
R M
f
2
q s p s
c
q
s q s c

+ =
21
41
Worked example
633.7 PSBM
PSBM
LIM
LIM
Design
methods
704.4
673.1
0.78
2 studs per
trough
567.8
0.49
1 stud per
trough
M
co
(kNm)
k
sc
Arrangement
of
shear studs
Partial shear connection
Notes: Linear interpolation method (LIM)
Plastic stress block method (PSBM)
0 0.49 0.78 1.0
k
sc
M
co
M
s
M
c
M
s
= 389.1 kNm
M
cp
= 753.2 kNm Full shear connection
D
p
= 50 mm
2.8 m width
125 mm thick
UB 457 x 152 x 52 Grade 50
Grade 30 concrete
19 mm dia. Headed shear studs,
95 mm as welded height
42
Checks Connectors at Other Locations
N
1
N
3
=0 N
2
N
1
N
1
N
2
N
1
N
2
M
s
N
1 N
2
N
1
M
1
M
2
N
i
= N
p
(M
i
-M
s
) / (M
c
-M
s
)
N
i
= number of shear connectors between the intermediate load point and the
adjacent support.
N
p
= number of shear connectors provided.
M
i
= moment at the intermediate point i.
M
s
= moment capacity of the steel section.
M
c
= moment at the composite section
22
43
Example: Moment capacity of partial composite
beam
Moment capacity of steel section M
s
= 278 kNm
Moment capacity of full composite section M
c
= 612 kNm
No. of connectors from zero to max. moment, N
p
= 38
15 38-15 = 23 23 15
M
1
= 410 M
2
= 565
N
1
N
2
N
i
= N
p
(M
i
-M
s
) / (M
c
-M
s
)
N
1
= 38(410-278)/(612-278)
= 15
N
2
= 38
No. of connectors
44
Partially-encased Composite
Beams
Steel section is encased to enhance fire resistance
23
45
Partially-encased Composite
Beams
0.45f
cu
0.45f
cu
0.45f
cu
PNA
PNA
PNA
46
Homework
Design data:
S275 Partially Encased Universal Beams
Span = 12.0m
Spacing of steel beams = 3.0m
Concrete slab depth = 125mm
Concrete Grade = 30
Loading
Dead Load = 15.0kN/m
Imposed Load = 16.0KN/m
Determine the beam size and check
moment capacity
Beam
3.0m
3.0m
12m
D
s
B
e
= 3m
Partially encased by Grade 30 concrete
2 T20 bars
24
Transverse Reinforcement in
Concrete Slab
J Y Richard Liew
Department of Civil Engineering
National University of Singapore
48
Longitudinal Splitting
25
49
Transverse reinforcement refers to the
reinforcement in the concrete slab running
transversely to the span of the beam.
Sufficient transverse reinforcement should be
used to enable the concrete slab to resist the
longitudinal shear transmitted by the shear
connectors, both immediately adjacent to the
shear connectors and elsewhere within its
effective breadth (B
e
).
When profiled steel sheets are used, they may
also act as transverse reinforcement.
Transverse reinforcement
50
The total longitudinal shear force per unit length (v) to be resisted at any
point in the span of the beam should be determined from the spacing of
the shear connectors by the following equation:
N = Number of shear connectors in a group
s = Longitudinal spacing of shear connectors
Q = Smaller of Q
p
and Q
n
v = N Q / s
v v
r
Check longitudinal shear force
For structural adequacy, the longitudinal shear force, v, should not
be larger than the local shear resistance in the concrete slab, v
r
:
26
51
The local shear resistance of the reinforced concrete slab is
f
cu
= characteristic cube strength of concrete in N/mm
2
but 40 N/mm
2
= 1.0 for normal weight concrete and 0.8 for
lightweight concrete
A
cv
= mean cross-sectional area, per unit length of the
beam, of the concrete shear surface under
consideration = (D
s
+ D
p
)/2
A
sv
= mean cross-sectional area, per unit length of the
beam, of the combined top and bottom
reinforcement crossing the shear surface
v
p
= contribution of the profiled steel sheeting
v
r
= 0.7 A
sv
f
y
+ 0.03 A
cv
f
cu
+ v
p
but v
r
0.8 A
cv
f
cu
+ v
p
Local shear resistance
Transverse
Reinforceme
nt
52
d) Composite slab.
Profiled decking spanning perpendicular to the beam
e) Composite slab.
Profiled decking spanning parallel to the beam
Transverse shear
surfaces, A
sv
Surface A
sv
1-1 (A
b
+A
t
)
2-2 2A
b
3-3 A
t
a) Solid slabs
A
b
A
t
2
1
1
2
3
Lap joint in
profiled decking
3
A
t
3
3
A
t
3
3
Profiled
decking
27
53
Profiled sheeting may be assumed to contribute to the transverse
reinforcement provided that it is either continuous across the top flange
of the steel beam or that it is welded to the steel beam by stud shear
connectors.
d = nominal shank diameter of the stud
n = 4
v
p
= t
p
p
yp
a) Continuous + Ribs perpendicular to beam span
v
p
= (N/s)(n d t
p
p
yp
) but v
p
t
p
p
yp
b) Discontinuous + Studs welded to steel beam
Contribution of profiled decking
54
Example:
D
p
= 50mm D
s
= 130mm
Light-weight concrete Grade 30 to be used
K = 0.8 = reduction factor due to metal decking
Design shear force
V = NQ/S
N = 2 studs per rib
Q = 0.8 (0.9 x 0.8Qk) = 58 kN
(0.8 is the reduction factor for decking perpendicular to the
beam; 0.9 is reduction fator for light-weight concrete;
Q
k
= 100 kN for 19mm stud)
Spacing of stud = 375 mm
V = 2 x 58/.375 = 309kN
For intermediate beam, there are two shear planes
For each shear plane 1-1 as shown in the figure
V = 309/2 = 155 N/mm
D
p
= 50mm
D
s
= 130mm
Metal Decking
1
1
1
1
28
55
Shear Resistance
A
cv
= (80 + 50/2) x 1mm = 105 mm
2
/ mm
= 0.8
f
cu
= 30 N/mm2
For sheeting continuous across the beam:
V
p
= t
p
x p
y
= 1 x 280 N/mm
2
= 280 N/mm
Assume A142 mesh: A
sv
= 142 mm
2
/m or 0.142 mm
2
/mm,
f
y
= 460 N/mm
2
0.7A
sv
f
y
= 0.7 x 0.142 x 460 = 46 N/mm
0.03A
cv
f
cu
= 0.03 x 0.8 x 105 x 30 = 76 N/mm
= 46 + 76 + 280 = 402 N/mm
V
r
= 0.8 x 0.8 x 105 (30)0.5 + 280 = 648 N/mm
Therefore V
r
= 402 N/mm > V = 155 N/mm OK
r sv y cv cu p
0.7A f 0.03 A f V = + +
cu cv y sv r
f A 03 . 0 f A 7 . 0 + =
r sv y cv cu p
0.7A f 0.03 A f V = + +
r cv cu p
0.8 A f V +
Max. value of V
r
56
However, for edge beam, there is only one
shear plane. In this case
V = 155 x 2 = 310 N/mm, hence same
reinforcement can be used for the edge beam.
29
57
Shear connection in composite structures
Composite Slab
Composite Beam
Composite Column
BS5950: Part 4: Cl.6.4.1
Eurocode 4: Cl. 9.7.3
BS5950: Part 3: Table 5
BS5400: Part 5: Table 7
Eurocode 4: Cl. 6.6.3.1
BS5400: Part 5: Table 7
Eurocode 4: Cl. 6.7.4