The Effect of Number and Distribution of Shear Connectors on the Behavior of Composite Girders

Composite construction is one of the methods of construction which is widely used in civil engineering projects. The scope of the present research is to study the behavior of composite girders consisting of a highstrength concrete deck slab integrated with two steel I-beams by headed steel stud connectors. The research was conducted by experimental and theoretical investigations. In the experimental work, four models were constructed as test samples. The test samples were designed to be tested and failed in flexure. The dimensions of deck slab for each sample were (1000×2000×70mm: width×length×thickness), while the dimensions of each I-beam were (142×2000mm: depth×length). In the theoretical work, the test samples were modeled numerically and analyzed using finite element method. The numerical models were made in three dimensions by software package (ANSYS 12.1, 2009). Verification of the numerical results was conducted by comparison with experimental results. It is concluded that the redistribution of shear connectors keeping the same number by minimizing the spacing at the end zones of the span and maximizing it at the mid-span zone enhances the behavior of the composite girder by increasing ultimate load and decreasing deflection and endslip, and this improvement may reach (8%)