Ductility assessment of new Tubular perfobond shear connector

Abstract

In order to guarantee the effective and optimised use of steel–concrete composite beams, it is essential to ensure proper load transfer and to prevent slip along the interface between the different materials. This is usually achieved mechanically, using shear connectors. Among the many types of shear connectors, perforated connectors stand out due to their high shear resistance, although some of them exhibit limited ductility. In this context, the present study analyses the mechanical behaviour of Tubular perfobond connector (TPC), developed to overcome the ductility limitation of this type of shear connectors. TPC consists of a tubular steel cross‐section with holes distributed along its longitudinal length. The tubular section was selected due to the presence of two shear planes, which contribute significantly to both shear resistance and ductility. TPCs offer several advantages, including ease of execution. In this work, the behaviour of the connectors was evaluated numerically using the finite element software Abaqus, based on previously conducted experimental tests, enabling numerical validation. The results indicate that the proposed connector exhibits excellent and competitive mechanical performance, with ductility governed by concrete dowels while stiffness and resistance are driven by end‐bearing. The findings identify critical geometric and material limit to maximize the synergy between resistance and ductility.