Finite element modelling of steel-concrete composite structures

The main objective of this research is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the behaviour of the headed stud shear connector in composite beams with trapezoidal profiled metal decking laid perpendicular to the axis of the beam through experimental and numerical studies. Push tests are used to study the behaviour of composite beams. A three-dimensional finite element model of the push test is developed using the general purpose finite element program ABAQUS and the push test is analysed using different concrete material models, and analysis procedures. The Concrete Damaged Plasticity model with dynamic explicit analysis procedure is found to have matched with experimental results very well in terms of the shear connector resistance, load-slip behaviour and failure mechanisms. The post-failure behaviour of the push test, which has not been modelled in the past, is accurately predicted in this study with the help of this modelling technique. The experimental investigation is conducted with a single-sided horizontal push test arrangement to study the influence of various parameters such as normal load, number of shear studs, reinforcement bar at the bottom trough, number of layers of mesh, position of mesh, position of normalload and various push test arrangements. To assess the accuracy and reliability of the developed finite element model, it is validated against push test experiments conducted in this study and variety of push tests carried out by other authors with different steel decks and shear stud dimensions, positions of the shear stud within a rib and push test arrangements. The results obtained from the finite element analysis showed excellent agreement with the experimental studies. The validated finite element model is used in a parametric study to investigate the effect of shear stud position, thickness of the profiled sheeting, shear connector spacing and staggering of shear studs on the performance of the shear stud. The results of the parametric study are evaluated and findings are used to propose the design equations for shear connector resistance taking into account the position of the shear stud and thickness of the profiled sheeting. The coefficient of correlation between experimental and predicted results is nearly equal to one, which indicates that the predicted results are accurate, and the proposed equations are suitable for future predictions