2/6/2018 Shear Studs

A Beginner's Guide to the Steel Construction Manual, 13th ed. (old)

Chapter 10 - Composite Beams

© 2006, 2007, 2008 T. Bartlett Quimby

Introduction
Section 10.5
Mechanics of
Composite Shear Connector Design
Behavior
Last Revised: 11/04/2014

Shear Strength SCM Section I3.2d specifies the shear force, V', that either can be, or is to
be, transferred between the concrete and steel. This shear force is
Flexural Strength transferred between the beam and slab over a length from the location of
maximum moment (where the internal forces are the greatest) and point of
zero moment. Figure 10.5.1 illustrates the force on a free body diagram of
Design of Shear a portion of a beam located between the zero moment location and the
Connectors maximum positive moment.

Figure 10.5.1
Deflection
FBD of a Partial Beam
Calculations Click on hotlinks in the image for larger views

Design Process

Example
Problems

Homework
Problems

References

Report Errors or
Make Suggestions
Purchase Hard
Copy
Make Donation

http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGSCM13/BGSCM010/BGSCM01005.htm 1/3
2/6/2018 Shear Studs

By statics, V' equals Cc and/or Ts. When the plastic neutral axis is in the
steel beam, Cc is at its maximum value (Cc = .85f'cAc) since Ac is at its
maximum value. When the plastic neutral axis is in the slab, Ts is at its
maximum value (Ts = AgFy) since the entire section is in tension. Since Cc
always equals Ts when the plastic neutral axis is in the slab and is at its
maximum when the plastic neutral axis is located in the beam, the
maximum value of V' will be the lesser of the maximum values of Cc or Ts.
The smaller value controls.

Note that a free body of the other part of the beam to the right of the
maximum moment would show that V' must also be developed on that side
of the maximum moment as well.

For a section to be "fully composite" the shear connectors must provide

strength that equals or exceeds the maximum V' resulting from concrete
crushing (Ccmax) or tensile yielding (Tsmax) as discussed above. If the
shear strength provided by the shear connectors (V' = sum of the strength
of the shear connectors located between the location of maximum and zero
moments) is less than what can be developed by concrete crushing or
tensile yielding then the section is said to be "partially composite" and it's
strength must be determined by the limit imposed by the shear connector
strength.

Design of Shear Connectors for Fully Composite Strength

When designing the shear connectors the total shear strength provided
between zero and maximum positive moment locations is the sum of the
shear strengths of all the shear connectors in that region. This value is
mathematically expressed in SCM equation I3-1c.

V' = S Qn

The computation of the shear strength of a single connector is addressed in

SCM I3.2d(3) for studs and SCM I3.2d(4) for channel shear connectors.

Stud Shear Connectors

Figure 10.2.1 has a series of images of typical shear studs on a steel
beam. The capacity of a stud to transfer shear is limited either by the
shear strength of the stud or the strength of the concrete in contact with
and surrounding the stud. SCM Equation I3-3 reflects these two limits.
The equation can be written as:

Qn = minimum( 0.5 Asc sqrt(f'c Ec), RgRpAscFu)

The definitions of the variables are given in SCM I3.2d(3). You should
review these terms. A commonly used value of Fu for available studs is 65
ksi. This value is to be verified with the supplier of the studs during the
design process.

SCM Table 3-21 (SCM pg 3-207) lists Qn values of commonly used studs
and concrete strengths.

Channel Shear Connectors

http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGSCM13/BGSCM010/BGSCM01005.htm 2/3
2/6/2018 Shear Studs

Channel shear connectors are small channel sections welded to the top
flange of the beam. The channels are arranged so that they are transverse
to the beam axis. These shear connectors are not typically used in
conjunction with steel decking. The equation for the nominal strength of a
channel shear connector involves terms from the steel and the concrete.
SCM equation I3-4 is used to compute the strength of a channel shear
connector.

Required Number of Connectors

For full composite action, the number of shear connectors is determined by
writing a design inequality where the strength provided the shear
connectors equals or exceeds that maximum V' provided by the steel or
concrete.

(num. connectors)*Qn > min(Ccmax, Tsmax)

num. connectors > min(Ccmax, Tsmax)/Qn

This computation provides us with the number of connectors required

between the location of zero and maximum moment. This is HALF the
total number of connectors required since the same number is
required on the other side of the moment diagram.

Size and Spacing of Connectors

SCM I3.2d(6) requires that the connectors be spaced uniformly along the
flange between the locations of zero and maximum moment.

There are also some other limits that must be met for shear stud
connectors:

a. The diameter of the stud, dsc, cannot exceed 2.5 times the thickness
of the beam flange (dsc < 2.5 tf).
b. There must be at least 1" of lateral concrete cover. This means that
the clear distance between studs must be at least 1". The smallest
center-to-center distance equals 1" plus the diameter of the head of
the stud.
c. The longitudinal center-to-center stud spacing along the beam axis
must be greater than or equal to 6 dsc, except within ribs of steel
decking, the spacing must be greater than or equal to 4 dsc.
d. The transverse center-to-center stud spacing on the beam flange
must be greater than or equal to 4 dsc.
e. The maximum center-to-center spacing of studs < min( 8*slab
thickness, 36 in).

<<< Previous Section <<< >>> Next Section >>>

http://www.bgstructuralengineering.com/BGSCM13/BGSCM010/BGSCM01005.htm 3/3