3 Shear Connectors

J Y Richard Liew
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
National University of Singapore
Welding of Studs
Partial and Full Composite

STUDS
Shear connectors

 Basic forms of connectors

Stud connector T connector

Angle connector Hoop block connector

5
Other shear connectors Concrete grade C30, fcu = 30N/mm2
Young’s modulus, Ec = 450fcu
BS5400-5: 2005: Figure 1 & Table1

150

200
≥95
102

Bar with hoop Channels Headed studs

25 x 25 x 200mm bar 102 x 51 x 10.42kg/m channel 150mm long φ19 x 100mm
Pk = 415kN Pk = 337kN Pk = 100kN x 2 = 200kN 6
Shear connectors
P
P (shear)
P Rk

P
Rk

>7mm
slip

su s s

Ductile connector Non ductile connector

7
Shear connectors

 Deformation of flexible connectors

Slip Crushed concrete

8
Profiled steel decking

9
Site welding of headed
shear connectors

10
bending 30 degree from vertical to-and-fro until failure

11
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.

12
 Shear connectors
Headed Studs

• Welded to the steel section, either directly or ≥ 1.5 d

through profiled steel sheets.
≥ 0.4 d
• Need to resist any uplift component of the
forces applied to the studs.

Ultimate tensile strength, fu = 450 N/mm2 d

Elongation (on a gauge length of √Ao) = 15%
where fu = ultimate strength of the stud material
Ao =original cross section area.

Typical dimensions

• d ranges from 16 to 25 mm
• headed shear studs with d = 19 mm and hsc = 100mm 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. 13
Dimensional details of headed shear studs
 Maximum longitudinal spacing ≤ lesser of 800 mm or 6Ds
(Clause 6.6.5.5(3) )
 Minimum spacing (clause 6.6)
– 5d along the beam
– 4d between adjacent studs
– 3d between staggered studs
Edge distance
50 mm min.
20 mm
min.
45°

Diameter
Unless located directly over the web, nominal diameter of a stud ≤
2.5 times the thickness of the flange to which it is welded

14
Dimensional details of headed shear studs
Use d = 19 mm for illustration
max. spacing = 800mm or 6Ds (slab depth) typically = 6 x 125 = 750 mm
edge distance > 20 mm
min. spacing = 5d = 95 mm along the beam
= 4d = 76 mm between adjacent studs

> 4d
> 4d > 20
> 20 > 20
B

> 20
> 5d

Staggered arrangement may be used.

B
15
Possible arrangement of headed shear stud
in composite slab with profiled steel decking
- Secondary composite beam

One stud Two studs

per trough per trough

One stud per

other trough
16
Possible arrangement of headed shear stud
in composite slab with profiled steel decking
- Primary composite beam

One stud Two studs

per trough per trough

17
Push-out tests on headed shear studs

18
Load-slippage curves of headed shear studs
Fs

Typical
Fs
Shear force, Fs

Not more than

20% decrease

0.5Fs

0.5 mm 6 mm 7 mm
Slippage, S
19
 Design resistance of studs (6.6.3.1)
The design resistance of headed shear studs, PRd , is the smaller
of
 π d2 
PRd = 0.8f u   / γv For failure of stud
 4  hsc
d
0.29 d 2 α f ck E cm For failure of concrete
PRd =
γv
d = diameter of headed shear studs, 16 mm ≤ d ≤ 25 mm
hsc
α = 0.2  hsc + 1 for 3≤ ≤4
 d  d
hsc
= 1 for >4
d
fu = ultimate tensile strength of the steel (< 500N/mm2)
fck and Ecm are the cylinder strength and mean secant modulus of the concrete
γv = 1.25 is the partial factor for connector
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Properties of Concrete
Strength class of concrete
Properties of
concrete C20/25 C25/30 C30/37 C35/45 C40/50 C50/60 C60/75

fck 20 25 30 35 40 50 60

fcu 25 30 37 45 50 60 75

fct 2,2 2,6 2,9 3.2 3,5 4.1 4.4

Ecm 29 30.5 32 33,5 35 37 39

Note: All values in N/mm2, except elastic modulus Ec which is in kN/mm2.

The use of lightweight concrete is permitted by BS EN 1994-1-1 for strength grades LC20/22
to LC60/66. The elastic modulus of lightweight concrete is assumed to vary as (ρ/2400)2,
where ρ is the dry density in kg/m3.
fck = characteristic cylinder strength
fcu = characteristic cube strength
fct = tensile strength
Ecm = Secant modulus of concrete

f ck
Design strength of concrete f cd = γc =1.5 is the partial factor for concrete
γc 21
Design resistances PRd (kN) of common stud shear connectors

to BS EN 1994-1-1

Concrete strength (N/mm2)

Stud diameter and height
(mm) C20/25 C25/30 C30/37 C35/45

19 mm dia × 100 mm 63 73 81 81

22 mm dia × 100 mm 85 98 108 108

16 mm dia × 75 mm 45 52 57 57

Design resistance = Characteristic resistance/1.25

For concrete grade greater than C35/45, the failure is governed by stud failure
Design resistance of headed shear studs
in solid concrete slab

Forces acting in a headed shear stud

embedded in a solid concrete slab

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Design resistance of headed shear studs
in composite slabs

The design resistance of headed shear studs in solid slab

PRd should be reduced by a reduction factor k 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
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Deck reduction factor, kr
Design shear resistance is taken as the resistance in a solid slab multiplied by the
reduction factor kr

Ribs perpendicular to beam

0.7bo  hsc 
kr  − 1  ≤ kt ,max

nr hp  hp 
nr = number of stud connectors in one rib ≤ 2
hp ≤ 85 mm; b0 >hp
diameter of the studs ≤ 20mm

Upper limits on reduction factor, kt,max in SS EN 1994-1-1 Table 6.2

Number of stud Thickness of steel Studs not exceeding Profiled decking
connectors per rib used in profiled 20 mm in diameter with holes and
decking and welded through studs 19 mm or
(mm) profiled decking 22 mm in diameter
nr = 1 ≤ 1.0 0.85 0.75
> 1.0 1.0 0.75
nr = 2 ≤ 1.0 0.70 0.60
> 1.0 0.80 0.60 25
 Deck reduction factor

Ribs parallel to beam

bo  hsc 
=kr 0.6  − 1  ≤ 1.0
hp 
 hp 
hsc =overall height of the stud not greater than hp + 75 mm.

In most modern deckings with wide troughs, kr

is equal to 1.0.
Effect of central
stiffeners in profiled
steel decking
Presence of large concrete
block to resist force effectively

Insufficient concrete to
resist force effectively

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.

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No. of Shear Connectors for Full
Composite

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

Rq = ns k r PRd > smaller ( Rc or Rs )

Number of studs for full composite

action
ns = min (Rs or Rc) /( kr PRd)

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Connector design
 Number of studs to be distributed uniformly
between maximum bending moment and zero
moment (between AB or BC)

Q
d
A B C

L/2 L/2 L

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Summary on Shear Stud Design
 Shear Stud design capacity: kr PRd
For concrete slab kr = 1.0
 Number of studs ns = min (Rs or Rc) /( kr PRd)
to be distributed between max moment to zero
moment
 Check dimension detailing

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Shear connectors
Structural performance

Strength calculation:

Full shear connection vs. partial shear connection

Deflection calculation:

Rigid shear connectors vs. flexible shear connectors

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Moment resistance at full shear connection
beff
Rigid shear connector Rc

hs
hp
h

Rs

Strain diagram Force diagram

Provide enough shear connectors so that:

Rq ≥ Rc or Rs ; full resistance of concrete slab or steel section to be
mobilized.
Moment equilibrium: Mc = Rs x h or Rc x h whichever is
smaller

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Partial shear connection
If connectors are not sufficient beam may be design as partial composite.
This occurs when

=
Rq ns PRd < min( RcorRs )

degree of shear connection = η = Rq/ min (Rc or Rs) = n/nf

n = number of connectors provided
nf = number required for full connection
Partial Interaction
 Partial interaction allowed for
 ductileconnectors
 class 1 or 2 sections

 Stud connectors defined as ductile if:

 length not less than 4x diameter
 12mm < diameter < 25mm
 Degree of shear connection, η = n/nf, is
greater than prescribed limits

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Moment resistance at partial shear
connection
beff
Rigid shear connector Rq

hs
hp
h

Rq

Strain diagram Force diagram

Few shear connectors provided:
Rq < Rc or Rs ; neither full resistances of concrete slab and steel section to
be mobilized.
Moment equilibrium: Mc = Rq x h ; Resistance of shear connectors controls

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 Rq ≥ Rw (PNA in steel flange)
beff y
hs Rq
Rq
hp b x 2fy
fy
PNA
Rs -Rq

ha Rs

fy

Rs − Rq Rs − Rq Rq
x= = y= ( hs ) Rf=fy b tf
2 f yb 2R f / t f Rc
𝑅𝑞 = 𝑛𝑠 𝑃𝑅𝑅
Moment about top of steel flange

ha  y x
M Rd = Rs + Rq  h p + hs −  − ( Rs − Rq )
2  2 2
ha  Rq hs  ( Rs − Rq ) 2 t f
M Rd = Rs + Rq  h p + hs −  −
2  Rc 2  Rf 4
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Plastic moment capacity of partial composite
Rq < Rw (PNA in web)
beff y
Rq
hs
Rq
hp fy
fy
= 2fy
PNA
x Rq
ha

fy Ms

xtw 2 f y = Rq and Rw = twhw f y Take moment about the centre of steel section
Rq Mc = Ms +Rq[ha/2+hp + hs-y/2]-Rqx/2
hw Rq
x= = Substituting for x & y:
tw 2 f y 2 Rw
 ha Rq  hs  Rq2 hw
Rq = Rc
y M Rd = M s + Rq  + h p + hs −   −
hs 2 Rc  2  Rw 4

Rq
⇒y= hs
Rc Rw =Rs – 2tfbf fy
37
Moment capacity of a composite beam
with different degrees of shear connection

Design methods
1) Plastic theory
2) Linear interpolation method– conservative approach
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Simplified Method
2) Linear interpolation method

MRd = Ms + η (Mpℓ,Rd – Ms)

η = degree of partial connection = n/nf

n = number of shear connectors provided
nf = number of connectors for full interaction
Mpl,Rd = moment capacity of full composite section
Mas = moment capacity of steel beam alone

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Partial Interaction - minimum shear
connection
 For steel sections with equal flanges
Lc<25m η > 1-(355/fy)(0.75-0.03Lc) η ≥ 0.4
Lc ≥ 25m η ≥ 1
Lc = distance between points of zero moment (m)
nf = number of connectors for full shear connection
n = number of shear connectors provided

 For steel sections with unequal steel flanges, see 6.6.1.2(2)

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Graph of MRd vs number of connectors
Neutral axis of the s ection

M Rd in the steel web in the steel flange

C
M pl.Rd B

DUCTILE CONNECTORS
M apl.Rd
A

( n ) min 1.0 n
41
nf n f
Example 3 –Continue from example 1 to design
shear connectors
beff
3m
hs =70 beams
130

3m
hp = 60mm Floor Span
254

6m
Unpropped Construction
S275 Steel Section 254x102x22 UB (Class 1)
C25/30 Concrete fck = 25 N/mm2
Maximum BM ULS composite stage
My,Ed = 122 kNm
Full composite beam section capacity Mpl,Rd = 184 kNm
Compression resistance of concrete slab is determined from
Rc = hc beff (0.85fcd)
where hc = depth of the concrete slab above the decking = 70mm
Rc = 70x1500x0.85x16.7/1000 = 1490kN
Tensile resistance of steel section
Rs = Aafy= 275x28x102x 10-3/1.0 = 770 kN
Try 19mm shear stud, h = 95mm, α=1
0.29 d 2 α f ck E cm 0.29x192 x1 25x30500
PRd =
= = 73.1kN
γv 1.25
 π d2  π192
=
PRd = 0.8f u   v
/ γ =
(0.8x460 /1.25)x10−3 83.4kN
 4  4

For metal decking (0.9mm) perpendicular to beam,

assume bo = 300mm; h=hsc = 100mm; hp = 60mm; Nr=2
(two studs per trough)

0.70 bo  h sc  0.70 300 100 

kr =  − 1 = − 1 = 1.55 but not more than 0.85
N r h p  h p  2 60  60 

PRd =0.85x73.1kN = 62kN

No. of connector per half span to achieve full composite

= (770/62) = 12.4
Centre line to centre line span of 3m should be reduced to allow for the
primary beam or the column width (assume 254mm) 3m
n= (3000-254/2)/300
= 10
Provide 2 connectors at spacing of 300mm
Total connectors per half span = 20
Alternately use one connector per trough and check for partial composite

43
Example 3 (con’t): Design for partial
composite
Check whether one stud per trough is adequate?
Stud spacing along beam = 300mm
Centre to centre span of 3m should be reduced to allow for the primary beam width or the
column width (assume 254mm) Centre Line
n = (3000-254/2)/300 = 9 studs per half span
Degree of shear connection
Total resistance of 9 shear connectors
Rq = 9 x 62 = 558 kN
η = Rq / Ns = 558/770 = 0.724 < 1.0
Degree of partial connection is less than 1.0, the minimum shear connection requirement
must be checked, and the moment resistance decreased.
For Le ≤ 25m η ≥ 1-(355/fy ) (0.75-0.03 Le); η ≥ 0.4
For a simply supported beam Le is equal to the span length
η ≥ 1-(355/275 ) (0.75-0.03 x6) = 0.26, η ≥ 0.4
Therefore the degree of shear connection must be at least 0.4. As shown above, there
are sufficient number of shear connectiors to acheive this.

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Moment resistance with partial shear connection

Simplified Equation
MRd = Ms + η (Mpℓ,Rd – Ms)
Ms is the plastic moment resistance of the steel section
Ms = fypWpl,y = 275 x 259 x 10-3 = 71.2kNm
Reduced moment capacity due to partial composite
MRd = 71.3 +0.724(184-71.2)=153kNm

which is greater than the bending moment at mid span My,Ed = 122 kNm

More Exact Equation

tf = 6.8 ; bf = 101.6; ha = 254; tw=5.7; Aa=28cm2
Metal profile height hp = 60mm, effective slab thickness hs = 70mm
hw = 254-2x6.8=240.4mm
Rw =hwtw fy =240.4x5.7x0.275= 377kN
Rq = 62 x 9 = 558kN
Rq > Rw PNA in the steel flange

hs  Rq hs  ( Rs − Rq ) 2 t f
M Rd = Rs + Rq  h p + hs −  −
2  Rc 2  Rf 4 45
 ha  Rq hs  ( Rs − Rq ) 2 t f
M Rd = Rs + Rq  h p + hs −  −
2  Rc 2  Rf 4

Rw = 377kN
Rs = 770 kN Rc = 1490kN
Rq = 558kN Rf=0.275x101.6x6.8=190kN
tf = 6.8 ; bf = 101.6; ha = 254; tw=5.7; Aa=28cm2
Metal profile height hp = 60mm, effective slab thickness hs = 70mm

0.254  558 0.07  (770 − 558) 2 0.068

M Rd = 770 + 558 0.06 + 0.07 − −
2  1490 2  190 4

=97.79+65.23 -4.02
159 kNm

Compared to simplified method which gives153 kNm

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Checks Connectors at Other Locations

ni = np (Mi-Ms) / (Mc-Ms)
ni = number of shear connectors between the intermediate load point and the
adjacent support.
np = number of shear connectors provided.
Mi = moment at the intermediate point i.
Ms = moment capacity of the steel section.
Mc = moment capacity of the composite section

N1 N2 – N1 N3 =0 N2 – N1 N1

N2
N1 N2 – N1

M1 M2
Ms

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Example 4: Distribution of shear connectors

 Moment capacity of steel section Ms = 278 kNm

 Moment capacity of full composite section Mc = 612 kNm
 No. of connectors from zero to max. moment, Np = 38

Simplified method
Ni = Np (Mi-Ms) / (Mc-Ms)
= 38(410-278)/(612-278)
= 15
N2 = 38

15 35-15 = 23 23 15

M1 = 410 M2 = 565
N1

N2 48
Transverse Reinforcement in
Concrete Slab

Prof. J Y Richard Liew

Department of Civil Engineering
National University of Singapore
Longitudinal Splitting

Without transverse reinforcement

50
Transverse reinforcement

Profiled Steel Sheeting Shear connectors

Steel beam
Transverse rebars

51
 Transverse reinforcement

 Transverse reinforcement refers to the reinforcement in

the concrete slab running transversely to the span of the
beam.

 Sufficient transverse reinforcement should be provided 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 (beff).

 When profiled steel sheets are used, they may also act
as transverse reinforcement.
52
 Transverse reinforcement
 Total area of transverse reinforcement per
unit length crossing potential shear failure
surface = Ae
 Total length of potential failure surface = Ls
 Design shear per unit length, VEd, must not
exceed shear resistance of failure surface.

53
Transverse reinforcement

54
EN1992-1-1 6.2.4 strut and tie model
Longitudinal shear stress

VEd = ∆Fd/(hf ∆x)

hf is the thickness of flange at the junctions

Δx is the length under consideration, see Figure below
ΔFd is the change of the normal force in the flange over the length Δx.

55
 Forces transferred from shear
connectors
Transverse
force per unit
length

FH = FL/Cot θ

FL = VEdhf
Longitudinal
force per unit
length

56
 Transverse reinforcement
The transverse reinforcement per unit length Asf/sf may be determined as
follows: F L
(Asf fyd / sf) + Ape fyp,d > vEd hf / cotθf Cot θ = FL / FH

FH = Transverse resistance offered by the reinforcement and decking

where:
Ape is the effective cross-sectional area of the profiled steel sheeting
per unit length of the beam ( to be ignored if decking is not continuous)
fyd is its design yield strength of reinforcement bar = 460N/mm2/1.15.
fyp,d is its design yield strength of metal deck profile.
(Profiled deck can be considered as equivalent reinforcement or can be
ignored for conservative design)
For compression flanges (45° ≥θf ≥ 26,5°)
57
1.0 ≤ cot θf ≤ 2.0
To prevent crushing of the compression struts in
the flange, the following condition should be
satisfied:
VEd < νfcd sinθf cosθf

where
ν = 0.6 (1-fck/250)
fck = characteristic strength of concrete

fcd = design strength of concrete

= fck/1.5

58
Example 5: Transverse reinforcement
From example 3, the transverse reinforcement Asf may be determined as follows:

(Asf fyd / sf) + Ape fyp,d > vEd hf / cotθ

Assuming that the metal decking does not contribute to the transverse shear
resistance,
i.e., Ape = 0

The transverse reinforcement per unit length Asf/sf may be determined as

follows:
Asf fyd /Sf > vEd hf / fyd cotθ
Where hf = depth of the concrete above the metal decking, therefore
hf = hc = 70mm
fyd = 500/1.15 = 435N/mm2 = design strength of reinforcement mesh
VEd = design longitudinal shear stress in the concrete slab

To prevent crushing of the compression struts in the flange model Eurocode 2

limits the value of θf to
45° ≥θf ≥ 26.5° and thus 1.0 ≤ cot θf ≤ 2.0 59
The longitudinal shear stress is the stress transferred from the steel beam to the
concrete. This is determined from the minimum resistance of the steel, concrete
and shear connectors. In this example, with partial connection, the maximum
force that can be transferred is limited by the resistance of the shear connectors
over half of the span (∆x=3m) , and is given by ∆Fd = Rq = 558 kN.

VEd = ∆Fd/(hf ∆x)

As there are two shear planes (one on each side of the beam, running
parallel to it).
The longitudinal shear stress is:
558 x1000
VEd = 1.33N / mm 2
2 x 3000 x 70

For minimum area of transverse reinforcement assume θf = 26.5o

Asf /Sf > vEd hf / fyd cotθ fyd = 500/1.15 = 435N/mm2
= 1.33x70/(435 x cot 26.5) x 1000
= 107 mm2/m
Use A193 mesh reinforcement with 193 mm2/m > 107 mm2/m
60
 Check Crushing of Concrete Flange
VEd < νfcd sinθf cosθf
ν= 0.6 (1-fck/250) = 0.6 (1-25/250) = 0.54

θf = 26.5o
fcd = design compression strength of concrete
= 25/1.5 = 16.7 N/mm2

νfcd sinθf cosθf

= 0.54x16.7 x sin (26.5o ) x cos(26.5o) = 3.59 N/mm2

=VEd 1.33 N / mm 2 < 3.59 N / mm 2

Therefore concrete crushing resistance is adequate OK

61
Concluding summary
 Longitudinal shear connection is based on the
force transmitted between the steel section and
concrete slab (VEd = smaller of Rc, Rs or Rq) .
 If connectors are insufficient beam may be
designed as partially composite
 Concrete cracking can be controlled by
appropriate slab reinforcement
 Deflection limits are as stated in EC3

62