International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2017, pp. 1016–1024, Article ID: IJCIET_08_05_109

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=5
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

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COMPARITIVE STUDY ON FLEXURAL

BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL CONCRETE
COMPOSITE BEAM USING WELDED AND
BOLTED SHEAR CONNECTOR
Pandilatha P
PG Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, SRM University,
Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India

Surumi R.S
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SRM University,
Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT
This study investigates the flexural behaviour of steel concrete composite beam
using different types of connectors. Performance of the composite beams with welded
stud connection and blind bolt shear connection were compared under flexural
loading. Numerical analysis of the composite beams was done using the software
ANSYS. The composite beam models were simulated using three dimensional Finite
Element Method. The theoretical ultimate load carrying capacity of the composite was
calculated using Rigid Plastic Analysis. The load - deflection behaviour and the
various contours were obtained from the finite Element Analysis. The obtained FEM
results were compared with the theoretical computed values. The FEM results shows
that the steel concrete composite beam using welded stud connectors performed better
in terms of load carrying capacity and interface slippage when compared to that of
the composite beam with blind bolt connectors.
Key words: Steel concrete composite, composite beam, flexure, shear connector,
welded stud, blind bolt.
Cite this Article: Pandilatha P and Surumi R.S, Comparitive Study on Flexural
Behaviour of Steel Concrete Composite Beam Using Welded and Bolted Shear
Connector. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(5), 2017,
pp. 1016–1024.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=5

1. INTRODUCTION
Composite construction is a term which refers to two or more construction elements joined in
such a way as to make use of best mechanical properties of the components. The mechanical
behaviour of a composite beam depends on the bond between the construction elements,

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 Comparitive Study on Flexural Behaviour of Steel Concrete Composite Beam Using Welded and
Bolted Shear Connector

which is provided by the shear connector as a part of a composite system. The need for shear
connectors can be understood by considering the interaction between the concrete slab and
the steel beam. The bonding between the steel and the concrete is a very important factor to
be considered as that determines the strength and safety of a whole structure involved. Shear
connector is generally a metal element of particular shape which extends vertically from the
top flange of the supporting beam and gets embedded in to the slab.
The flexural strength of the composite beam is generally influenced by the strength and
ductility of the shear connectors. The main use of shear connector is to transmit longitudinal
shear along the contact surface without slip and to prevent vertical separation of the in-situ
RC slab from the pre-fabricated structural beam. Welded stud connectors are widely used in
composite steel concrete beams. But, it is not possible to deconstruct without damaging the
steel and concrete components. The blind bolt has the ability to be attached and detached
from one side of a structure .The bolt installation process that utilises power tools is much
faster compared with welded stud installation process and also it does not require heavy
equipment. Therefore the blind bolt installation process is less complex and faster when
compared with that of welded stud connectors. Blind bolts can also be tightened to a required
torque with acceptable precision.
Extensive research has been carried out in the past decade on the efficiency of various
shear connectors in composite beams. Pathiranaet. al. (2016) [1] investigated and concluded
that the useful life of existing substantial composite steel concrete beams can be extended by
retrofitting them with shear connectors. Henderson et.al.(2015) [2] have tested the dynamic
behaviour of steel concrete composite beams with variable shear connections systems both
experimentally and numerically. The ability of the system of blind bolts to achieve and
maintain composite action in composite beams under static flexural loading was also studied.
Vinay N (2015) [3] tested composite steel concrete beam using T shear connectors. The
experimental results have indicated that the span to depth ratio and the shear span to depth
ratio have an influence on the increase in the load carrying capacity of composite beam.
Moynihan &Allwood (2014) [4] have tested composite beams with demountable shear
connectors under quasi static loading. The results of the study concluded that demountable
composite beams can be safely used and practically reused. David & Jeffrey (2013) [5] tested
five steel-concrete composite beams with shear stud connection using a push up rig. The
results have shown that the zone of transverse deformation around the stud is much localized.
The stress field in the concrete around the base of the stud is non-uniform, with a high build-
up of compression on one side of the stud and a small amount of tension on the other side.
Aldeen et.al (2011) [6] tested simply supported composite steel concrete beams for
systematic investigation of long term behaviour. The long term behaviour of composite beam
influenced by the relative axial and flexural stiffness of the steel joist and the concrete slab
were studied. Kwon et.al (2010) [7] successfully utilized post installable bolted shear
connectors to rehabilitate existing concrete bridge deck. A type of friction grip bolt and a
double embedded nut shear connector were used for the rehabilitation. Lloyd and Wright
(1990) [8] reported a study on composite steel concrete beams with a flat –soffit slab cast on
top of a beam using factory welded connectors to transfer shear between components. The
study indicates the necessity of site welding of studs of the composite slabs adopted in bridge
constructions due to the usage of profiled steel decking as permanent formwork.
From the literatures, it has been observed that the shear connectors could serve effective
stress transfer at the joint region of the composite construction. In this context, a numerical
investigation is carried out to compare the performances of a steel concrete composite beam
subassembly with (1) welded stud shear connector and (2) blind bolt shear connector under

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 Pandilatha P and Surumi R.S

flexural loading. Finite Element Modeling and analysis of the three dimensional models of
the subassemblies were carried out in the program ANSYS Workbench 15.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

To arrive at the force components in the composite beams, a slab of 4m span is considered
with the steel beam at the centre as shown in Figure 1. The composite beam was designed
based on the guidelines provided in the Eurocode 4 [9][10]. The highlighted portion (Fig.1)
denotes the sub assembly used for modelling and analysis in ANSYS. The geometric details
of the sub-assembly are given in Table 1. The cross section of the test specimen and the
orientation of studs are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1 Details of the test sub-assembly

Table 1 Geometric details of Composite Beam Specimen

Sl.No Description Dimension
1 Span 2500 mm
2 Slab Thickness 120 mm
3 Effective Width of slab 625 mm
4 Main Bars 12 mm at 200 mm c/c
5 Transverse Bars 12 mm at 200 mm c/c
6 Slab Cover 30 mm
7 Steel Section ISMB 200
8 Connectors 12Nos at 203 mm c/c

(a) (b)

Figure 2 (a) The cross section of the test specimen and (b) the orientation of studs.

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 Comparitive Study on Flexural Behaviour of Steel Concrete Composite Beam Using Welded and
Bolted Shear Connector

3. TEST MODELS AND ANALYSIS

Two 3DFinite Element Models were developed in ANSYS to simulate the composite
subassemblies. The composite steel concrete beam model with welded connection is
designated as CBW and the composite steel concrete beam with bolted connection is
designated as CBB. Concrete slabs, steel beams and the shear connectors were modelled
using eight node linear hexahedral solid 185 element. Steel reinforcement bars were modelled
using three dimensional two noded beam 188element. The views of the developed models are
represented in Figure 3.

Figure 3 (a) Model of the composite beam Figure 3 (b)View of arrangement of the studs

Figure 3 (c) View of the welded studs in subassembly CBW

Figure 3 (d) View of the blind bolts in subassembly CBB

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 Pandilatha P and Surumi R.S

Contacts between different parts were modelled using interaction and constraint options
to represent the actual contact behaviour in the test specimens. Surface to surface interaction
was used to model the contact between the steel beam, concrete slab and connector surface.
The value for the frictional coefficient input given was 0.2.This bonding will constrain the
translational degree of freedom of the embedded nodes and avoid slip between reinforcement
bars and concrete. The pretension of 1 kN applied to each bolt is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 View of Pre Tensioning of Bolts in CBB

The composite beam is fixed at both ends by restraining all the degrees of freedom. Two
point loading was applied to test the behaviour of the subassembly under flexure. Adaptive
meshing as shown in Figure 5, provided by the work bench was used for accuracy.

Figure 5 Finite Element Meshing of the subassembly model

The two composite beam models were loaded under static loading condition at a constant
rate of displacement of 0.2mm until failure. Theoretical load carrying capacity of the
composite beam was calculated by using Rigid Plastic Analysis.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1. Load – Deflection Characteristics
The load-displacement behaviour for the static incremental loading at each displacement
excursion level of the two types of models are shown in Figure 6. Table 2 illustrates the

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 Comparitive Study on Flexural Behaviour of Steel Concrete Composite Beam Using Welded and
Bolted Shear Connector

comparison of the values of the ultimate strength obtained from the Finite Element Analysis
(FEA) and theoretical calculated using Rigid Plastic Analysis (RPA).

Figure 6 Load-displacement behaviour of the models.

Table 2 Comparison of Results

Analysis Ultimate Load (kN) Maximum
Deflection (mm)
RPA 198 1.98
FEA of CBW 488.17 2.26
FEA of CBB 219 2.42

4.2. Visualisation
The maximum sliding distance of the subassemblies CBW and CBB under static flexural
loading are presented in Figure 7. It shows that the slippage is more at both the edges of the
beams. The maximum directional deformation in Y axis of the subassemblies CBW and CBB
are presented in Figure 8. The von mises stress distribution of the subassemblies is shown in
Figure 9. The stress concentration was observed at the place of loading in the bolted
connection and in the welded connection, concentration was observed in the beam where the
studs are welded and at the loading point. It was observed that the model reflects the expected
response of the subassembly in terms of deformations and stresses.

Figure 7 (a) Sliding distance (slip) contour of CBB

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 Pandilatha P and Surumi R.S

Figure 7 (b) Sliding distance (slip) contour of CBW

Figure 8 (a) Directional deformation (Y Axis) contour of CBB

Figure 8 (b) Directional deformation (Y Axis) contour of CBW

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 Comparitive Study on Flexural Behaviour of Steel Concrete Composite Beam Using Welded and
Bolted Shear Connector

Figure 9 (a) Von Mises stress contour of CBB

Figure 9 (b) Von Mises stress contour of CBW

5. CONCLUSION
A numerical investigation is carried out to compare the flexural behaviour of a steel concrete
composite beam subassembly with welded stud shear connector and blind bolt shear
connectors. Finite Element Modeling and analysis of the three dimensional models of the
subassemblies were carried out in the program ANSYS Workbench 15. Based on the analysis
results of the two models following conclusions were drawn:
 An increase of 50% in the load carrying capacity of the composite beam was observed when
welded stud connection was used instead of the bolted connection.
 The slippage is found to be 50% less in the subassembly model with welded connection when
compared to that with bolted connection.
Thus, It was found that the subassembly model with welded connection performed better
when compared that with bolted connection under flexural loading.

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 Pandilatha P and Surumi R.S

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