Investigation of the Failure Modes of Embedded Corrugated Shear Connections in Steel-concrete Composite Girders

Abstract

Composite girders with corrugated webs and embedded shear connections have been developed in bridge design practice, making structures more advantageous compared to conventional composite structures with flat web and headed studs. To understand the structural behavior and determine the influence of structural parameters on longitudinal shear resistance, experimental and numerical testing of embedded shear connectors is essential. An experimental program of 43 push-out tests on embedded specimens with trapezoidal steel profiles has been completed at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Current paper presents a detailed evaluation of the experimental results of the full-scale push-out test series, focusing on structural parameters causing concrete failure (trapezoidal profile geometry, embedding depth, shear connectors). To investigate the influence of structural parameters (number and geometry of cutouts) on the failure modes of the corrugated steel web, a numerical model is developed. The study aims to investigate how structural parameters of the embedded corrugated web influence its behavior and failure modes, with particular focus on avoiding non-visible steel deterioration through appropriate detailing. The objective is to identify structural parameters that lead to concrete deterioration, occurring only after significant crack propagation, so that failure becomes visible before it happens. Conclusions are drawn based on the results of experimental and numerical investigations.