EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SHEAR CONNECTORS FOR COMPOSITE BEAM BRIDGE

Two 1:2 reduced-scale model tests with different types of shear connectors are conducted to study the mechanical properties of shear connectors for a composite beam un- der complex stress conditions. The strain of the shear connector and relative slipping on the steel-concrete interface of the rigid shear connector model and flexible shear connector model under the same boundary conditions is measured. Responses of two types of shear con- nectors under three different load cases are compared. The test results show that the ultimate bearing capacity of concrete is the key factor of relative slipping on the steel-concrete inter- face, and differences between rigid and flexible shear connectors are large.