Development of a design model for perforated-rib-type shear connectors in a novel composite plate perpendicular to their axis

Abstract

The Steel-Concrete-Steel-Composite-Plate (SCSC-Plate), which was devised as a more economical alternative to full-section steel plates as deck slabs for railway bridges, is currently being developed at TU Wien. This type of slab utilizes steel ribs with circular holes as shear connectors to enable the transfer of shear forces between the external steel chord plates through a concrete core. Various aspects of the load bearing behavior of this new type of structural element have been investigated and partially characterized this far. However, the behavior of the structure perpendicular to the axis of the shear connectors (i. e. in the deck slab’s secondary load bearing direction) has not been analyzed until now. To create a design guideline for the SCSC-Plate, numerical simulations and empirical tests are being carried out. Using the obtained data, simplified modeling approaches can be proposed. These models currently range from the separate consideration of the behavior of the slab along the two axes to a more complex integrated approach using common FE-modeling software and multiple models of varying resolution. This paper provides an overview of the development path of the design model for the load bearing direction perpendicular to the shear connectors when using a separate axes type of design approach. This model consists of a combination of varying strut-and-tie models for the reinforced concrete and beam elements for the structural steel components. The model was verified via comparison with a numerical model which was in turn verified using empirical data obtained from experimental tests.