Investigation of the composite action between steel and concrete of innovative small-scale pin-shear-connectors

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Markus Feldmann; Professor Dr.-Ing. Josef Hegger; Professor Dr.-Ing. Uwe Reisgen
• Subject Area: Structural Engineering, Building Informatics and Construction Operation ; Production Automation and Assembly Technology
• Term: from 2013 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 243442988

The development of a novel welding process with systematic wire-feed and pullback allows for the automatic assembly of ball-headed pins with a cone-shaped base on structural low alloyed steels, singular or in groups. By means of this process and the combination with high-strength fine-grained concrete very filigree composite sections of high specific load carrying capacities can be produced, opening new fields for structural application. However, the force-deflection behaviour of the shear connection with the novel pins is not clarified yet. The structural models and analysis methods of conventional shear connectors so far cannot simply be transferred, since the pins exhibit a different load-bearing behaviour. This is due to scale effects and both geometric shape and material behaviour induced by the welding process.Furthermore the specific ratios of concrete and steel composite sections as well as new scenarios of bearing loads and span widths cause different requirements regarding the ductility of the pin connection, in order to achieve maximum load carrying capacities of cross section and system. Objectives of this proposal therefore include the development of the pin welding process for composite construction, the investigation on the force-deflection behaviour and the development of engineering models describing the mechanical behaviour of typical structural elements with pin-shear-connectors.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants