Effect of the Progressive Failure of Shear Connectors on the Behavior of Steel-Reinforced Concrete Composite Girders

Pre-stressed steel-concrete composite beams are widely used in bridges around the world. Loads during service life of may cause failure form fracture studs near ends bridge girders. The effect stud on residual static capacity and fatigue girders is not well investigated. Therefore, this study presents numerical investigations into effects progressive shear connectors performance remaining post-tensioned beams. Finite Element (FE) model was validated using existing experimental work. Moreover, interface slippage, stress range, compressive tensile strains were behavior terms estimated inversely affected by number fractured studs. AASHTO theoretical equation conservatively until 15% rows removed then FE predicted fewer cycles than equation. Until removed, strengthened sample had a better response strains, capacity. After that, both non-strengthened samples exhibited similar responses to Subsequently, positive post-tensioning vanish as end fail. designers should pay special attention where local expected.