Experimental and Numerical Study on the Shear Performance of Short Stud Shear Connectors in Steel–UHPC Composite Beams

Steel–ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) composite beams offer numerous advantages, such as structural self-weight reduction, bending stiffness improvement, and tensile cracking limitation in slabs. However, few studies have focused on the shear performance of short stud connectors steel–UHPC structures. To this end, push-out tests were carried out to evaluate effect slab thickness, diameter, casting method failure mode, load–slip relationship, ultimate strength, stiffness, ductility. The test results indicate that by increasing thickness from 50 75 mm, capacity initial improved 11.38% 23.28%, respectively. for specimens with diameters 25 mm 1.29 1.23 times their 22-mm-diameter counterparts. In addition, adopting precast UHPC slabs could achieve comparative resistance (94.91%) but a better slip (108.94%) than those containing conventional monolithic cast Based experimental results, finite element (FE) model was established reflect plastic behavior damage process connectors. validated FE model, parameter study then performed further explore influence steel beam pocket strength studs