Experimental study on the shear behavior of stud shear connectors in fiber-reinforced polymer-ultra-high performance concrete−steel double-skin tubular beams

Abstract

This study proposes a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC)-steel double-skin tubular beam (DSTB). The beam exhibits excellent load-bearing capacity, deformability, and durability, making it a promising option for bridge construction. However, the flexural behavior of the beam is significantly influenced by the effectiveness of the shear connectors installed at the steel−UHPC interface. Therefore, this study experimentally investigates the shear behavior of a specific type of stud shear connector using 26 push-out specimens. The test results reveal that the maximum slip values (S_max) of the specimens range from 6.20 to 12.04 mm, satisfying the ductility requirements specified in Eurocode 4. Shear capacity increases with greater glass FRP tube thickness: a 12.3% increase at 3 mm and a 20.8% increase at 6 mm, compared to the 0 mm thickness. Additionally, a 13.8% reduction in capacity occurs when the UHPC layer thickness decreases from 100 to 50 mm. Validation of five existing design methodologies against the test data demonstrates that none provide accurate predictions. This underscores the urgent need to develop a new predictive model specifically tailored for FRP-UHPC-DSTBs, incorporating critical parameters such as UHPC layer thickness and FRP reinforcement effects.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

FRP / UHPC / DSTB / push-out test / stud shear capacity

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