Design of shear connection between steel truss and concrete slab

Abstract

Composite steel and concrete trusses used in floor and bridge structures are analyzed with respect to shear connection between a steel truss and a concrete slab. Elastic and elastic-plastic behaviour of the shear connection is studied in detail. On the basis of experimental investigation the suitable 3D and 2D analyses are presented and influence of principal parameters are studied in wide scope. While some plastic redistribution of the longitudinal shear is admissible in some cases for floors of buildings, the elastic distribution is essential for design of bridges. Distinctive peaks of the shear flow above truss nodes within elastic behaviour are numerically studied in various real bridge configurations and compared with approximate approach given in Eurocode 4. Influence of shear connectors densification above truss nodes is discussed in details. Finally some recommendations for practical design are presented.