Abstract:
Steel-concrete-steel sandwich (SCSS) structure is a type of composite structure in
which a concrete core is sandwiched in between two steel plates. SCSS structures can
offer a greater amount of moment of resistance and stiffness compared to that of steel
plates with same amount of steel consumption. Among the different components of an
SCSS structure, shear connectors can be referred as the most crucial component
contributing to the composite action. J-hook connectors are a type of novel shear
connectors which can overcome the limitations faced by other shear connectors like
headed studs and bi-steel connectors.
In this particular study various factors affecting the load-slip behaviour and
ultimate strength behaviour of SCSS structures were reviewed and tests such as mid point bending test of SCSS beam and pushout test of SCSS pushout test specimen
were numerically simulated using ANSYS software. From the results, influence of
variation of different parameters such as grade of concrete and steel, diameter of shear
connector, core thickness, plate thickness, and spacing of shear connectors over the
behaviour of SCSS structures under quasi-static loading conditions were analysed.
Based on the obtained results an empirical relation for the force-slip model of SCSS
structures was suggested while incorporating the important parameters.
