Experimental Research on PBL Connectors Considering the Effects of Concrete Stress State and Other Connection Parameters

Abstract

The perforated rib shear [Perfobond Leiste in German (PBL)] connector is a type of shear connector used in some steel–concrete composite bridges as a main load-transfer element between the concrete roadway and the supporting steel deck. The shear capacity of PBL connectors is affected by several connection parameters, such as the diameter of the transverse steel reinforcement, the size of the perforated rib hole, and the thickness of the rib plate, and the stress state in the surrounding concrete. In the present study, 33 test specimens were designed, and push-out tests were performed to investigate how these parameters affect the shear capacity of PBL connectors. The test results show that the shear capacity of these connectors increased with an increase in the diameter of the transverse reinforcing bar, an increase in the size of the rib holes, and an increase in thickness of the perforated rib plate. As for the effect of concrete stress state, it was found that the shear capacity of the connectors increased when a transverse compressive stress was present, but it decreased when a transverse tensile stress was present. Using results from these tests, a design equation that takes all of these factors into consideration in determining the shear capacity of PBL connectors is proposed. The proposed equation produces reasonably accurate results when compared with experimentally determined shear capacity for these connectors.