Strength and Ductility of Shear Studs under Tensile Loading

Abstract

AASHTO defines fracture-critical members (FCMs) as components in tension whose failure is expected to lead to bridge collapse. Accordingly, the bottom flanges of a twin steel box-girder bridge are considered to be fracture-critical members in the positive-bending-moment region. In the event of a fracture propagating through the entire depth of a box girder, the shear studs connecting the fractured girder to the bridge deck play a crucial role in the performance of the bridge. To characterize the response of these connections, a series of laboratory tests were performed to determine the capacity and behavior associated with different stud layouts. Based on the test results, modifications to the current American Concrete Institute (ACI) equations to predict the tensile strength of shear stud connections are proposed.