Design and experimental analysis of a steel-concrete connection with steel block shear connectors

Abstract Hybrid structures require efficient connections to transfer forces between elements composed of different materials, ensuring the desired structural performance. Among the available solutions, shear connectors play a crucial role in linking dissimilar materials, motivating ongoing research and the development of innovative connector types. This study focuses on steel block shear connectors (SBSC), inspired by a recent demand during the design of the ARENA-MRV stadium structure in Belo Horizonte. Notably, the application of SBSC in beam-to-column connections remains unexplored in the existing literature, prompting this investigation. The research aims to develop and evaluate the structural behavior of a steel-concrete composite connection using SBSC, based on pull-out tests. The paper presents the design and details of the experimental setup, as well as a comprehensive analysis of the test results.