Performance Evaluation of Tubular Perfobond Shear Connectors

Abstract This study presents the behaviour of tubular perfobond shear connectors. Normative codes were used to study the connectors, which provide guidelines for the push‐out test. The aim of the tubular connector is to provide a connector with good shear resistance, similar to other perforated connectors, and, above all, adequate ductility. The ease of installation and obtaining the material for its manufacture also motivated the study of this connector. The connector consists of a tubular steel section with holes along its length. The tubular section was chosen since it has two shear planes, which contributes doubly not only to resistance, but also to ductility. To study the tubular perfobond shear connector, experimental push‐out tests were carried out based on current normative codes. The parameters studied, such as the strength of the materials, section and length of the connector, were chosen with the aim of providing a connector with a ductile behaviour and adequate resistance. The results obtained indicate that tubular perfobond shear connector can present a competitive mechanical behaviour including a deformation capacity to meet the ductility requirements for a plastic design.