Experimental, numerical and analytical investigation of bending performance of bolted demountable composite beams with profiled steel decking

This paper presents the results of a detailed experimental, numerical and analytical study to investigate the flexural bending performance of prefabricated demountable composite beams (PDCBs) with bolted shear connectors. Four full-scale tests were carried out for two profiled steel decking configurations (parallel and perpendicular to the steel section) with two different degrees of shear connection. The experimental results were used to validate a numerical simulation model established by the ABAQUS platform. A detailed parametric study was then performed using the validated numerical model to evaluate the effects of using different numbers of bolted shear connectors. The experimental results show that the final failure modes of the demountable composite beams are the same as conventional composite beams using welded shear studs, and the demountable composite beams behavior is ductile. The results of a comparison of load carrying capacity and elastic stiffness of the demountable beams calculated using the analytical equations for conventional composite beams against the experimental and numerical simulation results for the demountable composite beams confirm that the conventional composite beam theory can be used for the demountable composite beams. However, the experimental results indicate that longitudinal cracking in the grout between concrete slabs along the steel beam can happen, due to unsymmetrical location of the shear studs. Anti-cracking mesh would be necessary in practical applications for crack control.