Analytical study of composite beams with different arrangements of channel shear connectors

Channels are implemented in composite beams as shear connectors in two arrangements, face to face and back to back. No relevant explanation is found in the design codes to clarify the preference of the mentioned arrangements. Besides, the designers do not have a common opinion on this subject; i.e., some recommend the face to face and others, back to back status. In this research, channel shear connectors in composite beams are studied analytically for both arrangements using ABAQUS software. For this purpose, they have been modeled in simply supported beams in the arrangements of face to face and back to back; their effects on the crack initiation load of concrete slabs were monitored. The stiffness values of composite beams were also compared in the two arrangements using force-displacement curve; the results are relatively the same in both cases. Furthermore, the effects of compressive strength of concrete, channel size, length and spacing of channels as well as steel type of channels on the performance of composite beams have been investigated. According to the results obtained in this research, the face to face status shows better performance in comparison with that of back to back, considering the load of concrete fracturing.