An experimental investigation of new bent V-shaped shear connector

This paper investigates the behavior of a new form of V-shaped shear connector. The assessment of the proposed connector's performance is conducted through an experimental work of fourteen push-out tests. The results show that the developed V-shaped shear connector is able to transfer higher shear load than the conventional shear connectors. In addition, its behavior is considered as ductile. Geometrical parameters of the connector are studied to observe their influence on its behavior. The experimental outcomes show that changing the length, width, and thickness of the connector significantly affects its ultimate strength while the connector's ductile behavior is preserved. Furthermore, the work proves that neither creating holes nor adding transverse reinforcement to the connector has significant effect on shear resistance and that the uplift-displacement of the connector is improved. A comprehensive comparison between the proposed shear connector and commonly used shear connectors is executed. Based on the experimental results, an empirical equation is suggested to predict the load capacity of the connector.