Fatigue performance and stiffness variation of stud connectors in steel-concrete-steel sandwich systems

In this this study, a series of fatigue tests on six nominally identical push-shear specimens is conducted. The test specimens were subjected to an initial quasi-static test, up to a predefined maximum load, followed by a fatigue test to failure. For all the fatigue tests the mean applied load was the same while the load range varied to induce fatigue failure. The push-shear fatigue tests indicated that stiffness of the shear connections is gradually decreased during the test. Overall, the test results revealed that the lifetime of steel-concrete-steel sandwich systems under cycling loads could be predicted beforehand through the evaluation of the stiffness reduction in shear connections. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.