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.