Finite Element-Based Fatigue and Damage Assessment of Group Stud Shear Connectors in UHPC-Steel Composite Beams
Received: 23 May 2025 | Revised: 30 June 2025 and 16 July 2025 | Accepted: 20 July 2025 | Online: 6 October 2025
Corresponding author: Md Saddam Hussain
Abstract
This study investigates the static and fatigue performance of stud shear connectors embedded in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) for composite structures. Three stud arrangements, Type-I, Type-II, and Type-III are evaluated using nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA), focusing on the stress distribution, damage evolution, and fatigue life prediction. The von Mises stress distribution revealed critical stress concentrations at the stud roots and UHPC-steel interface, with Type-III arrangement demonstrating the most uniform stress spread and effective load transfer. Progressive damage modeling revealed that failure initiated at the stud roots and propagated as the applied load increased. The fatigue analysis demonstrated a substantial enhancement in the fatigue life with increased stud embedment length and optimized stud arrangements. Among the configurations studied, the Type-III arrangement exhibited the most favorable stress distribution, characterized by a more uniform load transfer and minimal stress concentration per stud. The specimens with this configuration achieved fatigue lives of up to 323,594 cycles without any visible damage, underscoring its superior fatigue resistance and structural reliability. The findings confirm that the strategic optimization of the stud geometry and the use of group stud arrangements can improve the stress distribution and significantly enhance the durability and performance of the steel–UHPC composite connections under cyclic loading.
Keywords:
stud shear connectors, push-out FE analysis, fatigue analysis, damage modeling, UHPCDownloads
References
Z. Fang, S. Fang, and F. Liu, "Experimental and Numerical Study on the Shear Performance of Short Stud Shear Connectors in Steel–UHPC Composite Beams," Buildings, vol. 12, no. 4, Mar. 2022, Art. no. 418.
S. Wang, Z. Fang, Y. Ma, H. Jiang, and G. Zhao, "Parametric investigations on shear behavior of perforated transverse angle connectors in steel–concrete composite bridges," Structures, vol. 38, pp. 416–434, Apr. 2022.
J. Wang, Q. Xu, Y. Yao, J. Qi, and H. Xiu, "Static behavior of grouped large headed stud-UHPC shear connectors in composite structures," Composite Structures, vol. 206, pp. 202–214, Dec. 2018.
J. Cao and X. Shao, "Finite element analysis of headed studs embedded in thin UHPC," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 161, pp. 355–368, Oct. 2019.
J.-S. Kim, J. Kwark, C. Joh, S.-W. Yoo, and K.-C. Lee, "Headed stud shear connector for thin ultrahigh-performance concrete bridge deck," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 108, pp. 23–30, May 2015.
Y. Shao, C.-W. Kuo, and C.-C. Hung, "Seismic performance of full-scale UHPC-jacket-strengthened RC columns under high axial loads," Engineering Structures, vol. 243, Sep. 2021, Art. no. 112657.
E. P. Sidodikromo, Z. Chen, and M. Habib, "Review of The Cement-Based Composite Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC)," The Open Civil Engineering Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 147–162, Nov. 2019.
Y. Li et al., "Shear behavior of short studs in steel-thin ultrahigh-performance concrete composite structures," Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 19, Dec. 2023, Art. no. e02423.
M. Shafieifar, M. Farzad, and A. Azizinamini, "Experimental and numerical study on mechanical properties of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC)," Construction and Building Materials, vol. 156, pp. 402–411, Dec. 2017.
A. Nakajima, I. Saiki, M. Kokai, K. Doi, Y. Takabayashi, and H. Ooe, "Cyclic shear force–slip behavior of studs under alternating and pulsating load condition," Engineering Structures, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 537–545, Apr. 2003.
R. Slutter and J. Fisher, "Fatigue strength of shear connectors," Highway Research Record, vol. 147, pp. 66–21, Jan. 1966.
D. J. Oehlers and C. G. Coughlan, "The shear stiffness of stud shear connections in composite beams," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 273–284, Jan. 1986.
G. Hanswille, M. Porsch, and C. Ustundag, "Resistance of headed studs subjected to fatigue loading," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 475–484, Apr. 2007.
C. Xu and K. Sugiura, "FEM analysis on failure development of group studs shear connector under effects of concrete strength and stud dimension," Engineering Failure Analysis, vol. 35, pp. 343–354, Dec. 2013.
C. Xu and K. Sugiura, "Analytical investigation on failure development of group studs shear connector in push-out specimen under biaxial load action," Engineering Failure Analysis, vol. 37, pp. 75–85, Feb. 2014.
C. Xu, K. Sugiura, H. Masuya, K. Hashimoto, and S. Fukada, "Experimental Study on the Biaxial Loading Effect on Group Stud Shear Connectors of Steel-Concrete Composite Bridges," Journal of Bridge Engineering, vol. 20, no. 10, Oct. 2015, Art. no. 04014110.
D. Y. Xue, Y. Q. Liu, S. F. Huang, and B. Ma, "Mechanical Behavior Study on Headed Studs for Composite Truss Joint," Advanced Materials Research, vol. 255–260, pp. 379–382, May 2011.
J. Ding, J. Zhu, and T. Shi, "Performance of grouped stud connectors in precast steel-UHPC composite bridges under combined shear and tension loads," Engineering Structures, vol. 277, Feb. 2023, Art. no. 115470.
P. G. Lee, C. S. Shim, and S. P. Chang, "Static and fatigue behavior of large stud shear connectors for steel–concrete composite bridges," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 61, no. 9, pp. 1270–1285, Sep. 2005.
Eurocode 4. Design of composite steel and concrete structures. General rules and rules for buildings, British Standards Institution, London, United Kingdom, Dec. 2004.
Md. M. Mia and A. K. Bhowmick, "A finite element based approach for fatigue life prediction of headed shear studs," Structures, vol. 19, pp. 161–172, Jun. 2019.
H. Y. Loh, B. Uy, and M. A. Bradford, "The effects of partial shear connection in the hogging moment regions of composite beams Part II—Analytical study," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 60, no. 6, pp. 921–962, Jun. 2004.
N. Gattesco and E. Giuriani, "Experimental study on stud shear connectors subjected to cyclic loading," Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 1–21, May 1996.
J. Cao, X. Shao, L. Deng, and Y. Gan, "Static and Fatigue Behavior of Short-Headed Studs Embedded in a Thin Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete Layer," Journal of Bridge Engineering, vol. 22, no. 5, May 2017, Art. no. 04017005.
Downloads
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Md Saddam Hussain, Shambhu Sharan Mishra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) after its publication in ETASR with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
