Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers

Current research on the stress mechanisms of composite connectors within steel–concrete structures of bridge towers is sparse, and there is a lack of established experimental methods and finite element modeling techniques for studying these mechanisms. This study focuses on a specific type of compos...

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Main Authors: Yunwei Du, Zhenqing Yu, Yuyang Chen, Niujing Ma, Ronghui Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2284
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author Yunwei Du
Zhenqing Yu
Yuyang Chen
Niujing Ma
Ronghui Wang
author_facet Yunwei Du
Zhenqing Yu
Yuyang Chen
Niujing Ma
Ronghui Wang
author_sort Yunwei Du
collection DOAJ
description Current research on the stress mechanisms of composite connectors within steel–concrete structures of bridge towers is sparse, and there is a lack of established experimental methods and finite element modeling techniques for studying these mechanisms. This study focuses on a specific type of composite shear connector within the steel–concrete section of the Shunde Bridge tower. By employing proposed experimental methods and finite element model analysis, this research examines the load–slip curves and stress distribution of these shear connectors. It aims to elucidate the stress mechanisms and mechanical relationships between the composite connectors and the individual perforated plate connectors and shear stud connectors that comprise them. The results demonstrate that the proposed experimental methods and finite element modeling approaches effectively analyze the stress mechanisms of composite connectors, revealing that the ultimate load-bearing capacity and elastic stiffness of the composite connectors are approximately the sum of those of the individual connectors configured in parallel; The mechanical performance of the composite connectors in the steel–concrete section of the bridge tower is approximately the additive sum of the mechanical performances of the individual connectors comprising them. By comparing the experimentally measured load–slip curves with those calculated from the finite element models, it validates the modeling approach of the finite element model, and the material parameters established through material characteristic tests and literature review are reasonable.
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spelling doaj-art-e1949382d53a48da9324632d3b6b7c752025-08-20T03:28:33ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-06-011513228410.3390/buildings15132284Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge TowersYunwei Du0Zhenqing Yu1Yuyang Chen2Niujing Ma3Ronghui Wang4School of Traffic Engineering, Guangzhou Vocational College of Technology & Business, Guangzhou 511442, ChinaPoly Changda Engineering Co., Ltd. Guangzhou 510630, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510630, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510630, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510630, ChinaCurrent research on the stress mechanisms of composite connectors within steel–concrete structures of bridge towers is sparse, and there is a lack of established experimental methods and finite element modeling techniques for studying these mechanisms. This study focuses on a specific type of composite shear connector within the steel–concrete section of the Shunde Bridge tower. By employing proposed experimental methods and finite element model analysis, this research examines the load–slip curves and stress distribution of these shear connectors. It aims to elucidate the stress mechanisms and mechanical relationships between the composite connectors and the individual perforated plate connectors and shear stud connectors that comprise them. The results demonstrate that the proposed experimental methods and finite element modeling approaches effectively analyze the stress mechanisms of composite connectors, revealing that the ultimate load-bearing capacity and elastic stiffness of the composite connectors are approximately the sum of those of the individual connectors configured in parallel; The mechanical performance of the composite connectors in the steel–concrete section of the bridge tower is approximately the additive sum of the mechanical performances of the individual connectors comprising them. By comparing the experimentally measured load–slip curves with those calculated from the finite element models, it validates the modeling approach of the finite element model, and the material parameters established through material characteristic tests and literature review are reasonable.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2284single-layer composite connectorsperforated plate connectorshear studpush-out testfinite element modelfailure mode
spellingShingle Yunwei Du
Zhenqing Yu
Yuyang Chen
Niujing Ma
Ronghui Wang
Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
Buildings
single-layer composite connectors
perforated plate connector
shear stud
push-out test
finite element model
failure mode
title Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
title_full Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
title_fullStr Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
title_short Experimental Study on the Force Mechanism of Internal Composite Connectors in Steel–Concrete Composite Sections of Bridge Towers
title_sort experimental study on the force mechanism of internal composite connectors in steel concrete composite sections of bridge towers
topic single-layer composite connectors
perforated plate connector
shear stud
push-out test
finite element model
failure mode
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/13/2284
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AT yuyangchen experimentalstudyontheforcemechanismofinternalcompositeconnectorsinsteelconcretecompositesectionsofbridgetowers
AT niujingma experimentalstudyontheforcemechanismofinternalcompositeconnectorsinsteelconcretecompositesectionsofbridgetowers
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