Simulations of push-out tests: influence of several parameters and structural arrangements Available to Purchase

Bonded connections between steel beams and concrete slabs in composite structures were studied in this work. First, an accurate and efficient three-dimensional simulation of push-out tests was carried out, and the assumptions needed to reach this goal were more thoroughly investigated. It was found that very few of the simplifications regarding the contact between steel and concrete and the material mechanical behaviours should be considered. Optimal mesh and boundary conditions were also determined. The simulation procedure presented in this paper allowed the reproduction, in a satisfactory way, of previously published experimental results on two kinds of specimens: a standard specimen and a specimen with profiled steel decking. The study was completed by investigating the influence of several structural arrangements: grouped connections with spacing between connectors of less than 250 mm, various shapes of the waves of the profiled decking and various thicknesses of the profiled steel decking.