Load transfer by a studded steel coupling beam to a reinforced concrete shear wall

Reinforced concrete shear walls linked with steel coupling beams (SCBs) are an established structural solution in seismically prone regions. However, while headed studs are widely used in composite structures to facilitate load transfer, the performance of such studs in SCB connections is not very well understood. The study reported in this paper considered the effect of headed studs and details of reinforcement around the connection zone as the main parameters using experimental and numerical approaches. The results showed that the studs strengthened moment transfer rather than shear in the connection. In addition, the headed studs were subject to shear and bending moments rather than axial forces. A model of the transfer load in the connection subjected to concrete pry-out failure was developed to predict the strength of the connection. This model showed a good accuracy in comparison with the results of the experimental testing and previous research.