A study on composite end-plate connections with flexible tensile reinforcements and shear connectors

Abstract

A comprehensive parametric study is presented in this paper, which examines numerically the structural behaviour of composite end-plate connections with different material properties and geometrical configurations adopting a twodimensional finite element model. The study is closely related to the determination of the moment capacities of composite structural flexural members that are partially continuous at the supports. Both ductile and non-ductile shear connectors are covered to investigate the effect of flexibility of the shear connectors on the overall structural behaviour of composite endplate connections. Moreover, the effect of the elongation limits of tensile reinforcement is also studied. It is concluded that steel beam sizes have significant effects on the structural behaviour of composite end-plate connections with non-ductile shear connectors or the tensile reinforcement with normal ductility.