Seismic Performance of Composite Beams Using Uplift-Restricted and Slip-Permitted Perfobond Rib Shear Connectors

Abstract

Steel–concrete composite beams offer significant advantages in long-span, heavy-load, and prefabricated construction; however, the concrete slabs are prone to tensile cracking under negative bending moments. To enhance cracking resistance, uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (URSP) perfobond rib (PBL) connectors were adopted with a cast-in-place high-performance concrete (HPC) topping. Five composite beam-steel column joint specimens were tested under quasi-static cyclic loading. The test variables included connector type, cast-in-place concrete type, and reinforcement grade. In addition, refined numerical simulations were conducted on the test specimens. Both test and numerical results show that: (1) The combined application of URSP-PBL connectors and HPC enhanced the cracking resistance of the composite beam, with the initial cracking load and corresponding cracking displacement increased by approximately 50% compared with the control specimen. (2) The ultimate flexural capacity of the composite beams under negative moments showed limited sensitivity to the type of cast-in-place concrete topping and the reinforcement grade within the tested range. (3) The use of URSP-PBL connectors improved the flexural stiffness of the composite beams. (4) The URSP-PBL specimens showed good energy dissipation capacity under cyclic loading, which was further improved with the addition of HPC in the topping. Within the tested range, the reinforcement grade showed limited influence on this performance. This study provides a scientific basis for the crack control design and engineering application of long-span composite beams.