Finite Element Modelling of Bolt Shear Connections in Prefabricated Steel Lightweight Aggregate–Concrete Composite Beams

Steel lightweight aggregate–concrete composite beams (SLACCBs) with bolted shear connections provide several advantages, such as reducing the overall self-weight, shortening the construction period, and improving the structural seismic performance. However, current research on the mechanical behavior of bolted connections is primarily concentrated on composite structures with normal concrete (NC), and there is no investigation focused on the shear performance of bolt connections embedded in lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC) slabs. Therefore, this paper developed a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model to study the shear properties of the bolt connections embedded in SLACCBs by utilizing ABAQUS software. Nonlinear geometric effects and material nonlinearities were considered in the finite element (FE) modelling. The accuracy and reliability of the FE modelling were initially calibrated and validated against the push-off tests described in the literature. Subsequently, the basic shear properties of the bolted connection embedded in SLACCBs were studied and compared with those of the bolted connection embedded in the NC slab by applying the verified FE modelling. Meanwhile, the effects of the concrete strength, concrete density, bolt diameter, and bolt tensile strength on the shear behavior of the bolt connections embedded in SLACCBs were also investigated using extensive parametric studies. Finally, some design formulae were proposed to predict the bolt connection shear strength.

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