Shear performance of H-shaped steel to novel inorganic-bonded bamboo composite connections: Experimental tests and prediction models

Abstract

Hybrid structures comprising steel and engineered wood or bamboo have attracted considerable attention from researchers and engineers worldwide. In this study, a novel inorganic-bonded bamboo (InorgBam) material was introduced, and the shear performance of steel-to-InorgBam composite (SBC) connections was investigated using double symmetric specimens. Bolt and welded grout stud shear connectors were considered. The impact of the slenderness ratio of shear connectors on the load-carrying capacity and shear stiffness of SBCs was discussed. The equations in EC 5 were used to evaluate the load-carrying capacity of the bolted connections. The rope effect in EC 5 was improved by considering the degree of plastic deformation of the bolts; in addition, an improved analytical model was proposed to evaluate the shear performance of the bolted connections. For SBC connections with welded stud connectors, load-carrying mechanisms were first discussed, which proved that the failure mode of welded stud connectors is like that of welded studs in steel-concrete composite structures. Consequently, equations to evaluate the shear capacity of steel-concrete composite structures have been adopted for SBC connections with welded stud connectors. The results indicate that the equations in AISC 360–16 are applicable to SBC connections with stud connectors embedded in grout pockets. These findings are beneficial for promoting the application of novel bamboo-based composites in SBC beams and floor systems.