Comparisons of shear connection design methods in continuous steel-concrete composite beams

The behavior of continuous steel-concrete composite beams designed for the same flexural bearing capacity but with different shear connection distributions is analyzed by means of a nonlinear finite element model including partial interaction. The numerically simulated response results permit to study and quantify the effect of shear connection distributions on the global and local behavior both under service loads and at collapse. The analysis focuses its attention on the ductility requirements for the shear connectors when varying the connection design approach and distribution.