Push-out Tests for Determining Shear Strength and Stiffness of Perfobond Connector-Experimental Study

Abstract

This study presents an experimental investigation for push-out tests in order to evaluate the performance of continuous perfobond connectors. A total of five specimens composed of light-weight concrete-filled steel tubes (square and circle sections) with two reinforced blocks were tested. The measured parameters are the compressive strength of the concrete blocks and the type of the section. The specimens were tested under a concentric load applied on the steel tube filled with lightweight concrete; the corresponding slip value was measured   using two LVDTs. The experimental results showed that the ultimate shear strength and stiffness of the square steel tube filled with concrete were higher than that of circular samples. The ultimate shear strength and stiffness increased with an increase of concrete compressive strength, while the corresponding slips    showed decreasing in their values with increase of the compressive strength of the concrete.