Experimental investigation on Steel-Bamboo Composite shear connections

This paper presents an experimental investigation on a Steel-Bamboo Composite (SBC) structure composed of H-section steel and flat-pressure laminated bamboo lumber connected through shear connectors (double-end studs or bolts). Static push-out tests are conducted on the new composite connection to investigate its yield modes and failure characteristic. The effects of diameter, spacing and type of shear connectors on the mechanical properties of SBC structures are discussed. According to the experimental result, a two-hinge yield is observed, and two plastic hinges are formed by shear connectors in the bamboo hole and the H-section steel flange hole upon the occurrence of SBC connection failure. With the increasing diameter of shear connector, the yield load and the ultimate load of push-out specimens increase significantly. As the spacing of shear connector increases, the yield load of push-out specimens tends to decrease but the ultimate load increases. The ductility of push-out specimens improved with rising diameter and spacing of shear connector. Bolt connected joints exhibited a better performance than the doubleend studs connected joints in terms of stiffness and ductility. The optimized design is proposed on double-end studs connectors to eliminate the adverse effects of cross-section weakening caused by machining threads. Based on Johansen yield mode IV and Eurocode 5, the equation for shear bearing capacity of steel-laminated bamboo lumber is proposed considering the rope effect and group bolt effect. The error of the calculated value and the test value ranges from 6.35% to 19.24%. The calculated value of shear bearing capacity is in line with the experimental value.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigated the connection of a Steel-Bamboo Composite structure and discussed the effects of diameter, spacing, and type of shear connectors on its mechanical properties. An optimized design for the connectors was proposed, along with an equation for the shear bearing capacity of the composite structure.