Static behaviour of a steel-concrete composite beam with an innovative horizontal connection

A new connection device, based on horizontal shear connectors and avoiding welding, has been studied through a steel-concrete composite beam subjected to a static bending test. Experimental results show a behaviour similar to steel-concrete composite beams with classical connectors: elastic and yield domains, great ductility, flexural failure mode (plastic hinge), low relative movements at steel-concrete interface. Consequently, this study allows to validate the proposed connection device under static loading and shows that it suits structural modern codes requirements.