Study on fatigue cracks in steel-concrete shear connection with composite dowels

In recent years many research on composite beams with innovative shear transmission with composite dowels have been conducted (mainly within PreCo-Beam project [15]) and innovative composite constructions have been designed and built. As this shear connection is to be applied mainly for bridges, problems concerning fatigue behaviour appear [1] and [16]. Composite dowels behaviour in aspect of fatigue resistance and fatigue cracks investigations is extremely complex. It is caused not only by complicated stress distribution from external loads but also by eigenstresses which are released during beam cutting and cutting technology itself as well. It will be proved in detail macroscopic studies how production and cutting process may influence the fatigue crack initiation and propagation process. This paper presents investigations undertaken after finished PreCo-Beam project [15] which is part of the research to be conducted years 2009–2011 at Wrocław University of Technology. Results of detailed metallographic inspections of fatigue cracks obtained during full-scale tests, and schedule of next full-scale tests to be performed at Wroclaw University of Technology are presented. Described researches are carried out in order to determine fatigue lifespan of composite beams with shear transmission realized with composite dowels of MCL shape [5] and [10]. MCL shape is currently the most often used shape of steel dowel because of its fatigue behaviour as well as technological aspects of its production process and therefore all foreseen research will focus mainly on this shape. The MCL shape is shown in Fig. 33, Fig. 34, Fig. 35, Fig. 36, Fig. 37 and Fig. 38.