Experimental study of sustainable high strength steel flush end plate beam-to-column composite joints with deconstructable bolted shear connectors

• First-ever tests on HSS composite joints with bolted shear connectors are addressed.
• Precast panels as slabs in composite joints using bolted shear connectors are proposed.
• Establishes that the composite joints may be deconstructed and the components re-used.
• The composite joints can provide a higher rotation capacity than that specified by codes.
• Friction-grip bolted shear connection is an efficient method of shear connection.

The design of engineering structures for deconstructability can reduce the energy and cost required for their demolition and for the disposal of their construction waste, and it also enhances the sustainability of a building by allowing for easy dismantling and the reuse or recycling of structural components and construction materials at the end of the service life of the building. In addition, using high performance materials such as high strength steel can improve the sustainability of a structure by providing for higher design stresses and accordingly reducing the self-weight of the structure. This paper describes the results of four full-scale beam-to-column deconstructable composite joints with high strength steel S690 flush end plates. The structural behaviour of the new system in conjunction with application of post-installed friction-grip bolted shear connectors for developing deconstructable composite floors is investigated. The test results show that the proposed composite beam-to-column joints can provide the required strength and ductility according to Eurocode 3 and Eurocode 4 specifications, and that the system can be easily deconstructed at the end of the service life of the structure as a proof of concept.