Flexural performance of innovative hybrid sandwich panels with special focus on the shear connection behavior

The present study intends to evaluate the flexural performance of hybrid sandwich panels through the execution of four point bending tests. The proposed hybrid sandwich panel uses Deflection Hardening Cementitious Composites (DHCC) on the top layer, a GFRP bottom layer and perforated shear connectors in the GFRP ribs to transfer shear stresses between top and bottom layers.The tested hybrid slabs use two types of shear connectors, which include indented and perforated shapes. The tests were performed to study the behavior of a novel shear connection between the GFRP ribs and the DHCC layer that is here proposed. A comparison on the obtained experimental results was executed to clarify the influence of the shear connectors' geometries on the flexural performance of the developed hybrid slabs.The results show that the shear connection mechanical behavior strongly influences the peak load, the deflection at peak load, the post-peak load carrying capacity and the degree of composite action of the hybrid slabs.