Experimental and Numerical Study on Mechanical Properties of Steel-Geopolymer Concrete-Steel Beam

SCS composite sandwich structure is a combination of two external steel plates, sandwiched concrete core and mechanical shear connectors connecting both steel plates through the concrete core. SCS composite sandwich structure has been developed since last few decades and the traditional concrete core that has been implemented is using conventional concrete. Besides, there are few types of shear connectors that have been used in developing and improvising the SCS composite sandwich structure, which are J-hook connectors, headed shear stud connector, Bi-steel connectors etc. In this project, few simulations have been carried out by replacing conventional concrete core which is the common material of composite sandwich beam by fly ash-based geopolymer concrete core (SGCS composite sandwich beam) and J-hook shear connectors was applied in the sandwich composite structure which connect the top and bottom plates through the concrete core by welding to investigate the influence on mechanical properties (moment resistance, shear resistance and deflection) of composite sandwich structure by applying GPC core. For numerical study, compressive strength and depth of GPC, thickness of steel plates and spacing of shear connectors are the main manipulating variables. Besides, a push out test for headed stud shear connectors has been carried out to determine the influence of nominal height on shear capacity of the connectors.