Nonlinear finite element analysis of PBL shear connectors in hybrid structures

Abstract The load-bearing capacity of perfobond Leisten (PBL) shear connectors in hybrid structures is represented by the shear-friction effect between the shear surfaces caused by the interlocking of aggregates when the fracture surface of the concrete dowel slips under an external load. To carry out an accurate numerical simulation of the bearing capacity and shear transmission mechanism of the PBL shear connectors, based on the secondary development function of the user subroutine, user-defined field variable subroutine (USDFLD), the effective simulation of the transverse shear expansion effect of the concrete dowel is achieved. A comparison with the results of the test data shows that the concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model demonstrates good robustness and convergence for the prediction and simulation of the damage characteristics of concrete structures. Based on the user subroutine USDFLD's automatic update function of material points and element integration points to field variables, this model effectively simulated the functional gradient model of the concrete dilatancy angle, the load on the shear connectors is always transmitted from the near load end to the far one, and the bearing capacity is clearly affected by the boundary conditions.