ABSTRACT
Steel-concrete composite beams are widely applied in the design and construction of bridges and buildings. Due to the urgent need for the transformation towards sustainability and net-zero, developments of innovative composite systems with improved life-cycle sustainability such as lower embodied carbon and the potential for reuse after the end-of-life stage are required. To address this challenge, this study aims to contribute to the development of the composite beams with the ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) proven with lower life-cycle embodied carbon than conventional concrete and the high-strength steel (HSS) bolts as the shear connection that facilitates demountability and reuse to reduce the production of new materials and the associated carbon footprint. The behavior of HSS bolts embedded in UHPC slabs is investigated experimentally. The resistance, load-slip responses and failure modes of the HSS bolts are presented and discussed. The suitability of design approaches for shear connection in conventional concrete slab for the HSS bolt shear connection in UHPC slab is also assessed and discussed.
