Experimental Research and Simulation on the Mechanical Performance Degradation of Corroded Stud Shear Connectors

Abstract

Electrochemical accelerated corrosion and tensile tests were conducted on six series of 30 stud specimens in this study to assess the various mechanical properties in corroded stud connectors. The results indicate that there is a gradual decline in mechanical properties (e.g., yield strength, ultimate strength, and plasticity) as stud corrosion rate increases. Degradation equations for these parameters were established via fitting analysis on the test data. A Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) constitutive model describing the tensile behavior of corroded studs was established based on mesodamage mechanics and finite element analysis. In the GTN model, the corrosion rate equals the original void volume fraction; the trial-and-error method was adopted to determine the relationship between the corrosion rate and material failure parameters. The finite element simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The GTN model accurately simulates the uniaxial tensile behavior of the corroded stud.