# Study on Shear Performance of Web-Embedded Composite Shear Connector
## 5 Conclusions  
This study proposed a shear connector, the WECSC, to conduct push-out test studies on its USBC. Seven specimens in six categories were set up, the failure mode, load-slip curve, and load-strain curve were analysed. Numerical and parameter analyses were performed and verified using the test results. The shear mechanism of the WECSC was summarised, and a new equation for calculating the USBC was derived.  
1. The shear stiffness of the WECSC was high, the ultimate slip was low, and the shear connector exhibited good ductility after reaching the ultimate load. The failure forms were the partial crushing of the concrete dowel and splitting of the outer concrete. The penetrating rebars and studs were bent and shear-deformed, without cut. This indicated that the shear connectors could still maintain a good shear bearing capacity after exceeding the ultimate load, and every component of the shear connectors was fully used.
2. The force transfer mechanism of the WECSC was studied based on tests and numerical analyses. After the failure of the concrete dowel, the penetrating rebars gradually began to participate in the shear resistance. Because of the position of the load, yield deformation occurred at the midpoint of the steel bars, and because the load was transmitted from top to bottom, the upper row of steel bars yielded earlier and entered the strengthening stage. Simultaneously, the stud was driven downward by the steel plate, the concrete below the root produced a reaction, and the head was constrained by the concrete. Thus, the stud root produced an obvious bending shear deformation. As the load continued to increase, the plastic area of the stud gradually began from the root and developed towards the head.
3. The proportion of USBC of different shear members was different. The proportion of the penetrating rebar being the largest, followed by the end-bearing area, and that of the studs is the smallest. The ultimate slip and USBC of the WECSC increased with an increase in the diameter of the penetrating rebar, not linear. The larger the hole diameter, the greater the lifting effect of the USBC, whereas an increase in the diameter of the penetrating rebar weakened the lifting effect of the hole diameter. After repeated loading, the USBC of the specimen decreased, the ultimate slip increased, and the ductility of the specimen decreased.
4. The USBC of the WECSC was mainly provided by the chemical bonding force and friction among the concrete, embedded web, stud, concrete dowel, and penetrating rebar. A new suitable calculation equation for the USBC was derived. The correlation coefficient between the calculated, experimental, and numerically simulated values was 0.93, indicating that the calculation method was more accurate and had a certain reference value.  
Conceptualization, X.X., H.T. and Y.W.; Methodology, X.X., H.T., Y.W. and Y.Z.; Software, S.H.; Formal analysis, T.S. and Y.W.; Investigation, X.X.; Resources, Y.Z.; Data curation, T.S. and S.H.; Writing--original draft, T.S. and S.H.; Writing--review & editing, X.X.; Supervision, H.T. and Y.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by [Chongqing Municipal Education Commission] grant number [KJZD-K202300702], [National Key R&D Program Fund] grant number [2022 YFB2302501-3], [State Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering] grant number [SKLBT-2103]. The APC was jointly funded by the above three projects.  
Not applicable.  
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors on request.  
Author [PERSON] was employed by the company \"Construction Branch of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company\". The remaining authors declare that this research wasconducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.