Research on Mechanical Properties of Steel Shell Concrete Immersed Tube Shear Connectors

Abstract

Structural designs of shear connector in immersed tunnel is one of the most significant key technical problems in tunnel designing. According to investigations conducted in Shenzhong Link project, this paper combined numerical simulation methods and experimental verifications and to research effects of shear connector void, stress state, and opening holes on performances of steel–concrete connectors, and also discussed differences of shear slip curves under the influence of factors above, as well as impacts on bearing capacities and stiffnesses of connectors. Through numerical simulations of void and non-void connectors by finite element method, patterns of concrete stress, connector behaviors under tension and compression and shear stresses were analyzed respectively. Additionally, reductions of bearing capacity and stiffness caused by voids and openings which were controlled as variables were discussed. Furthermore, a calculation formula of shear connector bearing capacity is proposed which is in consistent with experimental verifications with considerations of void, stress state and opening. Researches in this paper could provide knowledge for reasonable structural designs of structural connectors in future immersed tunnel engineering construction.