Push-Out Tests for Determining the Strength and Stiffness of the Channel Connectors—Experimental Study

Steel–concrete composite structures have been used for a long time in the construction of bridges and buildings. The composite action between steel and concrete is achieved by means of shear connectors. In this paper, push-out test was carried out using the channel connectors in the composite specimens. The parameters considered in the test were the number of channel connectors and specimens with or without ribbed deck sheet. Four specimens were tested to failure and observed that the failure of the specimens is mainly due to channel connectors and concrete slab. The specimens with ribbed decking sheets carried a higher load when compared to the specimen without decking sheets. The strength of the channel connectors was calculated and compared with the codal provision and proposed equations of the researchers. The values calculated using equations were in good agreement with the experimental test results. From the load–slip and load–strain behaviour, it is also observed that the specimens with decking sheet are stiffer than the specimens without decking sheet.