Research progress of factors influencing mechanical properties and design methods of stud shear connector in steel-UHPC composite structures

Steel-ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) composite structures are characterized by their ability to effectively utilize the material properties of both UHPC and steel. They have significant advantages in reducing the self-weight of the structure, improving structural stress state, and enhancing bearing capacity. Therefore, these structures have experienced rapid development in the field of bridge engineering. To promote the application of stud shear connector in steel-UHPC composite structures, this paper first reviews the research history of UHPC and stud shear connector. It then summarizes the experimental methods for shear connectors. After that, it presents the status quo of research on the factors affecting the mechanical performance of shear connectors in steel-UHPC composite structures, with the focus on concrete parameters, connector parameters, and other influencing factors. The paper also summarizes and compares the predictive performance of various physical formulas for the bearing capacity of stud shear connector in steel-UHPC composite structures. Additionally, it explores the application of artificial intelligence technologies in the auxiliary design of shear connectors. Finally, the paper outlines future research directions for stud shear connector in steel-UHPC composite structures.