Abstract
Fatigue tests on steel-concrete composite specimens with different shear connection arrangements are presented in this paper to evaluate the cyclic incremental deformations, deflection and slippage, and cyclic incremental strains in the shear connectors. The full shear connection between the concrete decks and steel beams was achieved by two sizes of shear connectors in two arrangements, one row and two rows. The fatigue tests were conducted to one million cycles under a four-point bending test. Shear connectors' arrangement played a major role in controlling longitudinal fatigue cracks in the concrete decks. Shear connectors with large diameter can be arranged in one row over the centerline of the steel beam web to achieve the full shear connection, freeing up most of the top flange width, and enhancing safety conditions for construction workers. However, a concentration of the shear force transferred between the concrete deck and the steel beam occurred, which led to a high level of fatigue damage in the concrete around these connectors. This high level of damage caused more incremental deformations, deflection and slippage, and incremental strains in the shear connectors relative to the two-row arrangement during fatigue loading.