Shear Studs: The 6,816 Tiny Pins That Make Composite Beams Work

Shear studs (headed studs) weld to the top flange of steel beams, locking the concrete slab to the steel beam so they work as one composite unit. Below is data from an actual composite beam project.

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Basic Specs

 

Item	Value
Product	Shear stud / headed stud
Standard	G/T 10433
Material	ML15
Size	φ22 × 150 mm
Unit weight	0.5 kg/pc
Quantity	6,816 pcs
Total weight	3,408 kg (3.4 t)
Application	Steel-concrete composite beam

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How It Works

Shear studs connect steel beam and concrete slab:

Welded to beam: stud welded to top flange of steel beam

Embedded in slab: concrete poured around studs

Shear transfer: studs resist horizontal slip between steel and concrete

Composite action: steel beam + concrete slab act as one T-beam

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Advantages

Composite efficiency — studs make steel and concrete work together, saving 20–30% steel

Fast welding — stud welding gun fires in seconds, no manual lay-up

High shear capacity — φ22 stud carries ~100 kN shear per stud

Automatic welding — drawn arc stud welding, consistent quality

Standard system — Q355 beam + C30 slab, widely proven

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Disadvantages / Limitations

Welding equipment needed — requires stud welding machine, not ordinary welder

Weld inspection — each stud bend-tested after welding

Concrete must cover — slab must be thick enough to embed studs

Corrosion at base — stud base weld can rust if slab leaks

Layout optimized by analysis — too few studs = slip, too many = waste

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Typical Applications

Composite floor beams — steel beam + concrete slab in office buildings

Bridge decks — steel box girder + concrete deck composite

Composite columns — concrete-filled tube with shear connectors

Mezzanine floors — existing building added floor, composite beams

Parking garage decks — long-span parking structure floors

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Installation Notes

Studs drawn-arc welded to top flange of steel beam in shop

Welding voltage and time set per φ22 stud spec

After welding, bend 30° test on sample studs

Concrete slab poured after deck mesh placed around studs

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Shear studs — ML15, φ22×150 mm, 6,816 pcs, 3.4 tons total, drawn-arc welded to steel beam flanges, locking concrete slabs for composite beam action

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