Headed shear studs welded perpendicular to steel beam flanges are widely used in steel-concrete composite construction, and their load transfer mechanisms are well understood. However, the influence of stud inclination on structural performance remains unclear, despite practical construction constraints that often prevent perfectly vertical installation. This study experimentally investigates the behaviour of inclined headed shear studs. Eight push-out specimens with stud inclinations of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° were tested. Results show that ultimate shear resistance decreased by 23.38%, 37.57%, and 50.45% for 15°, 30°, and 45° inclinations, respectively, compared to vertical studs. Conversely, inclined studs exhibited enhanced ductility, with maximum slip values ranging from 16.29 to 19.95 mm, exceeding the 6 mm limit specified in BS5400. Experimental shear strengths were also compared with predictions from existing design codes, leading to meaningful conclusions.
Islam et al. (Thu,) studied this question.