Product Introduction
Headed shear connector studs, often referred to as shear connector welding screws, produced to ISO 13918 and AWS D1.1/D1.1M for through‑deck stud welding in composite construction. The stud is welded directly to the top flange of a steel beam through the profiled metal deck, creating a positive shear connection between the steel frame and the cast‑in‑place concrete slab. This mechanical bond transfers longitudinal shear and develops composite beam action.

Material & Mechanical Properties
Manufactured from weldable low‑carbon steel with controlled aluminum content for arc stabilisation. After drawn‑arc stud welding, the fusion zone achieves full penetration and meets the tensile and ductility requirements defined by AWS D1.1. The welded stud provides a connection that exceeds the cross‑sectional strength of the shank, ensuring shear transfer without premature failure.

Dimensions & Identification

• Nominal diameters: 10 mm to 25 mm (metric) and equivalent inch sizes

• Length before welding: 40 mm to 300 mm

• Head form: cheese head per ISO 13918, with a flat bearing top

• Traceability: each stud carries the manufacturer’s identification mark stamped on the head

Ceramic Ferrules
Every stud is supplied with a cordierite ceramic ferrule. The ferrule surrounds the weld zone during the arc welding cycle, shielding the molten pool, maintaining weld shape, and protecting the arc from atmospheric contamination. Cordierite material withstands the intense thermal shock of stud welding without melting or cracking. The ferrule is removed after the weld solidifies.

Installation & Weld Integrity Verification
Welding is performed with a drawn‑arc stud gun after the metal deck is positioned over the supporting steel beam. The gun lifts the stud, establishes an electric arc that melts the stud tip and a portion of the beam flange, then plunges the stud into the molten pool—burning through the deck without requiring pre‑drilled holes.
Post‑weld quality verification includes visual inspection of the full‑circumference flash and weld fillet dimensions. A standard mechanical bend test follows: striking the side of the welded stud with an iron mallet bends the stud to a specified angle without fracture or separation from the beam. A stud that breaks at the weld interface under this shear‑bending force indicates an unsound weld and must be replaced.

Application Suitability
Composite floor and roof decks in steel‑framed buildings, bridge decks, mezzanines, industrial platforms, and other structures where the concrete slab is designed to act compositely with the underlying steel beams. Shear connector welding studs are mandatory in projects requiring enhanced load capacity and reduced structural steel weight through composite action.

Technical Parameters