In recent decades continuous shear connectors have seen many improvements in research, developing many different types of connectors and enhancing their shear resistance. Despite these advancements, numerous construction companies still lean towards the traditional uncut I-beam for steel-concrete bridges, steel orthotropic deck bridges, or reinforced concrete bridges, instead of embracing steel-concrete bridges with continuous shear connectors. This paper presents a study on a shear connector in the form of a perfobond steel strip with an additional truss shear connection. This innovative design offers a simpler construction solution while maintaining shear resistance. The experimental study consisted of two sets of experiments – push-out tests and four-point flexural tests on a lightened beam. Furthermore, numerical models were created in finite element method (FEM) software. Internal stresses of the shear connector were analyzed, with the breaking points being determined. A parametric study was also carried out, investigating various diameters of the additional truss shear connector based on the numerical models from the push-out tests. The paper concludes with a discussion on the overall behavior of the connector, highlighting the determined ideal ratio between the steel web and truss diameter.
