As engineering advances, new materials are introduced, new equipment is developed, and the world’s capabilities for building and structural construction are changing rapidly. New and improved methods for building taller, stronger, and better buildings are tested and implemented every year. One construction technology that continues to prove effective in both cost and performance is the use of shear connectors as reinforcement for several building components. Northland Fastening Systems provides stud construction welding services, equipment, and tools for many types of construction projects, including shear connectors in varying sizes and forms.
While some shear connectors are not installed with stud welding techniques, there are types of shear connectors that are highly-effective when joined to a connection point using a stud welder.
Stud Welded Shear Connectors
- Shear Connectors: NFS provides a type of shear connector that’s the most commonly used across the world in building construction. Offered in varying sizes, these shear connectors are used in concrete-to-beam connections and reinforce that joining with a resistance to shear load stresses. The shear connector is welded to a steel beam and fixed through a concrete slab with additional steel plates supporting the flexibility and strength of the slab.
- Headed Studs: The headed anchor weld studs we offer in several sizes are a perfect example of a variation of the common type of shear connector. These studs have a wide base that provides a larger weld point to steel beams or girders and can be used in most concrete-to-beam construction projects.
Construction Welding Applications of Shear Connectors
Shear connectors are a critical way of creating strong connection points that hold up to shear loading. They are used in many applications including, but not limited to:
- Connecting upright steel beams to a concrete foundation
- Connecting load bearing beams to a concrete flooring in multi-story buildings
- Connecting composite slabs to steel beams in overpasses and other small to large scale bridges
- Reinforcing roads and sidewalks and preventing excessive freezing damage
- Connecting steel decking to concrete or composite ship floors
- Connecting metal roofing to interior ceiling materials
There are hundreds of applications of shear connectors in building and structural construction. This is because they are a vital piece of engineering that provides a powerful connection point between two materials that are difficult to connect otherwise. If you’re embarking on a construction project that requires the use of shear connectors, Northland Fastening Systems has the equipment and accessories you need.
Contact us at (651) 730-7770 to learn more about construction welding and other types of stud welding, or request a quote from NFS today.