By Aiden ArmstrongA shear connector, which is also commonly known as a headed stud anchor, is used almost exclusively in construction applications. These stud anchors are used on bridge decks, for applying decking on buildings and for the construction of commercial buildings that use concrete and steel materials.
The Basics
A headed stud anchor is used for drawn arc types of stud welding processes. This process is very fast and uses a ferrule of ceramic to hold the molten pool in place and to create a full and complete weld around the entire bottom of the stud.
With the CD stud welding and the headed anchor, even the largest sizes of shear connectors can be welded in place rapidly and effectively. This prevents the need to prep or drill a hole and allows for rapid welding of a large number of these studs in a very short period of time.
The headed stud anchor itself is very basic in the design. It will have a “head” which looks similar to a standard bolt. However, the head itself will be round and can be thicker or thinner depending on the specific style of the stud.
The shaft or body of the stud is not threaded, and it ends in a flatter, slightly convex shape with a small ball of flux to create the molten pool during the drawn arc process.
Diameter and Length
The headed stud connector can be of any material, including mild steel and stainless steel. The length and body diameter is matched to the sheer force of the composite material to be connected.
In virtually all applications, there are specific standards that provide information on the length and diameter of shear connectors, as well as the spacing of the connectors, for the given construction type. This ensures safety in construction and design based on testing and best practices.
