Abstract:To elucidate the flexural shear performance and load-transfer mechanism of prefabricated segmental beams, by establishing nonlinear finite-element models and verifying them with the experimental data, the influence of different construction parameters on the flexural shear performance of shear key joints in segmented beams is analyzed. The results indicate that the layout position of shear key and the block depth of shear key have a significant impact on the performance of segmented beams in resisting flexural shear loads. The shear keys with key teeth located in the middle of the beam section can more effectively transfer shear force and enhance the overall load-bearing capacity. The load-bearing capacity and ductility of shear keys arranged in longer segments are both superior to those arranged in shorter segments. Increasing the depth of shear key block can improve flexural shear performance of structure, but the enhancement effect tends to saturate when the depth of the shear bond block is 0.4 times the key height. The excessive depth may increase the processing difficulty and the local crushing risk. It is recommended that in the design, the depth of the shear key block be 0.4 times the key height to take into account both the load-bearing performance and the construction feasibility of the segmented beam.