The construction industry, particularly in steel frame construction, frequently employs stud welding techniques to attach shear studs to the top flange of steel beams. Although some stud connections are pre-welded to steel beams, it's more typical to weld them through steel decking sheets, known as “thru deck welding”. Following this, a concrete slab reinforced with steel mesh sheets or steel fibers is poured onto the steel decking, covering the exposed top of the studs.

To prevent the accumulation of contaminants like moisture or dirt that could impair the weld quality, thru deck stud welding should be done shortly after laying the steel decking. These shear connectors produce a robust vertical link between the steel beam, steel decking, and reinforced concrete floor slab, enhancing the overall composite action and transferring load-bearing force between the materials. The shank resists horizontal shear, while the head prevents vertical uplift.

In summary, the composite floor slab resulting from this process is light in weight yet has the capacity to bear more significant static and dynamic loads than any of the individual materials alone.