In　a　steel-concrete　composite　beam　(hereafter　referred　to　as　a　composite　beam),　partial　interaction　between　the　concrete　slab　and　the　steel　beam　results　in　an　appreciable　increase　in　the　beam　deflections　relative　to　full　interaction　behavior.　Moreover,　the　distribution　type　of　the　shear　connectors　has　a　great　impact　on　the　degree　of　the　composite　action　between　the　two　components　of　the　beam.　To　reveal　the　effect　of　shear　connector　layout　in　the　performance　of　composite　beams,　on　the　basis　of　a　developed　one-dimensional　composite　beam　element　validated　by　the　closed-form　precision　solutions　and　experimental　results,　this　paper　optimizes　the　layout　of　shear　connectors　in　composite　beams　with　partial　interaction　by　adopting　a　stepwise　uniform　distribution　of　shear　connectors　to　approximate　the　triangular　distribution　of　the　shear　connector　density　without　increasing　the　total　number　of　shear　connectors.　Based　on　a　comparison　of　all　the　different　types　of　stepped　rectangles　distribution,　this　paper　finally　suggests　the　3-stepped　rectangles　distribution　of　shear　connectors　as　a　reasonable　and　applicable　optimal　method.　©　2019　by　the　authors.