This　paper　presents　a　novel　high-strength　U-shaped　bolt　(HUB)　shear　connector,　which　can　enhance　the　integrity,　disassembly　ease,　construction　quality,　and　efficiency　of　prefabricated　steel–concrete　composite　beams.　Seventeen　push-out　tests　were　conducted　to　investigate　the　effect　of　the　bolt　diameter,　reserved　aperture　ratio　of　concrete　slab,　bolt　width–diameter　ratio,　bolt　length–diameter　ratio,　and　concrete　slab　thickness　on　the　shear　performance　of　the　HUB　shear　connector.　Specimens　with　a　short　length–diameter　ratio　(h/d　≤　3)　exhibit　damage　characterized　by　bolt　pull-out　and　bolt　bending,　while　those　with　a　long　length–diameter　ratio　(h/d　≥　4)　experienced　bolt　shear　damage.　Subsequently,　a　finite　element　model　was　developed　for　the　push-out　tests,　enabling　a　comprehensive　study　of　the　shear　transfer　mechanism,　failure　mechanism,　and　stress　distribution　of　the　HUB　shear　connector.　Finally,　the　shear　resistance　models　from　different　codes　were　verified.　The　total　slip　and　simplified　load–slip　models　were　proposed.　©　2024　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers