Precast　concrete　deck　panels　(PCDPs)　with　shear　pockets　offer　several　advantages　to　accelerate　bridge　construction.　In　this　paper,　a　Y-shaped　connector　was　proposed,　which　was　placed　intermittently　in　the　ultra-high-performance　concrete　(UHPC)　shear　pockets　of　PCDPs　in　composite　structures.　To　assess　the　shear　behavior　of　the　Y-shaped　connector,　push-out　tests　were　performed　by　varying　plate　width　and　thickness,　diameter　of　the　penetrating　rebar　and　perfobond　hole,　and　type　of　grout.　The　load-slip　curves,　failure　modes,　strain　analysis,　and　shear　behaviors　were　investigated.　Then,　validated　finite　element　(FE)　models　were　established　to　investigate　the　relationship　between　the　shear　stiffness　and　number　of　perfobond　holes.　Finally,　the　shear　stiffness　model　of　the　Y-shaped　connector　considering　the　end-bearing　resistance　of　the　UHPC　was　proposed.　The　test　results　show　that　the　Y-shaped　connector　with　UHPC　grout　has　excellent　shear　performance　compared　to　the　specimen　with　normal　concrete　(NC)　grout.　The　shear　stiffness　of　the　Y-shaped　connector　is　greatly　influenced　by　the　effective　width　of　the　perfobond　plate.　The　shear　stiffness　of　the　Y-shaped　connector　increases　significantly　with　the　number　of　perfobond　holes.　The　analytical　model　has　a　precise　prediction　for　the　shear　stiffness　of　the　Y-shaped　connector.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd