Experimental and numerical analysis of a full-scale timber-concrete-composite beam from simply supported to frame-connected

Abstract: Numerous TCC (timber-concrete composite) systems have been proposed and studied in recent years. Most of the studies have focused on the behaviour of the timber-concrete shear connection and the flexural behaviour of floor elements. This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical study comparing the behaviour of a simply support beam and a beam connected in continuity to mixed TCC supports (a frame-connected beam). Full-scale tests were carried out with 370 mm wide beams and 5.9 m span. Experimental results have shown that the deflection in the frame-connected beam was less than 50% of those observed in the simply supported beam. A three-dimensional finite element model has been validated and calibrated from the test results. This model has been used to evaluate the moment redistribution in the frame-connected beam which, in the case studied, allows the maximum stresses in the timber members to be reduced by up to 49%. Based on the numerical and experimental results, a dimensioning criterion is proposed for the frame-connected beams.