Stud shear connectors in wood-concrete composite beams

The stiffening and strengthening of wooden floors with a thin collaborating concrete slab is a recent technique, which appears particularly suitable for restoration of ancient buildings. In this experimental research work a simple kind of connection is studied, suitable for practice, using materials that are normally available in the ordinary restoration yard. Stud connectors are used which are obtained by ordinary smooth steel bars simply forced into calibrated holes drilled in the wooden beam. Two different types of connections are studied: one with the concrete slab in direct contact with the wood beam, the other with interposed planks. For the evaluation of the resistance of the connectors pure shear tests were carried out.