Finite Element Modelling of the Connection for Timber-concrete Composite Beams

The present study investigated the structural behaviour of the connection for timber-concrete composite (TCC) beams using numerical analysis. In the proposed TCC system, a concrete slab was connected to timber girders with mechanical shear connectors developed by the authors of this article. The load-slip behaviour of the connections was characterised in the push out test. Non-linear 3D finite element (FE) models of the tested joints were verified against experimental results. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results indicates that the adopted 3D model can adequately capture the response of the TCC joints.