Structural Response of Timber-Concrete Composite Beams Predicted by Finite Element Models and Manual Calculations

This paper presents the structural response of timber-concrete composite (TCC) beams predicted by finite element models (i.e. continuum-based and 1D frame) and manual calculations. Details of constitutive laws adopted for modelling timber and concrete are provided and application of the Hashin damage model in conjunction with continuum-based FE for capturing failure of timber under bi-axial stress state is discussed. A simplified strategy for modelling the TCC connection is proposed in which the connection is modelled by a nonlinear spring and the full load-slip behaviour of each TCC connection is expressed with a formula that can be directly implemented in the general purpose FE codes and used for nonlinear analysis of TCC beams. The developed FE models are verified by examples taken from the literature. Furthermore, the load-displacement response and ultimate loading capacity of the TCC beams are determined according to Eurocode 5 method and compared with FE model predictions.