Capacity and Failure-Mode Prediction of Mass Timber Panel–Concrete Composite Floor System with Mechanical Connectors

Abstract

Lack of design standards and guidelines is the most important barrier limiting widespread use of mass timber panel–concrete (MTPC) composite floor systems, a preferred choice by designers in modern multistory mass timber construction. The commonly used Gamma method of designing timber–concrete composite floors has some limitations and cannot predict the load-carrying capacity and failure modes of composite floor systems. Therefore, an analytical model was developed considering the interlayer connector behavior under the elastic-plastic range along with an acoustic layer between timber and concrete, to accurately predict the capacity and failure modes of MTPC composite floor system. One-way acting composite floor panels were tested under four-point bending with different configurations to investigate the influence of different parameters and to validate the developed capacity prediction model. It was found that the model can predict the capacity of the MTPC composite system within 17% of the experimental value and the associated failure mode. This developed capacity prediction model for MTPC composite floors will facilitate the use of these system in mass timber construction.