Papers

@article{estevez-cimadevila_full_2023,

title = {Full scale testing of timber-concrete composite floors in an overhanging configuration},

author = {Javier Estévez-Cimadevila and Félix Suárez-Riestra and Emilio Martín-Gutiérrez and Dolores Otero-Chans},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141029623008751},

doi = {10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116460},

issn = {0141-0296},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-09-01},

urldate = {2026-08-13},

journal = {Engineering Structures},

volume = {291},

pages = {116460},

abstract = {The behavior of timber-concrete composite floors in an overhanging configuration has been analysed. The floor consisted of a prefabricated T-shape piece formed by a glulam flange glued to a plywood rib and connected to an upper concrete slab poured in situ. The connection between both materials is achieved by penetrating the concrete into the holes made in the rib. Three-point bending tests were performed with a total of 8 specimens with depth of 25, 30 and 35 cm and overhanging length of 1.50, 1.80 and 2.10 m, respectively. That means a length-to-depth ratio equal to 6 in all cases. The experimental results showed that the lowest ultimate load value obtained was 8.03 and 5.55 times higher than the estimated service load for a building with residential use (5 kN/m2) and public use (9 kN/m2), respectively. Two types of failure were observed after a marked cracking process in the concrete as the ultimate load value was approached: tensile failure affecting the plywood rib and shear failure at the glulam flange-plywood rib connection. The maximum deflection for the total load was between 1/358 and 1/523 of the overhanging span for the estimated loads for a residential use building (5 kN/m2), and between 1/266 and 1/390 for public use buildings (9 kN/m2). Regarding to vibrations, floors in an overhanging configuration with a length-to-depth ratio equal to 6 and a simply supported portion equal to four times the length of the overhanging portion, with total loads up to 9.0 kN/m2, both in multi-storey buildings for residential and office use, present a high comfort level. Consequently, the proposed timber-concrete composite (TCC) overhanging floor solution has demonstrated high stiffness and strength that make it a suitable alternative for the construction of high-performance lightweight floors in multi-storey buildings.},

keywords = {Cantilever floors, Mixed beams, Timber flooring systems, Timber-concrete composite},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{martin-gutierrez_flexural_2023,

title = {Flexural behaviour of a new timber-concrete composite structural flooring system. Full scale testing},

author = {Emilio Martín-Gutiérrez and Javier Estévez-Cimadevila and Félix Suárez-Riestra and Dolores Otero-Chans},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710222016126},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105606},

issn = {2352-7102},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-04-01},

urldate = {2026-08-10},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {64},

pages = {105606},

abstract = {Timber-concrete composite systems are a high-performance alternative for building floors, of great interest in the current context of environmental concerns. Looking for a more eco-friendly solution, the paper presents a new flooring system with a wood-concrete connection that does not require adhesives or special metal elements. Four-point bending tests were performed on TCC flooring samples with a span of 6.0, 7.2 and 8.4 m. Its cross section was a prefabricated piece in the shape of an inverted T made up of a lower glulam flange, glued together with a central plywood rib with aligned holes in its upper part that go through the entire thickness of the plywood. The set was completed with a top layer of poured-in-place concrete. The connection between both materials is achieved by penetrating the concrete into the rib holes. Additionally, corrugated steel bars were placed through said holes to achieve ductile behaviour. In all cases, a slenderness ratio of L/24 was used. The experimental results showed that the lowest value of ultimate load obtained was 4.3 times higher than the total service load estimated for a building for public use (9 kN/m2). The maximum deflection of the total load was between L/573 and L/709 for the loads corresponding to a building for public use (9 kN/m2) and between L/1069 and L/1340 for the case of residential type building (5 kN/m2). An analysis of the effects of vibrations in the service limit state in relation to user comfort has been included. The results indicate that the system satisfies the requirements for the intended uses. Consequently, the proposed solution shows its effectiveness both in terms of strength and stiffness for the construction of light floors, being easy to build and having high performance.},

keywords = {Flexural behaviour, Four-point bending test, Timber flooring systems, Timber-concrete composite},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{estevez-cimadevila_timber-concrete_2022,

title = {Timber-concrete composite structural flooring system},

author = {Javier Estévez-Cimadevila and Emilio Martín-Gutiérrez and Félix Suárez-Riestra and Dolores Otero-Chans and José Antonio Vázquez-Rodríguez},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710222000912},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104078},

issn = {2352-7102},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-05-01},

urldate = {2026-08-10},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {49},

pages = {104078},

abstract = {An integrated solution is presented for the execution of building structures using timber-concrete composite (TCC) sections that make efficient use of the mechanical properties of both materials. The system integrates flooring and shaped prefabricated beams composed of a lower flange of glued laminated timber (GLT) glued to one or more plywood or laminated veneer lumber (LVL) ribs and linked to an upper concrete slab poured in situ. The parts may be prefabricated in T shape (only one rib), in π shape (two ribs), or with multiple ribs to create wider pieces, thereby reducing installation operations. The basis of the system is the timber-concrete shear connection in the form of holes through the ribs, which are filled by the in situ-poured concrete. The connection is complemented with the arrangement of reinforcement bars through the holes. Three test campaigns were undertaken. Shear tests of the timber-concrete connection in 12 test pieces. Shear test along the wood-wood glue line (72 planes tested) and wood -plywood (24 planes tested). Delamination test of the glued planes (24 wood-wood planes and 8 wood-plywood planes). The results indicate a high strength joint, with ductile failure and high composite effect. Likewise, the shear test results along the glue line and the delamination tests show section integrity under demanding hygrothermal conditions. Preliminary sizing curves were developed considering the Gamma Method to evaluate the performance of the system. The results show the possibilities of the system, as pouring the upper slab concrete in situ makes it possible to create continuous semi-rigid joints between the elements. This gives rise to slender flooring structures, light and with high stiffness plane against horizontal forces.},

keywords = {Mixed beams, Shear connector, Timber flooring systems, Timber-concrete composite},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}