Timber-concrete composite slab using notched connections and nails in plywood units: Experimental investigation and γ-method validation

This study investigated a novel timber-concrete composite (TCC) slab system utilizing notched connections and nails in plywood units. The TCC slab system uses multiple plywood units with grooves, which are connected to timber laminae using common nails. It was developed to address the limitations of existing TCC slabs, where the use of existing mass timber products and conventional notched connections reduces their manufacturing efficiency. The TCC slab design has a hollow-core configuration which can accommodate electrical and telecommunication wiring systems to enhance the aesthetics of the timber ceiling design. The research aims to validate the γ-method for the structural design of the TCC system. The γ-method estimation and experimental investigation of bending performance were conducted in three different configurations to increase the reliability of validation. Compared to the results of four-point bending tests, the analytical results showed good agreement while predicting accurate failure modes, with differences of up to 4.73 %, 7.53 %, and 5.22 % for the effective bending stiffness, load-bearing capacity, and composite efficiency, respectively. The minor differences and accurate prediction of failure modes validated the applicability of the γ-method for predicting the structural performance of the novel TCC system. • A novel TCC system was developed using notched connections and nails in plywood units. • The shear properties of the shear connection system were experimentally investigated. • The bending performance of the TCC system was experimentally investigated. • The structural design of the TCC system was validated with the γ-method.