Push‐out tests on steel‐timber‐concrete composite connections (STCC)

Abstract This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of Steel‐Timber‐Concrete Composite (STCC) connections that combine the benefits of each material. The Cross‐Laminated Timber (CLT) significantly reduces the carbon footprint of buildings, while steel provides the necessary load‐bearing capacity. The concrete layer enhances both vibrational comfort and acoustic performance. A welded stud inserted into a round notch cut into a five‐layer CLT panel filled with concrete ensures the connection between the three materials. The main fibers of the CLT are oriented perpendicularly to the beam's axis, as they contribute to the slab's resistance in this direction. The study involves five series of three push‐out tests varying the notch diameter in the CLT panel, the stud height, the CLT to concrete thickness ratio, and the concrete strength. These variations aim to study the impact of these parameters on the connection's stiffness and the ultimate strength. The impact of the notch diameter, stud height and concrete strength is substantial in contrast to the ratio of CLT to concrete thickness.