Numerical and experimental investigations of the structural performance of timber concrete composite structures

In developing countries, the demand for safe, sustainable, and affordable housing remains high. Locally available low-cost materials and economical building concepts could reduce construction costs while maintaining adequate structural performance. Timber concrete composite structure could be one of the structural solutions for those people. This study investigated the structural performance of timber concrete composite by performing push-out tests experimentally and numerically. Materials used in this study were locally available timbers (Garjan/Gamari) and low-strength recycled brick aggregate reinforced concrete. ANSYS finite element software was used to simulate the push-out test by incorporating nonlinear material behaviour, interface conditions, and complex geometries. The failure load obtained from numerical study matched closely (3.18%) with the experimental values. Load-slip behaviour also showed reasonable agreement. Higher concrete strength increased both failure load and slip in experimental and numerical studies. Numerical studies also revealed that Garjan timber exhibited 7.1% higher failure loads than Gamari. Specimens with six rebar shear connectors outperformed those with two, without significantly altering slip. Energy absorption analysis showed that finite element models predicted lower elastic and plastic energy absorption than experiments, reinforcing a conservative design approach. This research contributes to the understanding of timber concrete composite behaviour, promoting safer and more efficient structural applications.