Evaluation of timber- concrete composite floors

Abstract: An inevitable consequence of the increasingly larger buildings that we see around us is the demand for lighter construction components. Since floor slabs constitute the main part of the overall weight of multistory buildings, reducing their weight is a key step in reducing the overall weight of the construction. Usually this is done by using hollow core slabs or other types of all-concrete solutions. This thesis brings attention to an alternative solution. A timber-concrete composite deck reduces the weight several times compared to a standard concrete deck, without compromising the bending stiffness. Additional benefits include architectural considerations, possibilities of longer spans as well as free space between the timber components. With the aim of evaluating different timber-concrete composite solutions, an extensive literature review on the field was conducted. Vital construction parts and existing timber-concrete composite solutions were studied. Finally, two full scale composite deck specimens were tested. The fruit of this work is the presentation of a timber-concrete composite solution that can either be prefabricated or semi-prefabricated. The obvious field of application is multistory office buildings, where the solution offers an answer to demands of reduced overall weight, large open spaces and architectural benefits.