Development and Application of Simplified and Advanced Modeling Procedures for Timber-Concrete Composite Structures

Timber-concrete composite (TCC) structures combine the natural aesthetic and sustainability of timber with the strength and fire resistance of concrete, offering several structural, environmental, and economic advantages. A crucial element in the performance of TCC structures is the connection between concrete and timber which determines the effectiveness of the composite action. Among various types of connections available in the literature, notched connections provide a cost-effective and structurally robust solution for constructing TCC systems. However, existing analytical models for design and assessment of notched connections are limited and mostly based on oversimplifying assumptions. The first two phases of this research program aim to develop both simplified and advanced modeling methods to better understand the behavior of notched connections. The first phase focuses on modeling notched connections in pushout tests, while the second phase investigates their behavior in TCC beams. In each phase, detailed 2D finite element (FE) models are developed and validated against various test specimens, followed by conducting a series of parametric studies to assess the influence of key design parameters. Based on FE analysis results, closed-form equations are derived to approximate stress distributions in notched connections, accounting for nonlinear and multi-axial stress conditions in concrete. These equations form the basis of a simplified analytical model proposed for predicting the load-carrying capacity and failure mode of notched connections. The difference between the behavior of notched connections in pushout and beam configurations is investigated to ensure the proposed analytical model is applicable to both configurations. The proposed model is verified against experimental and FE analysis results and further evaluated against the Eurocode standard. The final phase of the research involves extending the modeling capabilities of a three-dimensional FE analysis software, VecTor3, for performance assessment of TCC structures, with a specific focus on the two-way behavior of cross-laminated (CLT)-concrete composite slabs. Appropriate constitutive material models, failure criteria, and link elements are implemented into the software to accommodate modeling of timber and its connection with concrete. The analysis procedure is validated against timber, concrete, and TCC test specimens.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering, Civil

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Mirshekar Syahkal, Sepideh

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2025 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2025-16509

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/43876