Experimental study of the mechanical shear behaviour of steel rebar connectors in timber–concrete structure with leafy wood species

Abstract

Abstract This study presents the experimental results of double shear tests obtained on timber–concrete connection systems. We evaluated the influence of factors such as the shape and diameter of the connector, grade of steel, and wood species on the mechanical shear performance of timber–concrete systems. The mechanical properties, such as the elastic shear strength, slip modulus, and failure mode of the tested specimens, are obtained from the load–slip curves of the push-out tests. The connectors tested are made from high-bond (HB) steels. The diameters used for the connectors are 10 and 12 mm and are of two shapes, straight and 90° head curved; steel grades are S400 and S500. The performance of the connectors has been tested on three species of wood, namely Iroko, Dabema, and Ayous. These solutions are chosen because they are simple to apply in a timber–concrete structure using materials available in the local market. We summarize the results of this work as follows: the systems of connection studies have the ability to respond to shear stresses; the failure mode of the connectors is ductile; and the timber species has an influence on the mechanical shear behaviour of the connectors.