• 2DFEM
• 3DFEM
• Composite Structures
• Concrete
• Connector
• Cross-Laminated Timber
• Notch
• Shear Force
• Timber

In the design process of composite structures, such as in timber-concrete, the shear connectors represent a critical detail. In case of steel-concrete composite, the research has reached a good level of knowledge of the shear force-slip behavior, which, combined with a great number of applications of this combination type, led to the real need of regulations. In Timber-Concrete composite structures the notched connectors, even though are often used, are not taken in account in any code, concerning local stress distribution, stress peaks and elastic behavior.
This study, performed in the “Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH)” of Aachen (DE), on a slab module in composite timber-concrete, connected in shear by notches, wants to evaluate stress peaks in the timber contact surfaces between timber and concrete, parallel and perpendicular to the grain. The final aim of this thesis is to develop a 2D FEM, which should be able to represent a comparable global behavior and a safe sided evaluation of stresses parallel and perpendicular to the grain. Eventually, is shown the impact of the post-elastic behavior of concrete on these connectors, firstly assuming the deformation capacity of them in the timber part, then observing that the stiffness of these detailed is influenced by the cracking phase in the concrete part.