Current practice and recent developments of shear connectors for timber concrete composite applications: A state of the art review

Abstract

Several studies have been made on timber concrete composite shear connectors and most of these connectors are brittle at failure. Ductile shear connectors are not studied as extensively as ordinary shear connectors and the interest to study high ductility shear connectors increased in the past two decades. Recent literature references were chosen and reviewed on construction techniques of timber concrete composite shear connectors. A detailed summary of timber concrete composites, the mechanical properties of connectors, and types of connection systems are presented. Experimentally validated design guides available for timber concrete composite systems are presented and the potential for the development of new simplified connectors is discussed. Finally, recent applications of timber concrete composite connectors and possible areas of future research regarding the development of high ductility and energy dissipation capacity shear connectors are stated.