Investigation of the in-plane mechanical behavior of timber and steel–timber composite arches

Abstract

This research investigates the structural characteristics of steel-timber composite (STC) structures through a comprehensive investigation involving five-point bending tests conducted on both the timber arch and the STC arch. The proposed STC arch configuration employs glulam panels bonded to the steel arch using adhesive, effectively restraining the internal steel components and mitigating the risk of buckling. By analyzing the test results, mechanical behaviors of the specimens were observed, including failure modes, load–displacement curves, and load–strain responses. Notably, the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the STC arch exhibited an approximate 28.44% increase compared to that of the timber arch, while maintaining a steel ratio of 10%. The steel ratio, defined as the proportion between the cross-sectional area of the H-shaped steel and the total cross-sectional area, was a critical factor to evaluate both the improvement effect and economic benefits. Additionally, employing finite element models, the influence of steel strength, timber strength, and steel ratio on the ultimate load-bearing capacity was demonstrated. Furthermore, the proposed analytical methodologies can be effectively employed to evaluate the mechanical performance of the STC arch, offering a valuable framework for assessment.