Application of numerical methods in analysis of timber concrete composite system

Abstract

The analysis and design of composite timberconcrete (TCC) structures, where the connection of the constituent elements is achieved by dowel type fasteners, is a complex task due to taking into account the slip of the coupling means, i.e. interlayer slip on the contact surface of two materials. The application of simplified procedures and methods in the analysis of the TCC system is a convenient and desirable way of design that enables efficient tool for engineering practice. Widespread simplified calculation procedure, so called 'γ-method', is adopted in EN 1995. Methods based on differential or variational formulation are commonly applied when software for structural analysis are used. Galerkin's and Ritz's methods for analysis and design of TCC systems in the case of simply supported beam loaded with uniformly distributed load are shown in this paper. The selection of trial functions that describe the problem of elastic composite action as well as their influence on the final results were analyzed. For the purposes of numerical analysis, based on the proposed numerical models, several codes are written in MATLAB. The model applied in analysis by Galerkin's method, that best describes the problem of elastic coupling, was chosen for further comparative analysis with experimental data.

Keywords

• Ritz's method
• Galerkin's method
• γ-method
• weak form
• numerical analysis
• FEM
• timberconcrete composite
• partial interaction
• interlayer slip