Axial compression of steel–timber composite column consisting of H-shaped steel and glulam

•A new composite column with H-shaped steel and glulam was proposed.•Both overall and local inner-steel buckling of the STC column can be monitored by measured strain.•An equation for calculating the load-carrying capacity of the STC column when yielding was proposed. A steel–timber composite (STC) column made of H-shaped steel and glulam is proposed in this paper. This STC column is constructed by wrapping the H-shaped steel with the adhesive-applied glulam, which provides confinement to reduce the buckling behaviour of the inner steel. Six STC specimens with lengths of 1100 mm, 1700 mm and 2300 mm were studied using an axial compression test in comparison to three steel and three timber specimens. The distinctive behaviours of the specimens were identified, including the failure mode, load–axial displacement relationship, load–lateral deflection relationship and load–axial strain response. The results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the STC column are significantly affected by column length. The interaction mechanism between the steel and timber materials was evaluated by analysing the yield strain and the ductility coefficient. The composite effect of the STC column was also discussed by comparing the average strengths. Furthermore, the load-carrying capacity calculation formula including parameter selection of the STC column when yielding was proposed.