Normal stress distribution of timber-concrete composite panels with an adhesive shear connection under thermal and humidity loadings

Humidity and temperature conditions have a substantial influence on the stresses and total deformation of timber-concrete composite panels, especially in terms of the high rigidity of the shear connection. In the present research, the normal stresses that resulted from the hygrothermal load of timber-concrete composite panels with an adhesive shear connection were analyzed. Three timber-concrete composite panel specimens were placed in controlled climate conditions. Strains in two orthogonal directions were measured. The stress distribution resulted from an approximate analytical calculation model. The results show that the highest stresses occurred near the shear connection. An increase in timber moisture content by 2.1% was predicted to result in exceeding the flexural tensile strength in the concrete perpendicular to the timber grain direction. At an outdoor temperature range, stresses influenced only by the temperature alone will possibly not cause a failure of timber or concrete. Under winter environmental conditions, the stress in timber can possibly reach 12% of the bending strength of the timber used.