Numerical analysis of shear connections in LVL timber-concrete composite beams

The use of timber-concrete composites (TCC) with engineered wood products such as Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) represents an efficient and sustainable alternative in civil construction. However, the absence of specific national standards and the need to enhance the understanding of the structural behavior of notched connections motivated this study. This work aimed to numerically evaluate, using the Finite Element Method (FEM), the behavior of TCC beams with LVL and notched connections, with a focus on shear analysis and failure modes. Three-dimensional models were developed using the Abaqus software, with LVL characterized as an elastoplastic material and concrete modeled using the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model. The model validation was performed based on experimental results from the literature for three distinct specimens. The numerical results accurately reproduced the overall behavior of the beams, particularly in the elastic phase, with mean square errors ranging from 6.74% to 10.36%. The failure mode analysis indicated that the tensile failure of the LVL is the safest criterion for predicting the structure's load-bearing capacity. Additionally, a parametric study demonstrated that using higher-strength concretes (C50 vs. C20) can increase the load-bearing capacity by more than 50%, and that the wood species (European Beech vs. Eucalyptus) decisively influences the composite's performance. The study contributed to the optimization of connections in TCC systems, providing data for the development of future standards.