Preliminary research towards a semi-prefabricated LVL-concrete composite floor system for the Australasian market
The choice of the best floor solution has always been a key issue in the design and construction of multi-storey timber buildings. Strict performance requirements such as effective acoustic separation of inter-tenancy floors, thermal mass, fire resistance, limitation of deflection, resistance to vib...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Engineers Media - Institution of Engineering Australia
2009
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/5749/ http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/5749/1/AJSE_9%2D3_Yeoh.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The choice of the best floor solution has always been a key issue in the design and
construction of multi-storey timber buildings. Strict performance requirements such as effective
acoustic separation of inter-tenancy floors, thermal mass, fire resistance, limitation of deflection,
resistance to vibrations and effective diaphragm action are very hard to comply with if only timber
is used. The main purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary and some ongoing research in
the short- and long-term carried out mainly at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, for the
realisation of a semi-prefabricated laminated veneer lumber (LVL)-concrete composite floor system
in both the local and Australasian market. The paper discusses a novel semi-prefabricated LVLconcrete
composite system where panels made from LVL joists and plywood flooring are prefabricated
off-site. Once the panels are lifted onto the supports and connected side-by-side, a concrete topping
is cast-in-situ so as to form a continuous slab connecting all the panels. Composite action between
the concrete topping and the panels is achieved using different types of connectors, such as various
forms of notches cut from the LVL joists and reinforced with coach screws or toothed metal plates
pressed in the LVL joists. After pointing out the advantages of the proposed system over traditional
only-timber and only-concrete floor solutions, the paper describes push-out tests in the short-term
on connections used in the LVL-concrete composite. Tests to failure of small LVL-concrete composite
blocks (push-out tests) with different types and shapes of connection systems were performed at the
University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
The results are parametrically evaluated and discussed in detail. The failure mechanism of the
notched connection is highlighted together with the strength and stiffness values for each tested
connection system. Subsequently, the four best connection systems were identified and used in
beam specimens of 8-10 m in span. The experimental program on the beams is presented briefly in
order to provide information of the different phases of the project. |
|---|