Stud shear connection design for composite concrete slab and wood beams

The stiffening and strengthening of wood floors with a thin collaborating concrete slab is a recent technique which appears particularly suitable for restoration work on ancient buildings. This research deals with the theoretical evaluation of the stiffness and strength of the connection between the wooden beam and the concrete slab. Toward this end, both the stiffness and the strength of the connection between the wooden beam and the concrete slab are theoretically assessed. The aim of the present research work is to define a simplified approach which allows the connection design to be based on deformation control. The stud connection is studied in the general case of wooden planks separating the concrete slab and the wooden beam. The initial stiffness of the connection is evaluated on the basis of the classical approach of the beam on elastic foundation, whereas the ultimate strength is based on the collapse mechanism with two plastic hinges in the stud shank. The failure mechanism leads to the definition of the minimum stud length. The results of the theoretical formulation are in good agreement with experimental results.