Long-term and collapse tests on a timber-concrete composite beam with glued-in connection

The paper reports the results of a comprehensive experimental test performed on a 6 m span timber-concrete composite beam with glued re-bar connection. The beam had first been subjected to sustained load in unsheltered outdoor conditions for 5 years. Eventually a ramp loading test up to failure was performed. The long-term test showed an increase in deflection mainly during the first two years, while the slip rose during the whole testing period. Thermohygrometric variations of environment caused an important fluctuation of all quantities on both yearly and daily scale. By comparing experimental and analytical results, it is highlighted that composite beams in outdoor conditions should be assigned to the 3rd service class according to the Eurocode 5 (EC5). Analytical predictions based on approximate formulae suggested by such regulation are found to be not conservative for the long-term behaviour and fairly accurate for the collapse behaviour. Since the simplified formulae proposed by the latest versions of the EC5-Parts 1.1 and 2 largely underestimate the actual connection stiffness and strength, it is recommended that realistic values of these properties, such as those obtained through push-out tests, be used when designing timber-concrete composite beams.