Research Outputs
Performance of timber-concrete composite members: a Study on connectors and failure modes
In recent years, timber-concrete composite (TCC) structures have become increasingly popular across Europe for both new builds and renovations. These systems combine the benefits of concrete and timber: concrete provides excellent compressive strength, while timber offers tensile strength, lightweight properties, and aesthetic appeal. The concrete slab protects timber beams from moisture, enhancing durability, especially in bridges. Various connectors enable effective interaction between concrete and timber, ensuring structural performance. Factors such as material properties, connector type, and installation quality significantly impact performance. Among these, the type of mechanical connector and the connection angle are key influences. To evaluate bond efficiency, twelve specimens were subjected to identical shear-compression tests. Four configurations were tested: straight screws (SS), straight nails (SN), tilted screws (TS), and tilted nails (TN). Three specimens per configuration were constructed with Pino Radiata timber and M30 grade concrete. Results showed that nail bonds allowed greater deformation, but SS bonds performed best, resisting 1.158 ± 0.407 MPa—41.3% ± 34.8% stronger than SN, 110.7% ± 39.2% stronger than TS, and 118.9% ± 39.9% stronger than TN. Failure modes varied by bond type, with critical failure and timber-concrete slippage being the most common.
Improvement of the analytical model of an energy dissipator and validation with experimental tests of a prototype
An improved numerical formulation for a self-centering frictional damper is presented. This was experimentally validated through quasi-static tests carried out on a steel-made prototype of the damper. Its design is ad hoc for implementation in the seismic protection of industrial storage racks. The conceptual model of the device was adjusted to the prototype built. The formulation of the analytical model, a parametric analysis of it, and the validation with experimental results are presented. The improvement of the model presented here explicitly considers elements included in the prototype, such as a system of load transmission rings and the friction between all of the components that slide or rotate relatively. In the experimental validation, the parameters of the improved model were determined. The numerical predictions for the improved model were contrasted with those obtained with the original one and with the experimental results. This demonstrates that the improvement leads to a better adjustment of the numerical predictions concerning the experimental measurements, which is useful for nonlinear analysis. The device withstood forces of considerable magnitude in addition to dissipating enough energy per load–unload cycle to be effective in the seismic protection of industrial storage racks.
Innovative use of single-use face mask fibers for the production of a sustainable cement mortar
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, biomedical waste management has overwhelmed both developed and developing nations. It is now a critical issue that has to be addressed with minimal possible adverse impact on the environment. This study introduced a technique of recycling face masks into polypropylene fibers for use in concrete. This proposed recycling process provides complete disinfection of contaminated clinical waste and offers the opportunity to transform the characteristics of an end product. Microfibers manufactured from recycled medical masks were subjected to testing. According to the results, polypropylene is the primary component of this research program. Two batches of concrete were made, one with the inclusion of masks as polypropylene fibers and another that performed as a control mix. The modified mortar was compared to the control mix in split tensile, flexure, compressive strength, and water absorption. Compressive strength was found to be improved by about 17%, and tensile strength to be increased by around 22% when mask fibers were incorporated. This research introduced a novel approach for disposing of waste masks and established the preliminary viability of upcycling trash face masks towards mortar concrete production.