A Review of Shear Connectors for Glulam–Ultra-High Performance Concrete Composite Beams
Abstract
Timber–concrete composite (TCC) beams combine the lightweight high strength-to-weight ratio of timber with the favourable compressive behaviour of concrete, and have been widely used in bridges and buildings. However, conventional concrete slabs suffer from large self-weight, significant creep, and pronounced cracking, which restrict the spanning capacity and durability of the composite system. Glued laminated timber (glulam) is an engineered wood product with excellent strength and dimensional stability, while ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) offers ultra high strength, high elastic modulus, and extremely low creep. The combination of glulam and UHPC to form glulam–UHPC composite (GUCC) structures is expected to overcome the performance bottlenecks of traditional TCC. The key to realising this advantage lies in the rational design of the shear connectors. This paper systematically reviews the development history and mechanical properties of shear connectors for TCC and GUCC systems, with emphasis on typical types including dowel type connectors, notched connections, steel plate connectors, adhesively bonded connections, and hybrid connections. The load carrying capacity, slip modulus, and failure modes of these connectors are analysed, and the influences of anchorage method, inclination angle of rebar, notch geometry, fibre reinforcement, and interface conditions on connection performance are summarised. Research indicates that inclined crossed arrangements, the synergistic use of notches with metallic fasteners, and epoxy assisted anchorage can significantly improve initial stiffness and ductility. However, purely adhesive connections exhibit brittle failure, while purely mechanical connections are limited by local crushing of timber. The introduction of UHPC shifts the failure mode of connectors from concrete crushing to steel shear or timber shear, and the slip modulus can be increased by about 18%–30%. Current research has moved from conceptual validation towards quantitative design, but further investigations are still needed on high stiffness high ductility hybrid connection configurations tailored for GUCC, long term performance evolution, and standardised test methods. Based on the identified research gaps, this paper proposes a novel hybrid connection concept comprising X shaped rebars, epoxy resin, and glued in notches in glulam, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and design reference for the development of high performance shear connectors for GUCC structures.
Reference
YiTian Han. (2026). A Review of Shear Connectors for Glulam–Ultra-High Performance Concrete Composite Beams. Advances in Engineering Research Possibilities and Challenges. https://doi.org/10.63313/aerpc.9122
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