This study aims to present a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for comprehensive performance evaluation of the alternative design of timber–concrete composite (TCC) floor system. Considered objectives are serviceability and sustainability performance with associated criterion as (1) comfort class regarding springiness and vibrations, (2) architectural quality with associated criterion as open spaces, (3) environmental aspect with associated criterion as CO2 emissions and (4) cost aspect with associated criterion as the total costs. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) as the methods in the multi-criteria analysis have been combined for (1) determining the weighting of criteria based on the survey results, (2) verifying the consistency ratio of decision matrix made by experts and (3) for ranking and selecting the optimal concept design among design candidates. According to the results, the TCC floor with the span length of 7.3 m belonging to comfort class A has got the highest ranking. However, sensitivity analysis indicates that the TCC floor with a 9.0 m span length belonging to comfort class A shall be selected as the optimal concept design. The study contributes by developing a complete concept design tool for TCC floor systems using AHP combined COPRAS methods to handle both beneficial and non-beneficial criteria.
Long-span timber-concrete composite (TCC) floor systems have the potential to address the design challenges for conventional wooden floors in residential multi-storey timber frame buildings. The aim of this paper is to develop a design approach for long-span timber-concrete composite floor system of 6–9 m. A framework based on value-driven design approach has been developed for integration of results from graphical multi-objective optimisation, spreadsheet-based analysis, structural static and dynamic finite element analysis, and multi-criteria decision making. To verify the developed framework, a residential five-storey timber frame building as a case study has been studied. Optimal design includes optimised thickness of the concrete and optimised smeared stiffness of connectors for three different comfort classes A to C in descending order. TCC floor with span length 7.3 [m] belonging to comfort class A and TCC floor with span length 9.0 [m] belonging to comfort class C has been chosen as optimal solutions. The results indicate that proposed and innovative design approach is a promising tool for developers, architects and structural engineers when designing optimal long-span timber-concrete composite floor system.
