This thesis focuses on the structural behaviour of timber-concrete composite slabs made of beech laminated veneer lumber (LVL) with notched connections. A timber-concrete composite member consists of a timber part in the tensile zone, a concrete layer in the compression zone, and a connection between the timber and the concrete. These slabs are usually made of spruce wood, and several connection systems have been developed (e.g. screws and notches). These composite members are interesting systems because they are able to offer several structural, economic and ecological advantages compared to traditional reinforced concrete slabs and timber slabs. Beech LVL is an efficient structural material because it is able to combine the high strength and stiffness of beech wood with the consistency of the mechanical properties of LVL. Moreover, in Europe, beech wood is available in large quantities. The composite slabs studied in this thesis have spans between 5 and 8 m and were developed at ETH Zurich in the framework of a project about innovative uses of beech LVL. In general, if the load-carrying capacity of the notched connection is governed by a compressive failure of the timber, ductility can be achieved. Thus, the design goal is to make sure that yielding of the notches governs the global structural behaviour. This is accomplished through the development and use of a clear and reliable model. At present, several structural aspects of notched connections are still unclear, and the benefit of notch yielding for improved global slab ductility is almost unknown.
This thesis presents both theoretical and experimental investigations. The theoretical studies include development of analytical models to predict the failures of notched timber-concrete connections, and to analyse the structural behaviour of timber-concrete composite members with a ductile connection. The models were able to predict the structural behaviour of several specimens tested during this work with good accuracy, and can be used as a basis to design timber-concrete composite members made of beech LVL.