By incorporating design methods that allow for disassembly, buildings can be deconstructed at the end of their service life, thereby supporting the principles of circular economy and reducing waste. This paper provides a summary of the latest research advances by the research group for Wooden Structures (Aalto University) on the development and mechanical characteristics of a deconstructable connection system for timber-concrete composite (TCC)
floors. This includes an overview of the experimental investigations conducted to date, focusing on the performance of the proposed system both at the connection level and at the floor level. At the connection level, the paper highlights the experimental investigations on the static and cyclic shear properties, as well as the ease of deconstruction after being exposed to substantial loads. Additionally, the floor level examination includes an overview of the bending properties, vibration characteristics, and deconstructability after reaching the failure point. A subsequent experiment is also reported here on the flexibility of the deconstructable connector for reuse and the influence of pre-existing concrete cracks on the performance of prefabricated TCC floors. The paper concludes with an outlook on the future of designing for deconstruction of TCC structures, as it not only reduces the environmental impact of construction but also allows for the efficient reuse of valuable resources.
