Webinar Wednesday: Long-Span Composite Mass Timber Cassette Floors with Sharp Metal Plate Connectors: Designed for Composite Action and De-constructability
Join us for an engaging 1-hour free webinar showcasing Rothoblaas Solutions in architecture, engineering, and timber technology.
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This presentation explores the development and testing of a composite mass timber cassette floor system designed for long-span applications with enhanced de-constructability. Two connection configurations were investigated: (1) adhesive with screws, and (2) sharp metal plates with screws. Experimental results demonstrated high degrees of composite action (DCA), with the adhesive connection achieving 95% DCA and the sharp plate connection reaching 92%. Both systems exhibited similar stiffness and elasticity under service loads and achieved comparable peak strengths.
Shear failure was observed around openings in the sharp plate specimens when larger openings were introduced, but this issue was mitigated through screw reinforcement in the adhesive configuration. The mechanically jointed beam theory from Eurocode 5 accurately predicted the effective bending stiffness, with deviations of within 15% from experimental results for the adhesive and sharp plate specimens, respectively. Post-failure deconstruction confirmed the reusability of individual components, highlighting the system’s potential for circular construction. Future research will focus on fatigue performance and long-term stiffness degradation to further assess durability and de-constructability.
