Transverse distribution of concentrated loads in timber–concrete floors: Parametric study

Furniture and partition walls are commonly imposed loads on building floors. At the design stage, such concentrated loads are usually associated with the beam over which they are applied, disregarding the possibility of transversal distribution in slab-type structures. This article presents a comprehensive numerical study aimed at understanding the parameters that mostly affect the transverse load distribution for point and line loads on timber–concrete floors. A set of parameters that might affect the behaviour of these composite floors was formed and their limits of variation were established. Using a numerical model developed and validated by the authors, several modelling tasks were performed and the results, in terms of vertical displacements, support reactions and longitudinal bending moments, were analysed. The span, the concrete thickness and the structural system were found to be the parameters with a higher effect on the manner in which load is transversally distributed through floor beams. Also, the ‘degree of oversizing’ of timber sections should be taken into account when designing this type of composite floor, given its influence on the load distribution.