CIRCOMP reversible shear connection for steel‐timber composite beams: short‐ and long‐term behaviour under varying hygroscopic conditions.

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Abstract

The transition toward a circular construction economy has increased interest in hybrid structural systems that combine reduced embodied carbon with high structural performance. Steel–timber composite (STC) floors, integrating steel with engineered wood products (EWPs), offer a promising solution, provided that demountable shear connections are used to enable reuse in line with Design for Disassembly principles. Recent developments at UHasselt introduced a novel connector for STC floors, combining high stiffness and load‐bearing capacity with rapid installation and disassembly. This study investigates the hygroscopic behaviour of EWPs in demountable STC floors using humidity cycling tests under representative indoor conditions. The effect of connector spacing, bolt hole tolerances, and EWP type on moisture uptake, dimensional changes, and crack formation were assessed. The results show predictable moisture sorption with hysteresis, limited dimensional changes, and no significant effect of connector spacing, tolerances or EWP type. No critical crack formation occurred, supporting the durability and reuse potential of the system. Ongoing work includes outdoor exposure tests and accelerated corrosion testing to further evaluate long‐term durability.

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