Partial composite action in hardwood glued-laminated T-beams

This paper presents experimental results from large-scale red maple glued-laminated (glulam) double t-beam testing for application in hardwood glulam bridge design. Experimental results indicate that glulam t-beams assembled with gaps between glulam deck panels experience a 5.8% increase in bending stiffness above that of a beam with no deck panel. The 5.8% stiffness increase is independent of beam depth. T-beams assembled with top abutted deck panels experience a 14.6% stiffness increase for 737 mm deep beams and a 10.1% stiffness increase for 1,143 mm deep beams. Additional testing results indicate that a common construction practice (roofing felt between deck panels and beams) does not influence glulam t-beam bending stiffness.