Flexural behaviour of mechanically-connected timber–concrete composite floors: Database development and critical review of full-scale experiments

This article presents a comprehensive literature review of the short-term flexural behaviour of mechanically connected timber-concrete composite floors under static bending tests. A new database of full-scale flexural bending tests, containing 417 specimens from 56 experimental studies conducted between 2010 and 2025, has been assembled. Then, critical investigation of observed failure modes and evaluation of the influence of several factors, such as geometry, span, material strengths, test configurations, and shear connection systems, across the experimental series are discussed to address the main aspects that influence the behaviour and performance. This review, supported by the assembled database, enhances the understanding of the structural behaviour of timber–concrete composite floors. Furthermore, it serves as a robust benchmark for validating finite-element and analytical models and supports the development of design guidelines and standards.