Prefabricated timber-concrete composite floors
The presented investigation concerns the study of novel types of timber-concrete composite floors, manufactured with “dry connections” (Crocetti et al. In: 11th WCTE, Riva del Garda: international conference proceeding of 11th WCTE, Riva del Garda, 2010; In: RILEM 2013: Materials and Joints in Timber Structures—Recent Advancement of Technology Stuttgart, Germany, 2013: RILEM 2013, Stuttgart, 2013; Sartori et al. In: Enhance mechanical properties of timber, engineered wood products and timber structures. University of Bath, COST FP1004, Zagreb, 19 April 2012, 2012). Three full-scale nominally identical floor elements were investigated. The shear connector system used in the investigation was realized by means of self-tapping screws driven at an angle of 45° into the wood. First, the screws were inserted on the top of the glulam beams. Then, the beams were twisted upside-down and placed on concrete formwork (Fragiacomo In: Struct Eng Mech 20(2):173–189, 2005). Then fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) was cast in the formwork. Quasi-static bending tests and long-term bending test were performed. It was found that the proposed connection systems performed more than satisfactory in the short term, showing a very high degree of composite action even at load levels close to the failure load. However, long-term loading (Fragiacomo and Ceccotti In: J Struct Eng 132(1):13–22, 2006) induces increased deformation, which should be taken into account in SLS design.
Timber-Concrete Composite Structures with Prefabricated FRC Slab
This study relates to the development of innovative composite structures, comprising timber beams and prefabricated concrete slabs, with high prefabrication level, high performance and good durability. For such a purpose completely dry shear connection systems were investigated. Moreover, innovative and very efficient materials, such as fibre reinforced concrete and modified wood were used for the manufacture of the specimens. The investigated shear connectors were; i) shear anchor-key of wood and ii) special inclined steel tubes. In both cases, the connectors are incorporated in the prefabricated concrete slab, which then easily is connected to the timber sub-structure only by means self-tapping screws. Both types of connectors exhibited a great performance, both in terms of strength, stiffness and ductility. The results from this project will allow the use of timber-concrete composite beams more effectively in large-span structures and also contribute to both simple and rapid manufacture and erection.
Industrial Bridge Engineering -Structural developments for more efficient bridge construction
In recent years, growing concern about the deficiencies and lack of efficiency in the construction industry has highlighted the need of research in order to make substantial improvements, rectify incongruities and succeed in progressive development. For bridges, the advantages that can be expected from an industrial construction process are especially interesting. The multidisciplinary research presented in this thesis investigates different means of creating an industrial process for bridge construction while emphasising the vast importance of structural engineering in combination with industrial issues, i.e. industrial bridge engineering. Applications of new or approved techniques, materials technology and developments, methods of design and analysis, as well as construction methods are important areas that have been considered. The increasing utilisation of information and communication technology (ICT), along with more advanced computer-based analysis and simulation methods, are contemporary trends. Seemingly, an important key to the successful construction concepts of tomorrow is to combine these factors into an efficient industrial process. 
One objective in the presented work has been to establish the foundations for attaining such a new process – basically through analysis of the current bridge construction process – as well as to determine the required improvements needed to provide a framework for a new industrial process. Deficiencies in the traditional bridge construction process have been recognised, as have the underlying driving forces of change. Three cornerstones of industrial bridge construction have been identified – process development, product development and productivity development – and technical necessities have been investigated. 
Furthermore, a study of an innovative jointing technology for connections between prefabricated concrete elements in bridges has been conducted. The aim has been to design a joint that makes the surrounding elements continuous, but still a very small joint that is easy and fast to perform, and thus highly suitable for use in industrial bridge concepts. 
In addition, a feasibility study of a novel industrial bridge concept has been undertaken. The concept embraces ultra-high-performance steel-fibre-reinforced concrete in composite action with fibre-reinforced polymers. Several laboratory tests and finite element analyses have been conducted. The main focus has been to investigate new or approved techniques from a design viewpoint as a continuation of recent materials developments, while also considering industrial aspects and construction characteristics such as production methods, assembly, etc.