Performance of Composite Slabs Using Profiled Steel Decking Reinforced with Cold-Formed C-Channel Steel

Abstract

There are several different types, shapes and geometries of profiled steel decking that are available in the market for composite slabs construction. The application of the system in construction industry usually depends on the design tables provided by the manufacturer of steel decking. Engineers and builders use the design tables according to the required spans and thicknesses in order to facilitate the design of composite slabs for their construction. However, architectural designs might be an obstacle toward applying the system directly because of the limitation toward spans and thicknesses that can be provided by the design tables. In this research, reinforced profiled steel deckings using cold formed C-channel were used to construct full-scale composite slabs with a purpose to increase the span provided by manufacturer design tables and the capacity of the system for in-situ construction. The full-scale composite slabs system was simply-supported and tested in four-point bending with single control shear spans. The structural behaviour of the reinforced slabs system was investigated. The test comprises 12 specimens which include control (CD slabs) and reinforced decks (RD slabs) samples. The composite slab flexural behaviour was monitored using the LVDT instruments toward bending deformation at the critical points and toward slip displacement between the metal decks and the concrete. The load was applied until total damage was observed for the composite slabs system. The performances of the tested RD slabs were comparable with the corresponding CD slabs which indicated by the samples load carrying capacity, end-slippage, and concrete-steel composite action.