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Abstract
Composite deck slab floors are gaining wide acceptance in many countries as they lend themselves to faster, lighter and economical construction
in buildings. The cold formed profile sheeting which is an integral part of the deck slab is provided with embossments to improve their shear bond
characteristics. However, the shear behaviour of composite deck slab is a complex phenomenon and therefore experimental methods are often
resorted to establish their shear strength under flexural loads. An experimental study has been carried out to investigate primarily the shear
bond behaviour of the embossed composite deck slab under simulated imposed loads and to evaluate the m–k values. Totally 18 composite slab
specimens were cast using M20 grade concrete. The 18 numbers of specimens were split into six sets of three specimens each in which three sets
were tested for shorter shear span loading and the other three sets for longer shear span loading. The specimens were tested as per the general
provisions in Eurocode 4 [Eurocode 4. Design of composite steel and concrete structures. Part 1.1. General rules and rules for buildings]. This
paper presents details of the experimental investigations conducted on the composite deck slabs and the evaluation of m–k values for the embossed
profiled sheet.
c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Profiled sheet; Embossments; Composite deck slab; Shear bond failure; m–k value
of composite slab action phase, wherein the behaviour of the Makelainen and Sun [5] studied the shear-connection
composite action of the steel sheet and the overlying concrete behaviour of composite slabs with a particular profiled steel
is focused. sheeting having a depth of 153 mm. Twenty-seven push-out test
The three primary failure modes important for design of a specimens of different shapes, sizes, locations of embossments
composite deck slab are: (1) flexure, (2) shear at support and (3) and different steel sheeting thicknesses are carried out in
shear bond mode. Failure of the slab is said to be ductile if the two test series. The embossments are first made on the
failure load exceeds the load causing first recorded end slip by slant faces based on standard design norms. Thereafter, the
more than 10%. The failure load is taken as the load at midspan embossed sheets are profiled as per the requirement suiting
deflection of L/50 unless failure has already taken place. One to the standards of the manufacturer. It is found that the
of the principal modes of failure of steel deck slabs is by the shear-connection behaviour of composite slabs is significantly
shear bond. The shear bond mode of failure is characterized affected by the depth of embossments. For the profiled steel
by the formation of diagonal tension crack in the concrete at sheeting with indented embossments, the reduction of Young’s
or near the load points, followed by a loss of bond between modulus caused by the penetrated embossments is an important
the steel deck and the concrete. There is a slippage between factor that affects the determination of the depth and width of
the steel and concrete causing a loss of composite action in the the embossments. Finally, a new type of profiled steel sheeting,
shear span region, which lies between the support reactions and which can offer longitudinal shear strength in composite slabs
the concentrated load. Slippage usually occurs when the load up to 0.6 N/mm2 , is proposed for further research.
reaches its ultimate value and this is followed by a significant Tenhovuori and Leskela [6] studied the behaviour of
drop in loading. composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting as affected by the
bond failure in the longitudinal shear connection. The effect
of various important parameters is considered and the critical
3. Review of literature
factors are reviewed on the basis of numerical data obtained
from non-linear calculation by the method of finite elements. A
Crisinel and Marimon [2] have presented a new design thorough study is carried out to compare the present methods of
approach for the prediction of composite slab behaviour. analysis for the bond failures in the ENV Eurocode 4 [1] Part
This new approach combines results from standard materials l-l, and it is shown that they can be improved and simplified
tests and small-scale tests with a simple calculation model and finally unified so as to get a clearly comprehensible system
(referred to here as the “New Simplified Method”) to obtain describing when the bond failure in a composite slab is possible
the moment–curvature relationship at the critical cross-section in the design and what is to be done for it.
of a composite slab. The New Simplified Method facilitates Calixto et al. [7] carried out an experimental investigation
the calculation of the load-carrying capacity of composite slabs on the behaviour and strength of full-scale one-way single
by considering three phases of the M–θ behaviour observed in span composite slabs with ribbed decking. Several aspects
composite slab critical cross-sections. It requires knowledge of were studied, including different steel deck thickness, total
the geometric dimensions of the slab, the material properties slab height, as well as shear span length. The effect of
(steel and concrete) and the characteristic behaviour of the connectors (stud bolt type) on the end anchorage was also
steel–concrete connection as determined based on tests on investigated. Normal procedures for batching and mixing of
small-scale specimen. the concrete were used. Throughout the monotonic loading
In order to study the shear-bond action in composite slabs, tests, midspan deflections, end slips and strains in steel
Chen [3] tested seven simply supported one-span composite decking were measured. The test results indicate clearly the
slabs and two continuous composite slabs using different end better performance of the composite slabs built with stud
restraints in the simply supported slabs. The slabs with end bolt connectors. In this study the slabs fabricated with plain
anchorage of steel shear connectors were found to bear higher sheeting and stud bolts attained in all cases a higher ultimate
shear-bond strength than that of slabs without end anchorage. load when compared to the respective specimens built with
To enable an effective end anchorage, however, it is the shear- ribbed decking only. The floors constructed with ribbed decking
bond slip rather than the strength of anchored studs that and stud bolts showed a different behaviour characterized
governs the contribution of the end restraints to the shear-bond by no drop in the load during the entire monotonic loading
resistance in composite slabs. procedure. In all cases the failure mode was by shear bond
Burnet and Oehlers [4] presented a new form of push-test even in the slabs fabricated with end anchorage and ribbed
that simulates the bond characteristics more accurately and sheeting. The experimental results are also compared with the
which is used in 33 tests to determine the main parameters partial interaction design method specified in Eurocode 4 [1].
that affect both the chemical bond and mechanical bond The current design equations do not separate explicitly the
strengths of dovetailed and trapezoidal rib shear connectors. resistance of the mechanical interlocking from the friction at
The effects of the geometry of the cross-section, embossments, the concrete-decking interface over the supports. Depending
sheet thickness and surface treatment on the bond strengths on the position and shape of the embossments on the ribbed
are presented in a form that can be used as guidelines in the decking (AXE type II decks for instance), the contribution of
development of new forms of profiled sheets for slabs, beams each resistance mechanism plays a different role. Therefore
and walls. a procedure which explicitly takes into consideration the
794 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
effects of the mechanical interlocking and friction separately is orientation and frequency of the embossment pattern and the
presented. The proposed method is compared with the current geometry and flexibility of the profiled sheet itself. Currently
test results and those obtained in other investigations. The an accurate determination of strength is possible only by
comparisons show good correlation. performance testing. Performance tests need to be carried out
Evans and Wright [8] and Wright et al. [9] have carried as each steel deck profile has its own unique shear transferring
out more than 200 tests on composite deck slab elements and mechanism. The purpose of the tests is to provide data for the
compared the results with the available design methods. They ultimate strength design equations. Particularly, a series of tests
have studied the aspects of construction phase, composite slab is needed for getting ultimate experimental shears for a linear
action phase and the composite beam action phase in detail. regression analysis of the parameters that affect the shear bond
The studies have shown that the variation in concrete strength capacity.
has little effect on the ultimate load capacity. The crucial
parameter that has significant effect on the ultimate strength 4. Experimental studies on composite steel deck floor slabs
is the height of the embossment. They have concluded that
though the present design procedures are safe, they are very The specimens were split into six sets of three specimens
conservative in certain cases. They have recommended that each in which three sets were tested for shorter shear span
the system as a whole, namely, slab span, beam span and loading and the other three sets for longer shear span loading.
stud connectors, should be considered for obtaining maximum The shape, size and frequency of the embossment are given
economy in design. in Fig. 2. In the shorter shear span loading, shear spans of
Porter and Ekberg [10] have carried out a large number of 320 mm, 350 mm and 380 mm were chosen, while in the longer
experimental studies on cold formed steel deck floor slabs. The shear span loading, 850 mm, 950 mm and 1150 mm were
work primarily involved one way full scale slab elements and adopted. For each set of three specimens, one specimen was
tested up to failure, emphasizing the ultimate strength design tested to failure under monotonic loading, test duration being
concept. Porter et al. [11] have further conducted experimental not less than one hour; the other two specimens were tested for
studies on the shear bond failure characteristics of one-way slab cyclic loading for 5000 cycles each for duration of three hours,
elements and reported several observations on the significant followed by a static test. The details of the profiled sheet and
parameters influencing the behaviour. They have also reported the moment carrying capacity of the composite slab worked out
√
a linear regression relationship between Vu s/bd f c0 and as per Eurocode 4 [1] are given in Appendix A.
√ 0
ρd/L s f c to determine the slope and intercept constants
needed for design. 4.1. Preparation of the composite slab specimen
Design procedures for the design of composite steel deck
floor slabs based on the ultimate strength concepts have been 4.1.1. Casting of slab
recommended by Porter and Ekberg [12]. The capacity is The composite slab was cast with the profiled sheet as the
based on the shear bond strength of the deck slab. The design base. The sheet was thoroughly cleaned before concreting. The
equations for the shear bond capacity are derived from the casting was carried out in a fully supported condition. Mild
data collected from a series of performance tests on the steel reinforcing bar meshes (using 6 mm diameter bars) of the
slabs and establishing the linear regression relationship as required size with the spacing of bars at 250 mm c/c in both
mentioned above by Porter et al. [11]. A separate regression directions were prepared. These meshes were placed 25 mm
is recommended for each deck profile, each gauge thickness of from the top surface of the profiled sheet (Fig. 3). The concrete
the sheeting, steel surface coating and concrete strength. In the mix of M 20 (28 day cube compressive strength of 20 MPa)
construction phase the sheeting is designed for the loads due to grade designed as per the relevant Indian Standard [13] code
the wet concrete and its self weight. was chosen for concreting. The coarse aggregate size used in
The review of literature shows that analysis of the composite the concrete was 20 mm down. The slabs were cast and cured
deck slab behaviour is complex. The extent of shear bond for 14 days. Figs. 3 and 4 show the view of embossed sheet
achieved depends upon many parameters, like the height, shape, with the steel bar mesh and detailing of the composite deck
V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803 795
The criterion for the longer shear span is that the shear span
should be as long as possible while still providing failure in
longitudinal shear. And hence for longer shear spans, values of
850 mm, 950 mm and 1150 mm were chosen. Here too, for each
shear span, one monotonic test, and two cyclic tests followed
by monotonic test to failure were carried out. Fig. 12 shows the
details of the set up for longer shear span loading.
Fig. 9. LVDT at the mid span of the slab.
4.6. Static test
4.4. Shorter shear span The specimen was placed over the supporting roller-hinge
arrangements and the shear span and loading points were
Three sets of shorter shear spans were chosen in such a marked. The load was applied incrementally by displacement
way that the shear span was greater than three times the total control. The rate of loading was adjusted in such a way that
V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803 797
failure did not occur in less than one hour. The rate of loading
adopted for static test was 0.1 mm/s. For data acquisition in the
computer, the time interval was set as 5 s. The server computer
automatically records the mid span deflection and the slip in
the concrete at the hinged end at every 5 s. A maximum mid (c) Shear span L s = 380 mm.
span deflection limit was set to shut down the actuator to avoid
Fig. 14. Load vs central deflection for shorter shear span specimens.
sudden collapse of the specimen.
5. Results and discussion
4.7. Cyclic test
5.1. Static test
Two specimens under each shear span were subjected to
preliminary cyclic loading. This preliminary cycling ensures 5.1.1. Shorter shear span specimens
that any kind of chemical adhesion formed between steel and
5.1.1.1. Load deflection behaviour. Two stages of load
concrete is removed and the static load that is later applied
deflection behaviour were observed in the case of shorter
would provide the true indication of the mechanical bond
shear span specimens. Fig. 14(a)–(c) show the load–deflection
formed by the embossment. For cyclic loading, the slab was
behaviour for shorter shear span specimens. At first, the shear
subjected to 5000 cycles of loading applied in a time span
cracks formed near the loading points and a load drop was
of three hours. Fig. 13 shows the loading pattern for cyclic
observed (Region A–B in Fig. 14). Secondly, there was a
loading. The slabs were subjected to cyclic load ranging from load pick-up and subsequent flexural failure of the specimen
0.5Wq to 1.5Wq, where Wq is the anticipated value of the (Region B–C). The rate of deflection was high in the second
characteristic load which will be acting on the slab. stage of behaviour. Fig. 15 shows typical crack formation in
For the present study, Wq was assumed as 3 kN/m2 the shorter shear span specimens. Table 1 shows the capacity
(as per IS-875 (Part 2)) [14], the uniformly distributed load and behaviour characteristics of the slab for shorter shear span
value recommended for commercial buildings. This uniformly loading.
distributed load was converted in to a concentrated total central
load and this load was applied as per specification. For the 5.1.1.2. Slip behaviour of slabs. The slip was observed from
present case, the load range applied was 3.69–11.07 kN. This the early stage of loading. In 320 mm shear span slab, the slip in
load range was applied with the frequency of 0.5 Hz. the initial loading was very minimal. The zigzag portion in the
798 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
Table 1
Details of shorter shear span loading and its behaviour
(a) Shear span L s = 850 mm. Fig. 19. Crack formation in longer shear span specimens.
Table 2
Details of longer shear span loading and its behaviour
Table 3
Parameters to plot m–k curve
No Shear span, L s (mm) Load, P (kN) Shear, Vu (kN) Vu /bd (N/mm2 ) As /bL s
1 320 55.625 22.250 0.3501 0.0036
2 350 52.191 20.876 0.3285 0.0033
3 380 47.340 18.936 0.2979 0.0030
4 850 22.612 9.045 0.1423 0.0013
5 950 26.920 10.768 0.1694 0.0012
6 1150 16.391 6.556 0.1031 0.0010
Table 4
Comparison of m–k values with other profile sheets
Author Type of profile Embossment type m k
H.D. Wright et al. (1987) Trapezoidal Chevron embossements @90◦ 107.527 0.0401
Acknowledgements
(B.6)
[11] Porter ML, Ekberg CE, Greimann LF, Elleby HA. Shear bond analysis Missouri-Rolla; 1971. p. 179–85.
of steel deck reinforced slabs. Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE [13] IS 10262. IS recommended guidelines for mix design. Bureau of Indian
1976;102(ST 12):2255–68. Standards; 1982.
[12] Porter ML, Ekberg Jr CE. Investigation of cold-formed steel-deck- [14] IS: 875 (Part 2). IS Code of practice for design loads (other than
reinforced concrete floor slabs. In: Yu W-W, editor. First specialty earthquake) for buildings and structures: Pt.2 — Imposed loads. Bureau
conference on cold-formed steel structures. Rolla: University of of Indian Standards; 1987.