AD 292: The Use of Discontinuous Columns and Shallow Deck

Composite Slabs on Floor Beams

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Since the publication of the AD series on discontinuous

columns and continuous beams in simple construction
(AD281, AD283, AD285 and AD288) with Slimflor or
Slimdek construction, our attention has been drawn to
their possible use with a shallow composite floor slab on
the top flange of the beams. We considered this
possibility when writing the above series and rejected it
at that time because of the difficulties associated with
designing the connection zone which is illustrated in
Figure 1. Our advice in AD 285 explicitly limits the use of
the system to where the floor plate is contained within
the depth of an ASB beam and this advice remains
current. The following comments explain some of the Figure 1: Shallow deck composite floor slab on top flange of floor
problems and the reasons for our advice. beam with discontinuous columns

With shallow composite floor construction, modern steelwork practice often uses large openings in the webs of
composite beams to achieve service integration and make the overall depth of floor construction shallower.
Making the primary beam continuous over (or through) the column would reduce the overall depth of
construction further (because shallower beams can be used) and also allows the use of SHS discontinuous
columns with simple end plate details. This would make the overall structural package very attractive for larger
residential and commercial developments. However, as the discontinuous column form of construction is a
recent development it was not considered in the design of whole buildings by the BS 5950 code committee. BS
5950-1 only makes reference to the design of cap plates (where the cap plate on the column supports a beam
end). There is insufficient material in BS 5950-1: 2000 to cover all of the complexities that arise with this type of
design concept when a shallow deck composite slab is placed on the top flange of the continuous beams,
particularly on deep beam sections.

Beam-column Connection

A major concern when discontinuous columns are used

with downstand beams is that the beam-column
connection to the bottom flange of the primary beam
(which is in compression in the hogging moment region)
is not restrained laterally (unlike with Slimfor and
Slimdek construction) and will buckle, as shown in
Figure 2. The compression in the flange is a de-
stabilizing effect in addition to that arising from the
discontinuity of the column. BS 5950-1: 2000 has
provision for the column effects alone; clause 4.5.3.3
requires that ‘If the load or reaction is applied to the
flange by a compression member, then unless effective
lateral restraint is provided at that point, the stiffener(s) Figure 2: Buckling deformation at connection zone
should be designed as part of the compression member
applying the load, and the connection should be
checked for the effects of strut action, see C.3.’ In addition, clause 6.1.8.2 requires that the ‘intended’ member
stiffness about each axis be maintained at the connection. However, the Code does not contain provisions for
dealing with the combined effects due to the column discontinuity and the compression in the beam flange.
Furthermore, the column will be required to sustain biaxial bending.

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Distortional Buckling of Primary Beam

Placing the floor slab on the top flanges of the floor beams requires that the continuous primary beam be
checked for distortional buckling in the hogging moment region. Therefore the stiffeners in the connection at the
beam-column junction would also have to provide torsional restraint to the primary beam. This requires
continuous secondary beams, with sufficient flexural stiffness to provide torsional restraint to the primary beam
connected to it at the beam-column junction by moment connections. The required stiffness of the moment
connection between the beams to provide the torsional restraint would also have to be determined.

Conclusion

It is the SCI’s advice at this time that shallow deck composite floor slabs placed on the top flange of the beams
should not be combined with discontinuous columns and continuous beams, unless there is a detailed
calculation of the instability problems arising.

When the floor plate is placed within the depth of an ASB beam, it prevents out of plane buckling of the
discontinuous column ends and avoids the need for a distortional buckling check of the primary beam in the
hogging moment region. Moreover, the thick flanges of the ASB beams make the beam-column connection
design, including the structural integrity checks on the column, easier to achieve.

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