Design Recommendations for Steel Deck Floor Slabs

The recommendations are based on the steel deck serving as the structural load-carrying element during the construction phase and the composite steel-deck concrete floor slab serving as the load-carrying element for the service-load phases. The recommendations focus on application of strength principles based upon data obtained from performance tests for the shear-bond and flexural failure modes. The design equations for the shear-bond capacity are derived from data obtained by means of a performance test series. A separate regression is necessary for each steel deck profile; and, in addition, a separate regression is suggested for each steel gage thickness, steel surface coating, and concrete type. Additional recommendations presented consider construction, shoring, deflections, and span-to-depth ratios.