Behavior of Steel-Deck-Reinforced Slabs

Results and behavioral characteristics are presented for five full-scale two-way slabs tested to ultimate. The concrete slabs were reinforced with composite corrugated cold-formed steel decking. Three slabs contained supplementary reinforcing in the form of welded wire fabric. Nominal out-to-out plan dimensions of the slabs were 16 ft by 12 ft (4.88 m by 3.66 m). Four slabs had a nominal thickness of 4-5/8 in. (118 mm) and one a thickness of 5-1/2 in. (140 mm). All slabs were subjected to four symmetrically placed concentrated loads (simulating a fork lift). Ultimate failure was a shear-bond action initiated by slippage between the steel deck and the concrete with the concrete moving outward parallel to the deck corrugations, resulting in end slip in the central regions of the slabs. The addition of the welded wire fabric influenced the behavioral characteristics and the ultimate load-carrying capacity. Near ultimate, the load-carrying action of the slabs was characteristic of a one-way slab.