Developments in light steel composites in floors and roofs

Light steel construction is often designed to maximise the benefits of interactions with other materials and this paper reviews examples of composite applications of light steel components in flooring and roofing. New forms of steel-timber composite ‘plyweb’ floor joists and ‘open’ roofing systems, and steel-gypsum composite floor joists are investigated. Design recommendations are presented for lightweight floors, as influenced by interactions with boards, which include both static and dynamic criteria.

R. M. Lawson, BSc(Eng), PhD, CEng, MICE, MIStructE, MASCE, ACGI
SCI Professor, University of Surrey

R. Pedreschi, BSc(Eng), PhD, CEng, MICE
Professor of Architecture, University of Edinburgh

R. G. Ogden, BA(Arch), PhD
SCI Professor of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University

P. J. Grubb, BSc(Hons), CEng, MICE
Consultant to The Steel Construction Institute