Design concept for a novel long span composite floor system

By pre-stressing a newly developed steel deck, prior to delivery to site, clear composite floor spans in excess of 11m can be readily achieved without the need for temporary propping. A prototype of the composite floor has been successfully tested and the results presented previously. This paper explains the basic engineering mechanics of the new system together with design equations. The three basic stages of pre-stressing the steel deck, pouring the wet concrete during the construction stage, to bring about reactive post-stress action, and the behaviour of the final composite section are explained. The design equations are compared against the test results from the prototype showing that the floor’s behaviour can be adequately predicted. The advantages and disadvantages of the new floor system are also discussed.

F. R. Miller, BSc(Hons), CEng, MIStructE
Offshield Ltd, Wilmslow, Cheshire

Prof. C. G. Bailey, BEng, PhD, CEng, FICE, MIStructE, MIFireE
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, The University of Manchester