Impact of attachment pattern on the out-of-plane buckling capacity of light-gage corrugated steel decks

Support attachment patterns have an impact on the out-of-plane buckling capacity and end warping behavior of light-gage steel decks. Long span decks and decks with high fastener concentration at the sidelaps and edge supports are especially susceptible to failing in out-of-plane buckling instead of failure controlled by fastener limit states. Current AISI S310-16 design code equations assume that steel decks are fully attached (fastened at the bottom of each flute, ex - 36/7 attachment pattern) but practical construction practices often utilize reduced fastener patterns (ex - 36/5 and 36/4 attachment patterns), resulting in a detrimental impact on capacity which is neglected in the strength calculation. The out-of-plane buckling strength and reduction due to three industry-standard attachment patterns are explored experimentally via nine AISI S907 compliant single panel monotonic cantilever tests. The tests were performed on 36 in wide, 1.5 in deep, 15 ft long, 20 gage type - B deck and 36/7, 36/5, and 36/4 attachment patterns were considered. Calibrated high-fidelity finite element models with non-linear material properties and simplified boundary conditions are utilized to further expand the results of the experimental study using the commercially available software ABAQUS version 6.14. Results of the experimental and numerical investigations along with design recommendations in the form of strength reduction factors are presented to account for the reduction in capacity observed during this analysis.

Learning Objectives:
Characterize change in out-of-plane buckling strength due to change in attachment pattern.

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