Design of Composite Beams with Formed Metal Deck

For some time steel formed plate and concrete have been used compositely in building floor systems. Usually the formed metal deck is used as a permanent form to carry the fresh concrete and serve as a working platform. After hardening of the concrete, the metal deck and concrete slab act compositely to carry the applied live loads if the metal deck is provided with embossments to provide the shear connection. A natural consequence was to develop composite action for the steel beams over which the formed metal deck was placed. This was first suggested by A. H. Atkinson of Hamilton, Ontario. The AISC Specification for buildings does not provide for composite beams with a formed metal deck between the steel and concrete slab. When the metal deck corrugations are parallel to the beam, they do not interfere with the steel-concrete interaction and the condition is similar to a haunched slab for which the Specification provisions are applicable. However, when the metal deck is placed perpendicular to the steel beams and shear connectors are placed in the ribs of the corrugations, the behavior of the composite system may differ substantially from the expected behavior.