Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803

www.elsevier.com/locate/jcsr

Experimental studies on composite deck slabs to determine the shear-bond

characteristic (m–k) values of the embossed profiled sheet
V. Marimuthu a,∗ , S. Seetharaman a , S. Arul Jayachandran a , A. Chellappan a ,
T.K. Bandyopadhyay b , D. Dutta b
a Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Chennai - 600 113, India
b Institute for Steel Development And Growth (INSDAG), Ispat Niketan, 52/1A, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata - 700 019, India

Received 15 March 2006; accepted 19 July 2006

Abstract

Composite deck slab floors are gaining wide acceptance in many countries as they lend themselves to faster, lighter and economical construction
in buildings. The cold formed profile sheeting which is an integral part of the deck slab is provided with embossments to improve their shear bond
characteristics. However, the shear behaviour of composite deck slab is a complex phenomenon and therefore experimental methods are often
resorted to establish their shear strength under flexural loads. An experimental study has been carried out to investigate primarily the shear
bond behaviour of the embossed composite deck slab under simulated imposed loads and to evaluate the m–k values. Totally 18 composite slab
specimens were cast using M20 grade concrete. The 18 numbers of specimens were split into six sets of three specimens each in which three sets
were tested for shorter shear span loading and the other three sets for longer shear span loading. The specimens were tested as per the general
provisions in Eurocode 4 [Eurocode 4. Design of composite steel and concrete structures. Part 1.1. General rules and rules for buildings]. This
paper presents details of the experimental investigations conducted on the composite deck slabs and the evaluation of m–k values for the embossed
profiled sheet.
c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Profiled sheet; Embossments; Composite deck slab; Shear bond failure; m–k value

1. Introduction thin sheeting is extremely light and hence can be transported

Cold formed profiled steel sheets with embossments are
widely used for composite floor decking wherein they remain
permanently in place as an integral part of the floor system.
They perform two functions: they act as the formwork while
concreting and in the composite slab, they act as the tension
reinforcement. The only additional steel that needs to be
provided is for taking care of shrinkage and temperature. In
the case of continuous slabs, reinforcing steel is required to
resist the negative bending moment at the supports. This type
of flooring results in faster construction, lighter floors and
rational use of construction materials. They also provide certain
other advantages such as easy handling, a good ceiling surface
and convenient ducting for routing utility services. Finally, the
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 044 22549142; fax: +91 044 2254 1508.
E-mail addresses: marivel@sercm.org, mari struct@yahoo.co.in
(V. Marimuthu).
conveniently, and handled and placed easily by the construction
personnel. Some of the disadvantages pointed out for the
system are inadequate fire rating, the need for proper bonding
between the steel deck and the concrete and also the protection
needed against damage from high local loads. Even though the
steel deck is galvanized, it is advisable to apply anticorrosive
paints on the exposed side of the sheet. Effects of ponding and
edge deformation also need to be taken care of during design.
The term ‘composite steel deck floor slab’ means that there
is a provision in the system for bonding between the steel deck
and the concrete by some mechanical means. In other words,
for the steel deck and concrete to act compositely, a mechanical
interlocking is needed. This is provided essentially by various
‘shear transferring devices’ such as rolled embossments,
transverse wires, holes etc. Examples of composite steel deck
floor slab systems are illustrated in Fig. 1. One of the efficient
ways of achieving the interlocking between the steel deck
and concrete is by means of embossments on the profiled

c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

0143-974X/$ - see front matter

doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2006.07.009
792 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
List of symbols
As Cross sectional area of the profiled sheet (mm2 )
b Width of the profiled sheet (mm)
d Average depth of the composite deck slab (mm)
Vs Shear force (N)
Ls Shear span (mm)
Lo Length of overhang of the composite slab from
centre line of support (mm)
ρ As
bd
f c0 , f cm Cube compressive strength of the concrete
(N/mm2 )
m slope of the ultimate shear bond regression line
k Intercept of the ultimate shear bond regression
line
Φ Capacity reduction factor (0.8)
s Parameter denoting supporting condition during
casting.
Nc , Nc f Compressive force in concrete (N)
Np Tensile force in sheeting (N)
steel sheeting. The deck profile must provide the resistance to
vertical separation and horizontal slippage between the contact
surface of the steel and the concrete. Additional composite
action may be achieved by attaching studs or similar shear
devices. The shear bond characteristic of the embossed sheeting
is rated by two empirical parameters ‘m’ and ‘k’, where
‘m’ represents the mechanical interlocking between steel and
concrete and ‘k’ stands for friction between them.
This paper deals with the experimental evaluation of m–k
values for composite deck slabs using cold formed profiled
Fig. 1. Composite deck slabs using different types of profiled sheets.
sheets with rectangular dishing type embossments. Totally 18
composite slab specimens were cast using M 20 grade concrete.
Using the values of ‘m’ and ‘k’ as determined by parametric
tests, ultimate load carrying capacity of the composite deck
could be calculated. The longitudinal shear strength of the
composite slab calculated using m–k method is verified with
the results obtained by partial shear connection method in
Eurocode 4 [1, Annex E].
2. Load carrying mechanism of composite profiled sheet
deck floors
In a composite steel floor deck, the hardened concrete slab,
acting compositely with the profiled steel decks, spans the
supporting beams and carries the imposed live loads. The
composite action depends upon adequate transfer of horizontal
shear forces between the concrete slab and the steel deck to
enable the deck to act as the tensile reinforcement. In addition
to horizontal shearing forces, the bending action also leads
to vertical separation between the steel and the concrete. The
profiled sheet, therefore, has to be designed to resist vertical
separation, in addition to transferring the horizontal shears.
Resistance to vertical separation is achieved by suitable shape
in trapezoidal profile and also by the embossments.
There are three distinct phases in the structural action of
a composite deck system [3]. In the first phase i.e. during
the construction phase, the steel sheeting must rigidly support
the wet concrete during casting. In the composite slab action
phase, the composite steel concrete slab should support the
imposed loads on the slab and in the composite beam action
phase, the steel beams, which act compositely with concrete
through the stud shear connectors, must support the imposed
loads in the transverse direction. This paper deals with the study
 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
of composite slab action phase, wherein the behaviour of the
composite action of the steel sheet and the overlying concrete
is focused.
The three primary failure modes important for design of a
composite deck slab are: (1) flexure, (2) shear at support and (3)
shear bond mode. Failure of the slab is said to be ductile if the
failure load exceeds the load causing first recorded end slip by
more than 10%. The failure load is taken as the load at midspan
deflection of L/50 unless failure has already taken place. One
of the principal modes of failure of steel deck slabs is by the
shear bond. The shear bond mode of failure is characterized
by the formation of diagonal tension crack in the concrete at
or near the load points, followed by a loss of bond between
the steel deck and the concrete. There is a slippage between
the steel and concrete causing a loss of composite action in the
shear span region, which lies between the support reactions and
the concentrated load. Slippage usually occurs when the load
reaches its ultimate value and this is followed by a significant
drop in loading.
3. Review of literature
Crisinel and Marimon [2] have presented a new design
approach for the prediction of composite slab behaviour.
This new approach combines results from standard materials
tests and small-scale tests with a simple calculation model
(referred to here as the “New Simplified Method”) to obtain
the moment–curvature relationship at the critical cross-section
of a composite slab. The New Simplified Method facilitates
the calculation of the load-carrying capacity of composite slabs
by considering three phases of the M–θ behaviour observed in
composite slab critical cross-sections. It requires knowledge of
the geometric dimensions of the slab, the material properties
(steel and concrete) and the characteristic behaviour of the
steel–concrete connection as determined based on tests on
small-scale specimen.
In order to study the shear-bond action in composite slabs,
Chen [3] tested seven simply supported one-span composite
slabs and two continuous composite slabs using different end
restraints in the simply supported slabs. The slabs with end
anchorage of steel shear connectors were found to bear higher
shear-bond strength than that of slabs without end anchorage.
To enable an effective end anchorage, however, it is the shear-
bond slip rather than the strength of anchored studs that
governs the contribution of the end restraints to the shear-bond
resistance in composite slabs.
Burnet and Oehlers [4] presented a new form of push-test
that simulates the bond characteristics more accurately and
which is used in 33 tests to determine the main parameters
that affect both the chemical bond and mechanical bond
strengths of dovetailed and trapezoidal rib shear connectors.
The effects of the geometry of the cross-section, embossments,
sheet thickness and surface treatment on the bond strengths
are presented in a form that can be used as guidelines in the
development of new forms of profiled sheets for slabs, beams
and walls.
793
Makelainen and Sun [5] studied the shear-connection
behaviour of composite slabs with a particular profiled steel
sheeting having a depth of 153 mm. Twenty-seven push-out test
specimens of different shapes, sizes, locations of embossments
and different steel sheeting thicknesses are carried out in
two test series. The embossments are first made on the
slant faces based on standard design norms. Thereafter, the
embossed sheets are profiled as per the requirement suiting
to the standards of the manufacturer. It is found that the
shear-connection behaviour of composite slabs is significantly
affected by the depth of embossments. For the profiled steel
sheeting with indented embossments, the reduction of Young’s
modulus caused by the penetrated embossments is an important
factor that affects the determination of the depth and width of
the embossments. Finally, a new type of profiled steel sheeting,
which can offer longitudinal shear strength in composite slabs
up to 0.6 N/mm2 , is proposed for further research.
Tenhovuori and Leskela [6] studied the behaviour of
composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting as affected by the
bond failure in the longitudinal shear connection. The effect
of various important parameters is considered and the critical
factors are reviewed on the basis of numerical data obtained
from non-linear calculation by the method of finite elements. A
thorough study is carried out to compare the present methods of
analysis for the bond failures in the ENV Eurocode 4 [1] Part
l-l, and it is shown that they can be improved and simplified
and finally unified so as to get a clearly comprehensible system
describing when the bond failure in a composite slab is possible
in the design and what is to be done for it.
Calixto et al. [7] carried out an experimental investigation
on the behaviour and strength of full-scale one-way single
span composite slabs with ribbed decking. Several aspects
were studied, including different steel deck thickness, total
slab height, as well as shear span length. The effect of
connectors (stud bolt type) on the end anchorage was also
investigated. Normal procedures for batching and mixing of
the concrete were used. Throughout the monotonic loading
tests, midspan deflections, end slips and strains in steel
decking were measured. The test results indicate clearly the
better performance of the composite slabs built with stud
bolt connectors. In this study the slabs fabricated with plain
sheeting and stud bolts attained in all cases a higher ultimate
load when compared to the respective specimens built with
ribbed decking only. The floors constructed with ribbed decking
and stud bolts showed a different behaviour characterized
by no drop in the load during the entire monotonic loading
procedure. In all cases the failure mode was by shear bond
even in the slabs fabricated with end anchorage and ribbed
sheeting. The experimental results are also compared with the
partial interaction design method specified in Eurocode 4 [1].
The current design equations do not separate explicitly the
resistance of the mechanical interlocking from the friction at
the concrete-decking interface over the supports. Depending
on the position and shape of the embossments on the ribbed
decking (AXE type II decks for instance), the contribution of
each resistance mechanism plays a different role. Therefore
a procedure which explicitly takes into consideration the
794 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
Fig. 2. Shape, size and frequency of embossments.
effects of the mechanical interlocking and friction separately is
presented. The proposed method is compared with the current
test results and those obtained in other investigations. The
comparisons show good correlation.
Evans and Wright [8] and Wright et al. [9] have carried
out more than 200 tests on composite deck slab elements and
compared the results with the available design methods. They
have studied the aspects of construction phase, composite slab
action phase and the composite beam action phase in detail.
The studies have shown that the variation in concrete strength
has little effect on the ultimate load capacity. The crucial
parameter that has significant effect on the ultimate strength
is the height of the embossment. They have concluded that
though the present design procedures are safe, they are very
conservative in certain cases. They have recommended that
the system as a whole, namely, slab span, beam span and
stud connectors, should be considered for obtaining maximum
economy in design.
Porter and Ekberg [10] have carried out a large number of
experimental studies on cold formed steel deck floor slabs. The
work primarily involved one way full scale slab elements and
tested up to failure, emphasizing the ultimate strength design
concept. Porter et al. [11] have further conducted experimental
studies on the shear bond failure characteristics of one-way slab
elements and reported several observations on the significant
parameters influencing the behaviour. They have also reported
√
a linear regression relationship between Vu s/bd f c0 and
√ 0
ρd/L s f c to determine the slope and intercept constants
needed for design.
Design procedures for the design of composite steel deck
floor slabs based on the ultimate strength concepts have been
recommended by Porter and Ekberg [12]. The capacity is
based on the shear bond strength of the deck slab. The design
equations for the shear bond capacity are derived from the
data collected from a series of performance tests on the
slabs and establishing the linear regression relationship as
mentioned above by Porter et al. [11]. A separate regression
is recommended for each deck profile, each gauge thickness of
the sheeting, steel surface coating and concrete strength. In the
construction phase the sheeting is designed for the loads due to
the wet concrete and its self weight.
The review of literature shows that analysis of the composite
deck slab behaviour is complex. The extent of shear bond
achieved depends upon many parameters, like the height, shape,
orientation and frequency of the embossment pattern and the
geometry and flexibility of the profiled sheet itself. Currently
an accurate determination of strength is possible only by
performance testing. Performance tests need to be carried out
as each steel deck profile has its own unique shear transferring
mechanism. The purpose of the tests is to provide data for the
ultimate strength design equations. Particularly, a series of tests
is needed for getting ultimate experimental shears for a linear
regression analysis of the parameters that affect the shear bond
capacity.
4. Experimental studies on composite steel deck floor slabs
The specimens were split into six sets of three specimens
each in which three sets were tested for shorter shear span
loading and the other three sets for longer shear span loading.
The shape, size and frequency of the embossment are given
in Fig. 2. In the shorter shear span loading, shear spans of
320 mm, 350 mm and 380 mm were chosen, while in the longer
shear span loading, 850 mm, 950 mm and 1150 mm were
adopted. For each set of three specimens, one specimen was
tested to failure under monotonic loading, test duration being
not less than one hour; the other two specimens were tested for
cyclic loading for 5000 cycles each for duration of three hours,
followed by a static test. The details of the profiled sheet and
the moment carrying capacity of the composite slab worked out
as per Eurocode 4 [1] are given in Appendix A.
4.1. Preparation of the composite slab specimen
4.1.1. Casting of slab
The composite slab was cast with the profiled sheet as the
base. The sheet was thoroughly cleaned before concreting. The
casting was carried out in a fully supported condition. Mild
steel reinforcing bar meshes (using 6 mm diameter bars) of the
required size with the spacing of bars at 250 mm c/c in both
directions were prepared. These meshes were placed 25 mm
from the top surface of the profiled sheet (Fig. 3). The concrete
mix of M 20 (28 day cube compressive strength of 20 MPa)
grade designed as per the relevant Indian Standard [13] code
was chosen for concreting. The coarse aggregate size used in
the concrete was 20 mm down. The slabs were cast and cured
for 14 days. Figs. 3 and 4 show the view of embossed sheet
with the steel bar mesh and detailing of the composite deck
 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803
Fig. 3. Embossed sheet with the 6 mm diameter reinforcement mesh.
Fig. 4. Detailing of the composite deck slab.
slab. After 28 days, the slabs were transferred from the casting
yard to the testing laboratory using proper supports so as not to
transfer any flexural load to the slab.
4.2. Experimental set up
The schematic view of the experimental setup is shown in
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5. Schematic view of the experimental set-up.
Fig. 6. Schematic view of the supporting arrangements.
795
Roller and hinge supports were specially fabricated for the
study. The schematic view of the roller and hinge supports
is shown in Fig. 6. The photographs of the hinged and roller
supports are shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 shows the complete
experimental set up. The midspan deflection and the end slip
in the concrete at the hinged support were measured using
LVDTs (Fig. 9). The LVDTs were connected to a computer
which automatically stored the data for the given interval of
time. The slip of the steel sheet and the concrete at the roller
support end and steel sheet at the hinged support end were
measured using electronic dial gauges (Fig. 10). The readings
were noted down at specific load intervals up to the maximum
load. The load was applied using a computer-controlled servo-
hydraulic 25 ton MTS actuator under displacement control. The
loading history was recorded automatically in the computer for
the given interval of time. The load was applied as two line
loads distributed across the width of the slab by transferring the
actuator load through a distribution beam section (ISMB 300, I
beam of depth 300 mm) to two smaller sections (ISMB 150, I
beam of depth 150 mm) placed across the width of the slab.
4.3. Shear span
The shear span is defined as the distance between the centres
of support at either end to the point of application of the line
load in the slab. Two schemes of loading were chosen, namely,
one with shorter shear spans and the other with longer shear
spans forming the two ends of the shear span zone. The tests
were conducted by varying the shear span with three sets of
shorter shear span loadings and three sets of longer shear span
loadings.
796 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803

Fig. 7. Actual view of roller and hinged support.

Fig. 10. Dial gauges to measure the end slip.

Fig. 11. View of a loading point in a shorter shear span.

thickness of the composite slab. Hence shorter shear spans

Fig. 8. View of test in progress.
of 320 mm, 350 mm and 380 mm were chosen (>315 mm,
three times the slab thickness). Fig. 11 shows shear span of
380 mm. For each shear span, three numbers of composite slab
specimens were tested, one monotonically till failure and the
other two by initial cyclic loading for 5000 cycles and then
loaded to failure by monotonic loading.

4.5. Longer shear span

The criterion for the longer shear span is that the shear span
should be as long as possible while still providing failure in
longitudinal shear. And hence for longer shear spans, values of
850 mm, 950 mm and 1150 mm were chosen. Here too, for each
shear span, one monotonic test, and two cyclic tests followed
by monotonic test to failure were carried out. Fig. 12 shows the
details of the set up for longer shear span loading.
Fig. 9. LVDT at the mid span of the slab.
4.6. Static test

4.4. Shorter shear span The specimen was placed over the supporting roller-hinge
arrangements and the shear span and loading points were
Three sets of shorter shear spans were chosen in such a marked. The load was applied incrementally by displacement
way that the shear span was greater than three times the total control. The rate of loading was adjusted in such a way that
 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803 797

(a) Shear span L s = 320 mm.

Fig. 12. View of longer span loading points.

(b) Shear span L s = 350 mm.

Fig. 13. Sequence of cyclic loading.

failure did not occur in less than one hour. The rate of loading
adopted for static test was 0.1 mm/s. For data acquisition in the
computer, the time interval was set as 5 s. The server computer
automatically records the mid span deflection and the slip in
the concrete at the hinged end at every 5 s. A maximum mid (c) Shear span L s = 380 mm.
span deflection limit was set to shut down the actuator to avoid
Fig. 14. Load vs central deflection for shorter shear span specimens.
sudden collapse of the specimen.
5. Results and discussion
4.7. Cyclic test
5.1. Static test
Two specimens under each shear span were subjected to
preliminary cyclic loading. This preliminary cycling ensures 5.1.1. Shorter shear span specimens
that any kind of chemical adhesion formed between steel and
5.1.1.1. Load deflection behaviour. Two stages of load
concrete is removed and the static load that is later applied
deflection behaviour were observed in the case of shorter
would provide the true indication of the mechanical bond
shear span specimens. Fig. 14(a)–(c) show the load–deflection
formed by the embossment. For cyclic loading, the slab was
behaviour for shorter shear span specimens. At first, the shear
subjected to 5000 cycles of loading applied in a time span
cracks formed near the loading points and a load drop was
of three hours. Fig. 13 shows the loading pattern for cyclic
observed (Region A–B in Fig. 14). Secondly, there was a
loading. The slabs were subjected to cyclic load ranging from load pick-up and subsequent flexural failure of the specimen
0.5Wq to 1.5Wq, where Wq is the anticipated value of the (Region B–C). The rate of deflection was high in the second
characteristic load which will be acting on the slab. stage of behaviour. Fig. 15 shows typical crack formation in
For the present study, Wq was assumed as 3 kN/m2 the shorter shear span specimens. Table 1 shows the capacity
(as per IS-875 (Part 2)) [14], the uniformly distributed load and behaviour characteristics of the slab for shorter shear span
value recommended for commercial buildings. This uniformly loading.
distributed load was converted in to a concentrated total central
load and this load was applied as per specification. For the 5.1.1.2. Slip behaviour of slabs. The slip was observed from
present case, the load range applied was 3.69–11.07 kN. This the early stage of loading. In 320 mm shear span slab, the slip in
load range was applied with the frequency of 0.5 Hz. the initial loading was very minimal. The zigzag portion in the
798 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803

(a) 320 mm shear span.

Fig. 15. Crack formation in shorter shear span loading.

Table 1
Details of shorter shear span loading and its behaviour

No Shear span Failure load Behaviour

L s (mm) (kN)
1 320 55.625 First stage: Shear cracks were formed
near the loading point and sudden (b) 350 mm shear span.
drop in the capacity. Region A–B in
Fig. 14
2 350 52.191 Second stage: Carried additional load
by reinforcement mesh provided at
the mid-depth of the concrete. Also
flexural cracks were formed in
between the loading points. Region
B–C in Fig. 14
3 380 47.340 Slip: Slip was observed from the early
stage of loading and the rate of slip
was higher after first stage.

(c) 380 mm shear span.

curves depicts gradual debonding of the slab. In all shorter span
loadings, the slip up to the first crack appearance is gradual and Fig. 16. Load slip curve for shorter shear span specimens.
then the rate of slip increases. After the first crack appears, the
slip was in reverse direction (see Fig. 16(a) and (b)). This shows
that the bond between the profiled sheeting and the concrete
slab is removed and both the sheeting and concrete slab acts
independently. Fig. 17 shows the differential movement of the
concrete slab and profiled sheet.

5.1.2. Longer shear span specimens

5.1.2.1. Load deflection behaviour. As in the case of shorter

shear span loading, visible cracks were formed in between the
loading points and drop in load carrying capacity. A load pick-
up with the aid of nominal reinforcement mesh provided at
the mid-depth of the concrete was observed and the flexure
cracks widened with a higher rate of central deflection. In
Fig. 18(a)–(c), the point A denotes when visible flexural cracks Fig. 17. End slip in shorter shear span loading.
start forming. The portion A–B shows the drop of the load
and the region B–C shows regaining of load to some extent.
Table 2 shows the capacity and behaviour of longer shear span 5.1.2.2. Slip behaviour of slabs. In all the longer shear span
specimens. Fig. 19 shows the crack patterns formed in a longer specimens, slip was more compared to the shorter shear
shear span loaded specimen. span specimens. Here also the trends of the load-mid span
 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803 799

(a) Shear span L s = 850 mm. Fig. 19. Crack formation in longer shear span specimens.

(b) Shear span L s = 950 mm.

(a) 850 mm shear span.

(c) Shear span L s = 1150 mm.

(b) 950 mm shear span.
Fig. 18. Load deflection curve for longer shear span specimens.

Table 2
Details of longer shear span loading and its behaviour

No Shear span Failure load Behaviour

L s (mm) (kN)
1 850 22.612 Flexure cracks were formed in
between the loading points
accompanied by a sudden drop in the
capacity.
(c) 1150 mm shear span.
2 950 26.920 Additional load was resisted by
nominal reinforcement mesh provided
at the mid-depth of the concrete. Fig. 20. Load end slip behaviour for longer shear span specimens.

3 1150 16.391 Slip: Rate of slip is comparatively

higher.
deflection and load-end slip curves are same as those for
the short shear span loading. After the first stage, the rate
of slip is more (Fig. 20). As in the case of shorter shear
span specimens, the zigzag pattern of the curve shows the
differential movements of the slab and the profiled sheet.
In this case, the reverse slip is not observed due to the
longer shear span. As the shear span is larger, the load
position moves towards the midspan and the load will try
to merge the slab with the profiled sheet. The load carrying
capacity of the composite slab increased with the help of the
profiled sheet. Fig. 20 shows the load–slip behaviour of the
slab.
Tables 1 and 2 present the capacities and behaviour of the
specimens in static test for shorter shear span and longer shear
span loading respectively.
800 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803

Table 3
Parameters to plot m–k curve

No Shear span, L s (mm) Load, P (kN) Shear, Vu (kN) Vu /bd (N/mm2 ) As /bL s
1 320 55.625 22.250 0.3501 0.0036
2 350 52.191 20.876 0.3285 0.0033
3 380 47.340 18.936 0.2979 0.0030
4 850 22.612 9.045 0.1423 0.0013
5 950 26.920 10.768 0.1694 0.0012
6 1150 16.391 6.556 0.1031 0.0010

5.2. Cyclic test

Two specimens from each set were subjected to preliminary

cyclic loading. All the shorter shear span specimens withstood
5000 cycles of loading. After three hours of cyclic loading, the
specimens were subjected to static load in such a way that the
specimens did not fail in less than one hour time. The behaviour
and the capacity were more or less the same as obtained in
the case of the static loading. In the case of longer shear span
specimens, especially the specimen with 1150 mm shear span
could not withstand cyclic loading, because its ultimate static
load carrying capacity itself was only 8.20 kN. Hence, it failed Fig. 21. m–k curve.
before reaching the upper limit of cyclic loading. The other two
shear span specimens, namely, 850 mm and 950 mm withstood loaded) is calculated for each set of specimen. For calculating
5000 cycles of loading for three hours and behaved in the same Vu , a capacity reduction factor, Φ = 0.8 is applied to the
way in the subsequent static tests as in the case of pure static average failure load. Table 3 shows the calculation of necessary
loading. parameters for plotting the curve. A further reduction of 10%
is applied to obtain the reduced regression line based on which
5.3. Evaluation of m–k value the values of the regression constants m and k are computed.
The values are compared with those for other profiled sheets
The main objective of the present testing programme is to with chevron type embossments @ 0◦ and 90◦ configuration
determine the m–k values which define the shear transferring reported in literature (Table 4). It was inferred that each profiled
capacity of the profiled sheet. The recommended design sheet has its own unique properties. As specified in Eurocode
equation for shear bond capacity of composite deck slabs is 4 [1], the m and k values may be determined as shown in
given by Porter et al. [12]. Fig. 21. Using the m and k values obtained, the longitudinal
  shear strength of the composite slab is found out and compared
bd mρd
with the τv method. This method is an alternate method to
p
Vu = + k fc 0 (1)
s Ls m–k method to calculate the longitudinal shear resistance of the
where s is the parameter depending on the type of shoring composite slab. This method is given in Annex E of Eurocode
during the casting of the composite deck slabs. 4 [1]. The comparison is given in Table 5 and the detailed
Eq. (1) may be written as follows calculations are given in Appendix B. It was found that the
values obtained by τv method were slightly higher compared
Vu s ρd As
where ρ =
p
=m + k f c0 (2) to the values obtained by the m–k method.
bd Ls bd
Vu As p
6. Conclusions
=m + k f c0 (3)
bd bL s
which is in the form of an equation for a straight line y = From the experimental investigations conducted on 18
mx + c. specimens with varying shear spans, the following conclusions
As the casting of the slab has been carried out in a are derived:
continuously supported condition, the weight of concrete and
other dead loads were added to the applied load [2]. After • The behaviour of the embossed profiled composite steel deck
completing all the static and cyclic tests, the total load at failure slab depends mainly on the shear span;
is calculated by adding the values of self-weight of the slab • For the shorter shear spans, strength of the slab is governed
and weight of the distribution beams to the applied load at by shear bond failure;
failure for each specimen. The average value of the total load • If the shear span is large enough but not greater than 1.25 m,
at failure (average of one statically loaded and two cyclically the behaviour of the slab is governed by flexural failure;
 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803 801

Table 4
Comparison of m–k values with other profile sheets
Author Type of profile Embossment type m k

H.D. Wright et al. (1987) Trapezoidal Chevron embossements @90◦ 107.527 0.0401

S. Chen (2003) Trapezoidal Chevron embossements @0◦ 84.665 0.0221

Present work Trapezoidal Rectangular dishing type of embossments 87.956 0.0322

Table 5 during experimental investigations. They express their grateful

Comparison of longitudinal shear strength (τu ) thanks to Institute for Steel Development And Growth
Shear span, L s (mm) Longitudinal shear strength, τu (N/mm2 ) (INSDAG), Kolkata, for sponsoring the project. The paper
m–k method τv method is published with the kind permission of Director, Structural
320 0.281 0.318
Engineering Research Centre, Chennai.
350 0.285 0.303
380 0.241 0.284 Appendix A
850 0.122 0.156
950 0.112 0.167 A.1. Properties of the embossed profiled sheet (approximate)
1150 0.097 0.118
The following are the properties of the embossed sheet:
Length of the sheet = 3000 mm
• In all the specimens, the slip is observed from an early stage Width of the sheet, b = 820 mm
of loading. This inadequacy may be improved by varying Spacing of embossments = 65 mm
the embossment details such as depth, width and position Width of embossments = 21 mm
of embossment. This may also be improved by increasing Shape of embossments = Rectangular dishing type
the depth of concrete portion and providing stud connectors Length of embossments = 25 mm
at the ends. Their efficacy can be verified by carrying out Thickness of the sheet = 0.8 mm (20 gauge)
experimental investigations further; Area of cross section of the sheet, A p = 9.5382 cm2
• The cyclic loading carried out as per the provisions in Weight of the sheet = 6.91 kg/m
Eurocode [1] does not affect the load carrying capacity of Modulus of section, Z e = 16.79 cm3
the slabs;
Plastic section modulus, Z p = 17.350 cm3
• The linear regression constants ‘m’ and ‘k’ for rectangular
Yield stress of the sheet, f y = 250 N/mm2
dishing type embossments are found to be:
Effective area of sheet, Aeff = 4.20 cm2
m = 87.956 Moment of inertia, I x x = 28.8 cm4 .
k = 0.03
Fig. A.1 shows the cross sectional view of the embossed
• As the m and k value differs for each profiled sheet, sheet and Fig. A.2 shows the view of embossments provided
experimental verifications are necessary for each type of in the sheet:
profiled sheet. Flexural resistance of the composite slab = 14.52 kN m.
• The longitudinal shear carrying capacities calculated by m–k
method and partial shear connection method differ by about
26% in the average.

Acknowledgements

The first four authors thank Dr N. Lakshmanan, Director,

and Dr C.V. Vaidyanathan, Advisor Management, Structural
Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, for their kind support Fig. A.1. Cross section of the embossed sheet.
802 V. Marimuthu et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 63 (2007) 791–803

Substituting the above relations in Eq. (B.2), value of Nc can

be calculated as
Nc
r  
e −e
−(h t − e p ) ± (h t − e p )2 − 4 × A pp f yp − b×0.85 0.5
f cm × (M pr − M)
=  
e −e 0.5
2 × A pp f yp − b×0.85 f cm

(B.6)

The degree of shear connection µ can be worked out as

Nc
µ= (B.7)
Fig. A.2. View of embossments in the sheet.
Nc f
from the µ value the longitudinal shear stress may be calculated
Appendix B
as
B.1. Longitudinal shear calculation by τv method of Eurocode µ × Nc f
τu = (B.8)
4 [1, Annex E] b × (L s + L 0 )

The tensile force in the sheeting may be written as where

N p = µNc f which is equal to concrete compressive force L s = shear span
Nc . L 0 = length of overhang.
Therefore: The characteristic shear strength should be taken as
Nc = µNc f (B.1) 0.9 × µ × Nc f
τu = . (B.9)
where µ is the factor used to indicate the degree of connection b × (L s + L 0 )
between steel sheet and the concrete. µ = 100% for full Also design shear strength of the sheeting may be calculated
connection and µ = 0% for no interaction between the steel as
sheet and concrete in which case, the moment carrying capacity
0.9 × µ × Nc f
is equal to the moment capacity of the sheeting. If the degree of τu = . (B.10)
connection is between 0 and 100, the slab is said to have partial b × (L s + L 0 ) × 1.25
shear connection.
The moment M due to applied loads at a particular section References
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