Student Project: In-Plane Behaviour Of Composite Cold-Formed Truss Floors

Mrs Soheila Peyrovi is a PhD student undertaking research in the area of ‘Cold-Formed Truss Floor Systems’. She is studying the behaviour of composite cold-formed truss diaphragms with furring channel as shear connectors.

Soheila’s research into this area includes testing of two full scale concrete slabs under in-plane loading. The test evaluates the static shear capacity and stiffness of a typical segment of a framed diaphragm under simulated loading conditions, current design codes are based on non-composite slabs or composite slabs with headed stud connectors. Finally, numerical analysis for classification of these diaphragms as flexible, semi-rigid or rigid, are conducted in multi-storey buildings. A test rig was designed and fabricated. The system consists of three elements; concrete slab on corrugated cold-formed metal deck, cold-formed steel truss joists, and coldformed furring-channel shear connectors.

Normal concrete with the thickness of 65 mm from top of metal deck is representative of a floor slab. Two layouts are tested: joists perpendicular to the applied load, and joists parallel to the applied load (joists are rotated 90°).

This is one example of the many projects and experiments carried out at CIE. We currently supervise and support projects and test for over 50 PhD students, as well as for numerous academics and external partners.

Mrs Solheila Peyrovi Cheshnasar