in the form of allowable imposed load tables.

These values are determined from test

results and their interpretation as required in EC4 clause 10.3. In most catalogues
the resistance to imposed load is given as a function of decking type and steel sheet
thickness, slab thickness, span length and the number of temporary supports.
Generally, these resistances are well in excess of the applied loads, indicating that
composite action is satisfactory or that the design is controlled by other limitations.
However, care should be taken to read the catalogue for any limitations or restrictions
due to dynamic loads, and concentrated point and line loads.

5.2.4 Deflections [7.6.2.2]

Deflection calculations in reinforced concrete are notoriously inaccurate, and therefore

some approximations are justified to obtain an estimate for the deflections of a
composite slab. The stiffness of a composite slab may be calculated from the cracked
section properties of a reinforced concrete slab, by treating the cross-sectional area
of decking as an equivalent reinforcing bar.

However, if the maximum ratio of span length to slab depth is within the limits of
Table 5.1 no deflection check is needed. The end span should be considered as the
general case for design. In this case it is assumed that minimum anti-crack
reinforcement exists at the supports. Experience shows that imposed load deflections
do not exceed span/350 when using the span to depth ratios shown in Table 5.1.
More refined deflection calculations will lead to greater span to depth ratios than
those given in Table 5.1.

Maximum Span: Depth ratios End span Internal span Single span
Normal weight concrete 35 38 32
Light weight concrete 30 33 27

Table 5.1: Maximum span to depth ratios of composite slabs

5.3 Influence of Decking on the Design of Composite Beams

Profiled steel change decking performs a number of important roles, and influences
the design of the composite beam in a number of ways. It:

0 may provide lateral restraint to the steel beams during construction;

0 causes a possible reduction in the design resistance of the shear connectors;

0 acts as transverse reinforcement leading to a reduction in the amount of bar

reinforcement needed.

These factors are addressed more fully in Section 6.

The orientation of the sheeting is important. Decking ribs may be oriented in two
ways with respect to the composite beam:

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