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Virginia Tech

Deep Deck and Cellular Deck Diaphragm Strength and Stiffness Evaluation

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Twenty cantilever diaphragm tests were performed in the Structures and Materials Laboratory at Virginia Tech. The tests included both deep deck and cellular deck profiles with varying structural and side-lap connections. The tests were conducted with three different structural connections: screws, pins and welds and two different side-lap connections: screws and button punch. The tests were conducted and both load and deflection of the diaphragms were recorded. The current International Code Council, ICC, evaluation procedure shows that there are two different methods for measuring diaphragm deflection. The first method was by measuring specific corner displacements and making corrections to remove any rigid body motion. The second method is by measuring the deflection of the diagonals of the diaphragm. In this study both measurements were taken to do a comparison of the results that were obtained. Both strength and stiffness values were calculated based on the Steel Deck Institute (SDI) Diaphragm Design Manual (2004) and modifications described by Luttrell (2005). The paper by Luttrell (2005) only recommends modifications for the calculation of diaphragm stiffness. The data obtained from the tests were compared to the SDI calculations to distinguish any noticeable trends. Modifications are recommended regarding diaphragm strength and further research is suggested to create a better stiffness prediction of diaphragms.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2007

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Bagwell, Jonathan
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Easterling, William Samuel
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Roberts-Wollmann, Carin L.
  • Murray, Thomas M.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06222007-141409
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33688

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Bagwell, Jonathan. Deep Deck and Cellular Deck Diaphragm Strength and Stiffness Evaluation. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33688