TESTS OF PROFILED STEEL DECKS WITH V-STIFFENERS

The size and position of intermediate stiffeners in the compression fl anges of thin-walled profiled steel decks exert a strong influence on the dominant buckling mode of the flange. The ability of the deck to p rovide both high load-carrying capacity before the onset of elastic bu ckling and a high ultimate-load capacity may therefore be affected. A program of tests to determine the effectiveness of intermediate stiffe ners in controlling buckling modes is undertaken. A series of specimen s are loaded in pure bending resulting in various buckling waveforms p rior to ultimate failure through a plastic collapse mechanism. The exp erimentally determined buckling stresses are found to be comparable wi th studies performed using a finite-strip numerical analysis in which both local, and distortional buckling modes are predicted. A simplifie d design procedure for distortional buckling is proposed. The existing design procedure for local buckling in the Australian Standard AS1538 -1988 is confirmed.