Concrete-filled steel deck is employed as a diaphragm in countless structural steel buildings. However, the available experimental data on cyclic performance is limited. SDII researchers have embarked on a series of cyclic concrete-filled steel deck diaphragm tests and companion push-out tests. A typical specimen at the end of testing appears as follows:
The first two tests in the series have been completed and further testing is ongoing.
Overall the currently planned test matrix is as follows:
The highlighted test was completed in December 2018. Both of the first two tests failed by diagonal tension cracking in the concrete fill. Later tests are detailed to fail in the shear studs. These tests provide experimental benchmarks needed in ongoing building analyses of archetype buildings and provide validation targets for newly developed fracture models. The SDII team is working to ensure the testing has a significant impact on engineering capabilities and design approaches for steel building diaphragms.