Laboratory Tests of Lightweight Composite Floor System LWT-FLOOR

In recent decades, the use of built-up cold-formed steel sections in composite steel-concrete structures has become increasingly popular due to their advantages. These systems are easy to manipulate, transport and erect because of their reduced weight. These advantages are even more significant when the system is designed to be demountable, reflecting the environmental impact at the end of the system’s life. This paper aims to discuss a cold-formed steel-concrete composite floor system as part of the LWT-FLOOR project at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia. The built-up beams in this system consist of back-to-back “C” profiles as flanges and corrugated webs, which are connected using fast and productive spot-welding technology. Innovative demountable shear connections with structural bolts enable composite action between steel and concrete. The LWT-FLOOR system has numerous potential benefits, which will be investigated through experimental and numerical research supported by probabilistic methods and life cycle analyses. This paper presents the overview of project objectives, emphasising conducted and planned experimental research, which will be base for further project activities.