STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Research & Development
To address the floor-to-floor height and interference challenges, SGBS Intl. (SMART GREEN BUILDING SYSTEMS) initiated a comprehensive research and development program. Our goal was to design an interior structural steel girder that could be integrated within the plane of the precast slab units, resulting in a slim floor construction (similar to a flat plate) with minimal floor-to-ceiling height. The Composite Flooring system and the open web ENVIROBEAM® technology are the culmination of more than fifteen years of dedicated research and development. Early testing led to an ASD approach for the rational design of the Composite Flooring System.
Extensive laboratory testing and analysis were conducted to develop a rational analysis that would optimize the use of this technology. This involved testing both small-scale specimens and full-scale assemblies to simulate actual construction bays. Each assembly was load-tested well beyond the code-required residential live loads. The ENVIROBEAM® demonstrated exceptional performance, withstanding these higher loads without failure.
More recent, advanced testing allowed us to establish an LRFD approach for the Composite Flooring System. Design Guide v3.3 enhances the previously established structural and economic benefits of the Composite Flooring System. With simplicity in mind, new ENVIROBEAM® have been introduced, while those less frequently used have been phased out.
The Composite Flooring System integrates seamlessly with lateral resisting steel braced frames, as well as concrete or masonry shear walls.
