why is composite metal decking corrugated

Composite metal decking is a popular choice in construction projects due to its numerous advantages over traditional construction materials. It has become the preferred choice among contractors for its superior strength and versatility. Composite metal decking is a combination of steel and concrete which provides an excellent foundation for a structure. The steel decking is typically corrugated providing added strength and stability to the structure.

Why is Composite Metal Decking Corrugated

The short answer is that the corrugations help to make the steel decking material stiffer using the same amount of material, improving the strength in the same way I-beams do.

Increased Strength

Corrugating composite metal decking increases its strength in multiple ways. First, the ridges along the surface create a form of ‘interlock,’ where the surfaces of each ridge meet. This interlock increases the overall strength relative to flat sheet metal of the same thickness.

The ridges also add depth to the composite metal decking, which enables it to better withstand certain loads while also providing additional resistance to corrosion. Corrugated metal is able to better absorb small impacts, thus reducing the chance of the metal becoming damaged or deformed over time.

Flat metal sheets can be prone to bending and warping under pressure, and the corrugated folds add extra points of rigidity, stopping the floor from bending and sagging under tensile and compressive forces respectively. Effectively, much like with I-beams, corrugation moves the metal away from the center of mass, where it provides little structural benefit, into positions where it can help sustain the shape of the entire steel decking .It also avoids the issue larger flat metal sheets have where the mass in the center sinks inwards unless kept upright through an external support.

Reduced Weight

Depending on the particular construction application, weight can be a significant factor. Because corrugated composite metal decking is able to offer the same strength as flat sheet metal, but with a significant reduction in weight, it can be a great choice in such cases. This reduced weight can help make projects more cost-effective by reducing the amount of material required and by also ensuring that the materials used are able to fit within the budget limits.

Moreover, the selection of Corrugating composite metal decking can reduce the amount of concrete, to a certain extent, reduces the weight of the composite floor slabs, for the later steel beams of the stress is also reduced accordingly, thus making the structure more secure.

Increased Formability

Due to its corrugated shape, composite metal decking is much more formable than flat sheet metal. The ridges along the surface of the metal provide a form of ‘spring back’ that allows it to be bent or curved, without cracking or breaking. This means that it can be shaped into different shapes as required, greatly increasing the range of possible construction applications.

lower costs

The selection of Corrugating composite metal decking not only reduces the cost of metal decking itself, but also reduces the amount of concrete used for the composite floor slab, reducing the cost. The overall cost is also reduced due to the self-weight of the decking which reduces the amount of steel used. Therefore, composite metal decking is definitely suitable for Corrugated.

Corrugation in Composite Metal Decking is an important aspect of its construction and offers a number of advantages that make it the preferred choice for construction projects.