Vulcraft composite VL deck vs shear studs 1

[kodstruct]

Hello,

I have successfully used Vulcraft 2VL & 2VLI composite decks over steel joists for floor framing systems over the past 10years. One of my colleagues is saying it's better to use shear studs on steel beams instead. Personally, I feel like it will be expensive to weld the studs for two to three story buildings. Can we just use Vulcraft VL composite deck on steel beams provided that we specify the puddle welds? I've always felt like using the composite deck (VL or VLI) with specific puddle welds is enough for partial composite action after checking the requirements.

Note, my floors are always 5.5" total thickness.

Thanks.

 

[kodstruct]

Agreed "dhengr". I will be working on two new office buildings in the next 3 months. I think I will go this route and explain the advantages of using composite floors.
This current project goes out at the end of the month, so i will use non-composite for it in the meantime.

 

[KootK]

I posed the stud economics question in a previous thread. The conclusion there was that, for smaller projects, it's got more to do with mob/demob costs of the stud welding equipment. The rule of thumb that the community kindly provided to me was that, if there's going to be at least 1000 studs on the project, it's probably worth it. I always seem to wind up having about 14 stud either end of my composite beams, give or take. I've taken to just multiplying the number of beams by 28 and comparing the sum to 1000. It actually takes a fairly small project (<35 longer span floor beams) for me to come to the conclusion that studs don't make sense.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

 

[JAE]

Just be sure to check vibration per Archie264's comment above.

 

[SteelPE]

I have questioned the used of composite beams before in the past. I have even given a few scenarios to fabricators to price to see which system is cheaper, a composite steel beam system of a open-web steel joist system. To my surprise, they always come back and say that a open-web steel joist system is cheaper than the composite steel beam system. These are usually for smaller projects (3 stories or less) and do not include the costs associated with fireproofing.

If height is not an issue and the project is small, why not investigate an open-web steel joist system? We usually use joists spaced at 2'-6" o.c. with 9/16" form deck that supports a 3-1/2" to 4-1/2" thick slab.