Shear load resistant structure

Claim 2

A diaphragm for translating horizontal shear loads imposed thereon through a supporting load bearing member to vertical load resisting members in buildings, said diaphragm comprising in combination: (a) a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes terminating at opposed open ends defined by the extremities of said webs, said top flutes and said bottom flutes, said fluted deck having each of the opposed open ends supported by a load bearing member; (b) first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to the supporting load bearing member; (c) load translation means transversely located with respect to the flutes of said fluted deck for interconnecting selected ones of the open ends defined by said top flutes and adjacent ones of said webs with the load bearing member; (d) second attachment means for rigidly securing at least one of said webs and the interconnecting one of said top flutes of the selected ones of the open ends directly to said load translation means; and (e) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with the load bearing member; whereby, said load translation means inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling said webs of said fluted deck due to horizontal shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation means translates the horizontal shear loads from said diaphragm to the load bearing member and ultimately to the vertical load resisting members.

Claim 3

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 1 wherein said load translation means comprises a profile plate member, said profile plate member including a plate and a plurality of profile plates extending from said plate, each of said profile plates being positionable in mating relationship with a pair of said webs and an interconnecting one of said top flutes.

Claim 4

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates with at least said mating top flute.

Claim 5

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates to at least a web of said mating webs.

Claim 6

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates to said mating top flute.

Claim 7

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second attachment means comprises a weld.

Claim 8

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plate extends adjacent said bottom flutes.

Claim 9

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and third attachment means are one and the same.

Claim 10

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and third attachment means comprises a puddle weld.

Claim 11

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate extends adjacent said bottom flutes.

Claim 12

A building for resisting horizontal shear loads imposed by earthquakes, high winds and the like, said building comprising in combination: (a) vertical load resisting members for absorbing horizontal shear loads imposed upon the building; (b) horizontal load bearing members attached to said vertical load resisting members for translating horizontal shear loads to said vertical load resisting members; (c) a diaphragm supported by said horizontal load bearing members, said diaphragm comprising in combination: i. a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes and defining a total thickness of said diaphragm of at least 11/2 inches; ii. first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to at least one of said horizontal load bearing members; iii. load translation means for interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes with one another and with said one horizontal load bearing member; iv. second attachment means for rigidly securing at least one of the webs and top flutes of selected pairs of said webs interconnected by one of said top flutes with said load translation means; and (d) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with said horizontal load bearing member; whereby, said load translation member inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation member translates the shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm through said horizontal load bearing members to said vertical load resisting members.

Claim 13

A building for resisting horizontal shear loads imposed by earthquakes, high winds and the like, said building comprising in combination: (a) vertical load resisting members for absorbing horizontal shear loads imposed upon the building; (b) horizontal load bearing members attached to said vertical load resisting members for translating horizontal shear loads to said vertical load resisting members; (c) a diaphragm supported by said horizontal load bearing members, said diaphragm comprising in combination: i. a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes and defining a total thickness of said diaphragm of at least 11/2 inches; ii. first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to at least one of said horizontal load bearing members; iii. load translation means for interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes with one another and with said one horizontal load bearing member; iv. second attachment means for rigidly securing at least one of the webs and top flutes of selected pairs of said webs interconnected by one of said top flutes with said load translation means; and (d) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with said horizontal load bearing member; whereby, said load translation member inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation member translates the shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm through said horizontal load bearing members to said vertical load resisting members.

Claim 14

The building as set forth in claim 11 wherein said load translation means comprises a profile plate member, said profile plate member including a plate and a plurality of profile plates extending from said plate, each of said profile plates being positionable in mating relationship with a pair of said webs and an interconnecting one of said top flutes.

Claim 15

The building as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates with at least said mating top flute.

Claim 16

The building as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates to at least a web of said mating webs.

Claim 17

The building as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second attachment means secures each of said profile plates to said mating top flute.

Claim 18

The building as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second attachment means comprises a weld.

Claim 19

The building as set forth in claim 14 wherein said plate extends adjacent said bottom flutes.

Claim 20

The building as set forth in claim 17 wherein said first and third attachment means are one and the same.

Claim 21

The building as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first and third attachment means comprises a puddle weld.

Claim 22

The building as set forth in claim 12 wherein said plate extends adjacent said bottom flutes.

Claim 23

A diaphragm for translating horizontal shear loads imposed thereon through a supporting load bearing member to vertical load resisting members in buildings, said diaphragm comprising in combination: (a) a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes terminating at opposed open ends defined by the extremities of said webs, said top flutes and said bottom flutes, said fluted deck having the opposed open ends supported by a load bearing member; (b) first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to the supporting load bearing member; (c) load translation means transversely located with respect to the flutes for structurally interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes of said deck with one another and with the load bearing member; (d) second attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said top flutes directly to said load translation means; and (e) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with the load bearing member; whereby, said load translation means inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to horizontal shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation means translates the horizontal shear loads from said diaphragm to the load bearing member and ultimately to the vertical load resisting members.

Claim 24

A diaphragm for translating horizontal shear loads imposed thereon through a supporting load bearing member to vertical load resisting members in buildings, said diaphragm comprising in combination: (a) a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes terminating at opposed open ends defined by the extremities of said webs, said top flutes and said bottom flutes, said fluted deck having the opposed open ends supported by a load bearing member; (b) first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to the supporting load bearing member; (c) load translation means transversely located with respect to the flutes for structurally interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes of said deck with one another and with the load bearing member; (d) second attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said top flutes directly to said load translation means; and (e) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with the load bearing member; whereby, said load translation means inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to horizontal shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation means translates the horizontal shear loads from said diaphragm to the load bearing member and ultimately to the vertical load resisting members.

Claim 25

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 21 wherein said load translation means comprises a Z-shaped member having a first flange attached by said second attachment means to the selected ones of said top flutes and a second flange attached by said third attachment means to the load bearing member.

Claim 26

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first and third attachment means are puddle welds and said second attachment means is a fillet weld.

Claim 27

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 21 wherein said load translation means comprises a C-shaped channel having an upper flange attached to selected ones of said top flutes and a lower flange attached to selected ones of said bottom flutes.

Claim 28

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first and third attachment means comprise the same attachment means.

Claim 29

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 25 wherein said second attachment means comprises a fillet weld and said first and third attachment means comprises a puddle weld.

Claim 30

The diaphragm as set forth in claim 24 wherein said upper flange of said C-shaped channel is substantially less wide than said lower flange.

Claim 31

A building for resisting horizontal shear loads imposed by earthquakes, high winds and the like, said building comprising in combination: (a) vertical load resisting members for absorbing horizontal shear loads imposed upon the buildings; (b) horizontal load bearing members attached to said vertical load resisting members for translating horizontal shear loads to said vertical load resisting members; (c) a diaphragm supported by said horizontal load bearing members, said diaphragm comprising in combination: i. a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes and defining a total thickness of said diaphragm of at least 11/2 inches; ii. first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to at least one of said horizontal load bearing members; iii. load translation means for structurally interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes with one another and with said one horizontal load bearing member; iv. second attachment means for rigidly securing the selected ones of said top flutes with said load translation means; and (d) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with said one horizontal load bearing member; whereby, said load translation member inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation member translates the shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm through said horizontal load bearing members to said vertical load resisting members.

Claim 32

A building for resisting horizontal shear loads imposed by earthquakes, high winds and the like, said building comprising in combination: (a) vertical load resisting members for absorbing horizontal shear loads imposed upon the buildings; (b) horizontal load bearing members attached to said vertical load resisting members for translating horizontal shear loads to said vertical load resisting members; (c) a diaphragm supported by said horizontal load bearing members, said diaphragm comprising in combination: i. a fluted deck, said fluted deck including webs alternately interconnecting top and bottom flutes and defining a total thickness of said diaphragm of at least 11/2 inches; ii. first attachment means for rigidly securing selected ones of said bottom flutes to at least one of said horizontal load bearing members; iii. load translation means for structurally interconnecting selected ones of said top flutes with one another and with said one horizontal load bearing member; iv. second attachment means for rigidly securing the selected ones of said top flutes with said load translation means; and (d) third attachment means for rigidly securing said load translation means with said one horizontal load bearing member; whereby, said load translation member inhibits relative movement between said top and bottom flutes and buckling of said webs of said fluted deck due to shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm and said load translation member translates the shear loads imposed upon said diaphragm through said horizontal load bearing members to said vertical load resisting members.

Claim 33

The building as set forth in claim 28 wherein said load translation means comprises a Z-shaped member having a first flange attached by said second attachment means to the selected ones of said top flutes and a second flange attached by said third attachment means to said one horizontal load bearing member.

Claim 34

The building as set forth in claim 29 wherein said first and third attachment means comprise puddle welds and said second attachment means comprises a fillet weld.

Claim 35

The building as set forth in claim 28 wherein said load translation means comprises a C-shaped channel having an upper flange attached to selected ones of said top flutes and a lower flange attached to selected ones of said bottom flutes.

Claim 36

The building as set forth in claim 31 wherein said first and third attachment means comprise the same attachment means.

Claim 37

The building as set forth in claim 32 wherein said second attachment means comprises a fillet weld and said first and third attachment means comprise a puddle weld.

Claim 38

The building as set forth in claim 33 wherein said upper flange of said C-shaped channel is substantially less wide than said lower flange.