Advisory desk
AD 350
Heating pipes in composite floors –
effects on slab beam design
The purpose of this AD Note is to give advice on the design of composite Cross sectional properties of composite beams
beams and composite slabs when polypropylene heating pipe systems are Bending resistance and stiffness
installed within the concrete slab depth. Recommendations are made for the As with composite slabs, all concrete displaced by the pipes should be ignored
calculation of the cross section properties for both the composite slab and the when determining resistance. This means that when determining the bending
composite beam formed with such a slab; recommendations are also given for resistance of the composite beam, the pipe area should be deducted from
the assessment of shear connection. It is noted that the concrete slab depth compression stress block in the concrete. Clearly, this is only necessary when
may have to be increased to accommodate these pipe systems, which would the level of the pipe is within the compression zone in the concrete, and it is
have implications for the design of the decking and structure. only relevant when the pipe is transverse to the axis of the beam. The pipe
area may be ignored when calculating the composite second moment of area
Typical floor layout of heating pipes of the beam (for use in stiffness calculations).
The heating pipes are usually about 20 mm diameter and are laid in a single
plane above the decking on a support system. The layout comprises a series of Shear connection
zig-zag circuits repeated across a floor, with the return pipe from each circuit It is recommended that, when determining the shear resistance of headed
led back to a manifold adjacent to the feed pipe, as shown in Figure 1. stud connectors, the contribution from a stud should be ignored if the failure
surface of the local compression zone around it is intersected by a pipe. The
Primary Beam
compression zone is illustrated diagrammatically in SCI-P300, Figure 5.5
and from experience of push-out testing carried out by SCI, the spread of
Pipe layout the compression zone adjacent to a stud lies at an angle from the top of the
stud to its vertical axis of about 60° down towards the decking, as shown in
Figure 3. This would suggest that any pipe should be laid a clear distance
from the stud of at least 1.75 times the stud height for the resistance of the
Decking span
stud to be unaffected by its presence. For nominally 100 mm long studs, a
practical limit of 400 mm diameter circular clearance zone around the stud
is recommended. (Strictly, since the potential failure zone occurs on the
compression side of the stud, the exclusion zone only needs to be on that side
but, for simplicity, a circular zone around the stud is recommended.)
Concrete slab
Figure 1. Typical plan view of individual heating pipe circuit for a floor
Positioning of the pipes within the depth of the floor slab
60°
Heating pipes will normally be placed between the mesh reinforcement and Steel
decking
the profiled decking. The suggested depth of the zones necessary to install the
pipes (including any proprietary supporting system and the reinforcement) is
shown in Figure 2. The minimum practical thickness of a composite floor with
pipes installed is likely to be at least 150 mm, but is dependent on the depth
of the decking. Figure 3. Typical angle of failure surface with a stud
Concrete cover zone (25-50mm) In practice, this recommendation will mean that, for each pipe transverse
Reinforcement & laps zone (24-40mm) to the beam, the adjacent the stud or pair of studs would be ignored. It is
Heating pipe zone (pipe diameter, 20mm)
Decking cover zone (25mm)
recognised that this could have a considerable effect on the design of beams
for pipe arrangements where numerous pipes cross the beams. If the layouts
cannot be arranged in a similar way to that shown in Figure 1, which avoids
Re-entrant decking Trapezoidal decking multiple crossings, it may be necessary to design the beams using non-
composite properties. It is also undesirable to place pipes longitudinally to
Figure 2. Slab depth zones the beam in a way that the circular zone around the studs is intersected. Pipe
layouts between beams, with single pipes across the beams only near the
Cross sectional properties of composite slabs columns, may prove to be the most structurally efficient.
Until test evidence is available, it is recommended that a conservative view is Normally, the number of studs on a beam is determined from
taken when calculating the strength of the composite slab with embedded consideration of the lower of the number required to meet the minimum
pipes: all concrete displaced by the pipes should be ignored. However, it is degree of shear connection rules, (which is based on the span, yield strength
thought that the shear connection between the decking and the concrete will and section geometry) and the number based on the force in the concrete to
not be affected by the presence of the pipes because it relies on mechanical achieve the plastic moment of resistance. The calculation of the force in the
interlock; this interlock will be maintained, provided that the concrete can be concrete (to establish the moment resistance) is dependent on the effective
compacted properly beneath the pipes. Clearly, pipes should not be grouped area of concrete, which should not be reduced by the area of the pipe.
together in a way that compaction could be compromised - a minimum
spacing between the pipes of the maximum aggregate size plus 5 mm, but
not less than 25 mm, is recommended.
NSC
34 Nov/Dec 10
Advisory desk
Longitudinal shear resistance of the slab Beam Support
Stud group
In order for the full effective breadth of the concrete slab to be utilised
for the composite resistance of the beam, it is necessary for the pipes not 400mm
to affect the potential shear failure planes in the zones either side of the Longitudinal
beam – i.e. the zones to the extremities of the effective breadth. The pipe pipe-free zone
arrangements in the slab between the beams would have an effect on any
potential longitudinal shear plane according to the area of concrete displaced.
Stud group
This effect would obviously diminish for planes nearer to the edge of the Cross-over position near
effective breadth, where the applied longitudinal shear is lower, and could be mid-span not recommended.
If cross-over provided,
zero even for pipes within the effective breadth if there is sufficient concrete neglect concrete displaced by
pipe in design, together with
and reinforcement to provide the necessary longitudinal shear resistance. stud group where the pipe is
within a radius of 200mm Neglect concrete
Where pipe arrangements employ a single pipe (or a small number of pipes) displaced by longitudinal
pipe for longitudinal shear
transverse to the beam, there would be negligible effect on the longitudinal resistance in this zone
shear resistance of the slab, but pipes running parallel to the axis of the beam width of beam span/4
will have an effect. In the latter case the area of the pipe should be deducted
when calculating the longitudinal shear resistance.
Stud group
Preferred cross-over
Summary position (near support).
◆ Pipe layouts between beams, with single pipes across the beams near the Neglect stud groups
where the pipe is within
columns, are likely to have the least effect on structural performance. a 200mm radius
◆ All concrete displaced by pipes should be ignored for strength calculations Beam Support
for composite slabs and beams. Figure 4. Recommendations for pipe positioning and implications for design
◆ The contribution from any stud to the shear resistance of beams should for composite beams with 100 mm high stud shear connectors
be ignored when pipes are within a radius of the 1.75 x height of stud (for
nominally 100 mm long studs, say 200 mm radius). Contact: J W Rackham
◆ Minimum shear connection rules should be complied with for beams by Tel: 01344 636525
analysing the required number of studs without the presence of pipes. Email: [email protected]
◆ Pipes should be located as shown in Figure 4. The 400 mm width of pipe-
free zone is based on the use of 100 mm high stud shear connectors.
BARRETT STEEL
FULL RANGE OF STRUCTURAL SECTIONS
NATIONWIDE SUPPLY
CUTTING, DRILLING, PUNCHING, SHEARING,
SHOTBLASTING & PAINTING
TEL: 01274 682281 BARRETT
General Steels
NSC
Nov/Dec 10 37
