BOX BEAM FOR USE AS A LOAD CARRYING MEMBER AND STRUCTURES INCORPORATING SUCH BOX BEAMS

摘要

This specification relates to a box beam (20) with upright sides (22) which are connected to upper and lower chord plates (24, 26) all of which are constructed of corrugated plate having corrugations (28) which run parallel to the length of the box beams and which have a large corrugation pitch and depth. The chord plates (24, 26) and sides (22) are bolted together at spaced apart intervals. Thin-walled shear plates (30) are placed against the box beam sides (22) and bolted to the corrugation troughs (38) of the sides and they carry vertically acting shear loads while their connection to the box beams (20) prevents them from buckling. A longitudinal camber can be incorporated in the box beam. The box beam is specifically adapted for use in a structure such as a building or bridge and several embodiments of the latter are described utilising one or more beams arranged side by side. A load carrying deck (52) constructed of corrugated checkered metal plate is supported on the deck and a concrete layer (60) is poured on top of the bridge deck (52) so as to form a mechanical interlock between the concrete and the deck to thereby structurally integrate the concrete layer with the remainder of the bridge.