Wood deck connection system and method of installation

Abstract

A wood deck connection system and a method for the installation of wooden deck panels using the system is disclosed. The reliable shear withdrawal connection system comprises a headed connector mechanically fastened to a steel, concrete or wooden girder, a wood-based deck panel having a receiver hole bored therein, and a grout agent deposited throughout the receiver hole. The deck connection system enables top-side installation of deck panels and provides improved shear strength, withdrawal resistance, reliability and fatigue behavior of the wooden deck system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of creating a mechanical connection between a deck panel and a support member, comprising: 
 (a) securing a distal end of at least one headed anchoring device to an upper portion of said support member;    (b) providing a deck panel of a wood-based material, said panel having at least one receiver hole formed therein;    (c) placing the wood-based deck panel onto an upper surface of said support member so that at least one headed anchoring device projects into at least one receiver hole;    (d) depositing grout into at least one receiver hole to a point approximately at or above the top of the anchoring device; and    (e) curing the grout to bond to at least one headed anchoring device and to said deck panel.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said anchoring device securing step takes place after the step of placing the deck panel onto said support member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  adapted for use in a floor system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  adapted for use in a bridge system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the grout used is a non-shrink grout.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the length of the hole is non-cylindrical and contains two or more diameters.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said deck panel comprises a material made of hardwood, softwood, solid sawn timber, nail-laminated timber, glue-laminated timber, stress-laminated timber, parallel stranded lumber, laminated stranded lumber or laminated veneer lumber.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said support member comprises a material made of steel, concrete or wood.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the headed anchoring device is welded to a steel support member through an electric arc welding process.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the arc welding process uses a stud welding gun wherein said headed anchoring device serves as the electrode during the welding process.  
     
     
         11 . A deck connection system formed by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A wood deck connection system, comprising: 
 (a) a support member;    (b) a wood-based deck panel having a top surface and a bottom surface, and having at least one receiver hole projecting from said top surface down through to said bottom surface, said panel being mounted upon said support member;    (c) at least one headed anchoring device secured vertically to said support member at a position wherein at least one headed anchoring device will project into at least one receiver hole; and    (d) grout deposited and cured within at least one receiver hole to a point approximately at or above the top of the headed anchoring device.    
     
     
         13 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein said deck panel comprises a material made of hardwood, softwood, solid sawn timber, nail-laminated timber, glue-laminated timber, stress-laminated timber, parallel stranded lumber, laminated stranded lumber or laminated veneer lumber.  
     
     
         14 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of deck connection systems located at a predetermined distance from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein said support member comprises a material made of steel, concrete or wood.  
     
     
         16 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein said non-shrink grout further comprises a self-leveling grout material.  
     
     
         17 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein at least one headed anchoring device comprises a shear stud, bolt, lag bolt, screw, threaded anchoring device or deformed anchoring device.  
     
     
         18 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein at least one headed anchoring device comprises a weldable metal and is secured to said support member by welding.  
     
     
         19 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein at least one headed anchoring device has a length approximately equal to or less than a distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of said deck panel and a width less than a respective width of at least one receiver hole.  
     
     
         20 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein the length of the non-cylindrical hole contains two or more different diameters.  
     
     
         21 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 12  wherein the headed anchoring device is welded to said support member through an electric arc welding process.  
     
     
         22 . The wood deck connection system of  claim 21 , wherein the arc welding process uses a stud welding gun wherein the headed anchoring device serves as the electrode during the welding process.