Composite steel joist/composite beam floor system and steel stud wall systems

Abstract

The present invention provides metal stud perimeter wall and load-bearing wall systems that support without eccentricity, concrete-topped floors on open-web steel joists, deep-profiled composite metal decks, and channel-shaped joists, and allow upper floor framing to be completed before Boor concreting; a composite steel beam, for open-web steel joist support; a new shear-connection-ready open-web steel joist; and a perimeter metal stud wall system that incorporates an in-wall wheel stopper. The wall systems incorporate web-perforated studs, and/or web-perforated tracks doubling as concrete closures, and other concrete closure devices. The composite beam incorporates shear connectors protruding through a special web-perforated track fitted with a load-bearing, block and cut-outs in the legs for open-web steel joist support. Unlike, composite open-web steel joists supporting simple-span metal decks, the shear-connection-ready joist incorporates a fiat-topped chord to allow continuous steel deck layout and field-installed shear connectors. These joists are best used with, medium-depth wide-fluted composite floor deck for maximum system efficiency.

1 . A wall assembly constructed upon a support surface, said assembly comprising:
 (a) an elongate light-gauge metal base track comprising a continuous web member having an inner face and an outer face, a continuous first flange, and a continuous second flange, wherein:
 a.1 said first and second flanges are parallel and extend substantially perpendicularly from the Inner face of the web member; and 
 a.2 the first flange has a plurality of cut-outs, each shaped to receive a structural joist; 
 said base track being positioned upon and anchored to the support surface, with its first and second flanges projecting vertically upward; 
   (b) a plurality of joist-support elements, each positioned upon the inner face of the base track's web member adjacent a corresponding joist cut-out; and   (c) a wall panel comprising a plurality of spaced, light-gauge metal studs, said panel being supported by the base track;   
     wherein at least one of the cut-outs in the first flange of the base track is shaped to receive a structural joist in the form, of a shear-connection-ready open-web steel joist having top chord comprising:
 (d) an inverted hat-shaped steel section; and 
 (e) an elongate steel plate welded across the top surfaces of the inverted hat-shaped steel section for substantially the full length thereof. 
 
   
   
       2 . The wall assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support surface is the top flange of a structural steel beam. 
   
   
       3 . The wall, assembly of Chum  2 , further comprising a plurality of shear connectors, anchored to the top flange of the steel beam, said shear connectors being spaced apart and positioned between the studs of the wall panel. 
   
   
       4 . The wall assembly of  claim 1  wherein the base track's second flange has a plurality of cut-outs, each shaped to receive a shear-connection-ready open-web steel joist. 
   
   
       5 . A wall-and-floor assembly constructed upon a support surface, said assembly comprising:
 (a) an elongate light-gauge metal base track comprising a continuous web member having an inner Face and an outer face, a continuous first flange and a continuous second flange, wherein:
 a. 1 said first and second flanges are parallel and extend substantially perpendicularly from the inner face of the web member; 
 a.2 said first flange incorporates means for supporting fluted structural decking; and 
 a.3 said base track, is positioned, upon and anchored to the support surface, with its first and second flanges projecting vertically upward; 
   (b) a wall panel comprising a plurality of spaced, light-gauge metal studs, the lower ends of said studs being, disposed between the base track's first and second flanges;   (c) a plurality of elongate, fluted structural decking, units spanning between said decking support means and an auxiliary support means, with the upper surfaces of the decking units being at a common elevation, and   (d) concrete topping placed over the metal decking and extending into the space between the first and second flanges of the base track, with the upper surface of the concrete topping being at a selected floor elevation.   
   
   
       6 . The wall assembly of  claim 5  wherein:
 (a) the web member of the track has a plurality of perforations spaced to align with the flute spacing of the fluted structural deck;   (b) the support surface for the wall panel comprises surfaces of the high flutes of the structural deck; and   (c) the low flutes of the structural deck are aligned with the perforations in the web of the base track.   
   
   
       7 . The wall assembly of  claim 5  wherein the support surface is the top track of a lower wall. 
   
   
       8 . The wall assembly of  claim 5  wherein the web of at least one of the studs has a perforation positioned below the upper edge of the base track's second flange. 
   
   
       9 . The wall assembly of  claim 5  wherein the support surface is the top flange of a structural steel beam. 
   
   
       10 . The wall assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of shear connectors anchored to the top flange of the steel beam, said shear connectors being spaced apart and positioned between the studs of the wall panel. 
   
   
       11 . A wall-and-floor assembly comprising:
 (a) a wall constructed upon a support surface and comprising:
 a.1 an elongate light-gauge metal base track comprising a continuous web member having an inner face and an outer face, a continuous first flange, and a continuous second flange, wherein Said first and second flanges are parallel and extend substantially perpendicularly from the inner face of the web member, and wherein the first flange has a plurality of cut-outs, each shaped to receive a structural joist, said base track being positioned upon and anchored to the support surface, with it first and second flanges projecting vertically upward; 
 a.2 a plurality of joist-support elements, each positioned upon the inner face of die base track's web member adjacent a corresponding joist cut-out; and 
 a.3 a wall panel comprising a plurality of spaced, light-gauge metal studs, the lower ends of said studs being supported by the base track and supports for die base track; 
   (b) a plurality of primary floor joists each having:
 b.1 a first end disposed within one of the joist cut-outs in the base track's first flange, and supported on a corresponding joist-support element; and 
 b.2 a second end supported on a first auxiliary support structure, such that the top surfaces of the primary joists lie in a common horizontal plane; 
   (c) metal decking overlying and fastened to the primary joists; and   (d) concrete topping placed over the metal decking and extending into the space between the first and second flanges of the base track, with the upper surface of the concrete topping being at a selected floor elevation;   
     wherein;
 (e) the base track's second flange has a plurality of joist cut-outs; 
 (f) the assembly further comprises a plurality of supplementary floor joists, each having a first end disposed within one of the joist, cut-outs in said second flange, and supported on a corresponding joist-support element, and having a second end supported on a second auxiliary support structure, such that the top surfaces of the supplementary joists lie in the same plane as the primary joists; and 
 (g) the metal decking overlies and is fastened to both the primary and supplementary joists. 
 
   
   
       12 . The wall-and-floor assembly of  claim 11  wherein the support surface is the top flange of a structural steel beam. 
   
   
       13 . The wall-and-floor assembly of  claim 12 , farther comprising a plurality of shear Connectors anchored to the top flange of the steel beam, said shear connectors being spaced apart and positioned between the studs of the wall panel. 
   
   
       14 . A wall assembly constructed upon a support surface, said assembly comprising;
 (a) an elongate light-gauge metal base track comprising a continuous web member having an inner face and an outer face, a continuous first flange, and a continuous second flange, wherein;
 a.1 said first and second flanges are parallel and extend substantially perpendicularly from the inner face of the web member; and 
 a.2 the web member of the base track has a plurality of perforations; and 
 a.3 the base track is positioned upon and anchored to the support surface, with its first and second flanges projecting vertically upward; and 
   (b) a wall panel comprising a plurality of spaced, light-gauge, metal studs, the lower ends of said studs being disposed between the base track's first and second flanges.   
   
   
       15 . The wall assembly of  claim 14  wherein the support surface is the top surface of the foundation structure. 
   
   
       16 . The wall assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (a) one or more reinforcing dowels extending upward front a foundation structure, with each dowel protruding through one of the perforations of the base track; and   (b) concrete infill placed inside of the wall assembly to a selected height so as to surround the reinforcing dowels.