Abstract: An exodermic deck for structural floors including bridge floors, road beds, pedestrian walkways, or the like, comprises a composite structure of a grid component and a top component. The grid component is preferably made of steel and includes a plurality of main bearing bars and a plurality of distribution bars oriented perpendicular to the main bearing bars. The top component is preferably made from reinforced concrete. The upper portions of either the main bearing bars or the distribution bars are embedded in the reinforced concrete component permitting horizontal shear transfer and creating a composite deck structure which maximizes the use of tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of concrete. The top sections of the embedded bars have gripping surfaces for effecting mechanical locks between the grid component and the concrete component and increasing the horizontal shear transfer therebetween.

Abstract: An exodermic deck for structural floors including bridge floors, road beds, pedestrian walkways, or the like, comprises a composite structure of a grid component and a top component. The grid component is preferably made of steel and includes a plurality of main bearing bars and a plurality of distribution bars oriented perpendicular to the main bearing bars. The top component is preferably made from reinforced concrete. The upper portions of either the main bearing bars or the distribution bars are embedded in the reinforced concrete component permitting horizontal shear transfer and creating a composite deck structure which maximizes the use of tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of concrete. The top sections of the embedded bars have gripping surfaces for effecting mechanical locks between the grid component and the concrete component and increasing the horizontal shear transfer therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a weldless pavement module and a method for making a weldless pavement module. Each of the primary load bearing bars is formed with openings for receiving slotted secondary load bearing bars which are passed through the primary load bearing bars in a substantially horizontal position and which are rotated into a vertical position. The size and shape of the openings and the slots permit the combination of primary load bearing bars and secondary load bearing bars to be skewed to form a nonrectangular parallelogram configuration. Simple tack welds are used to temporarily hold the grating in its desired configuration. A concrete component encases at least the top surface of the grating base member and permanently secures the elements of the grating base member together. The use of tack welds eliminates the requirement that the grating base member be bent into a convex shape prior to welding. A simple flat jig is used.

Abstract: A method of converting a conventional grid deck to an exodermic deck is disclosed. The method includes the steps of removing existing concrete if the deck is a filled grid. Tertiary load bearing bars are placed on top of the grating parallel to and between the primary load bearing bars. Shear members are vertically mounted on the tertiary load bearing bars to provide structural integrity. The interstices of the grating are filled to prevent concrete from penetrating the grating. A concrete overlay is poured and cured on the top surface of the grating and the interstice filling is removed.

Abstract: A light weight pavement module is described which comprises a base grating, an impervious intermediate layer, such as a reinforced plastic or fiberglass sheet applied over the base grating, and a concrete top layer wear surface applied over the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer prevents the concrete top layer from penetrating through the base grating. The grating has shear connectors which pierce the intermediate layer and project into the top layer wear surface in order to form an integral pavement module. The pavement module may be formed without an intermediate layer if the module is otherwise constructed so that the top layer wear surface does not penetrate and fill the interstices of the base grating.

Abstract: A light weight pavement module is described which comprises a base grating, an impervious intermediate layer, such as a reinforced plastic or fiberglass sheet applied over the base grating, and a concrete top layer wear surface applied over the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer prevents the concrete top layer from penetrating through the base grating. The grating has studs attached to it which pierce the intermediate layer and project into the top layer wear surface in order to form an integral pavement module.