One-Piece Clip for Corrugated Metal Deck Uplift Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retrofit solutions for buildings with metal decks struggle to effectively enhance uplift and seismic resistance, particularly due to the limitations of conventional clips that are not suitable for corrugated metal roofing and require removal of overlaid materials, and existing clips are either not retrofittable or have fasteners vulnerable to failure under uplift forces.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece metal deck attachment clip with a stiffener and angled connector plates that can be attached to both the support member and the underside of the corrugated metal deck, allowing for shear-loaded fasteners and adjustable angles to fit various deck and support member configurations, eliminating the need for removing overlaid materials and enhancing pull-out resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional clips are used to attach metal deck to support members, then the attachment can be made from the top side, but the fasteners are loaded in tension making them vulnerable to failure under uplift forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment approach by attaching the clip from the underside of the metal deck rather than from the top side. This inversion allows the fasteners to be loaded in shear instead of tension, significantly improving their resistance to uplift forces while maintaining ease of installation
2Loss of time
If existing retrofit clips are used, then installation can be performed without removing overlaid materials, but the clips are not suitable for corrugated metal roofing or support members with flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into multiple functional segments: a first connector plate for attaching to the support member, a second connector plate for attaching to the metal deck, and a stiffener portion connecting them. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall adaptability to various configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The clip design incorporates adjustable angles and configurations that enable it to work with various metal deck types (including corrugated roofing) and support member configurations (including I-beams and channels with flanges), making it a universal retrofit solution that eliminates the need to remove overlaid materials
3Adaptability or versatility
If clips are positioned beneath the roof deck and secured to support members, then retrofit installation is possible, but the fasteners are still loaded in tension parallel to uplift forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional orientation of the fastener loading by positioning the clip such that fasteners extend through the support member in a direction perpendicular to the uplift force. This transforms the loading from tension (parallel to uplift) to shear (perpendicular to uplift), dramatically increasing connection strength while maintaining retrofit capability
Data Source
AI summary
A one-piece clip includes a stiffener, a first connector plate extending from the stiffener at a first dihedral angle to the stiffener, the first connector plate configured for attachment to a support member extending beneath a corrugated metal deck, and a second connector plate extending from the stiffener at a second dihedral angle to the stiffener, the second connector plate configured for attachment to an underside of the corrugated metal deck. A method of retrofitting a structure to augment its resistance to uplift and seismic forces includes the steps of attaching a first connector plate of a one-piece clip to a support member extending beneath a corrugated metal deck, and attaching a second connector plate of the one-piece clip to an underside of the corrugated metal deck.