Understanding the Composite Characteristics Of Stressed Skin Panels – Tributary Width

The composite properties of stressed-skin panel (SSP) systems are characterised by the interaction of the joist withthe sheathing – composite action – and the portion of the sheathing acting with the joists – the tributary width. Adiscussion on the tributary width forms the focus of this paper. An analysis, which has been conducted considering thepattern of the strain distribution in the sheathing, is presented. It uses laboratory data of a major research projectconducted at the University of Technology, Sydney, between 2002 and 2007 [1]. This analysis indicates that understrict conditions, in particular structurally glued interlayers, a large portion of the sheathing contributes to thestructural behaviour of SSP structures. A better use of the mechanical properties of the panels is achieved as aconsequence. The effects of discontinuities in the sheathing have also been identified, that is, such event causes asignificant reduction of the sheathing contribution and a considerable loss of stiffness.