10

10.1

Corrugated Sheets

GENERAL REMARKS

Corrugated sheets (Fig. 10.1) have been used in building construction since
about 1784. This is one of the oldest types of cold-formed steel products. At
present, numerous types of corrugated sheets with different coatings are being
produced by many manufacturers. Several standard corrugated steel sheets are
generally available for building construction and other usage.
In general, the design methods described in previous chapters are also
applicable to the design and use of corrugated steel sheets. However, certain
simplified formulas for computing the sectional properties of standard corrugated steel sheets can be used in design. Following an investigation conducted by the AISI during 19551957, a publication entitled Sectional
Properties of Corrugated Steel Sheets was issued by the Institute in 1964 to
provide the necessary design information for corrugated sheets.1.87
This chapter is intended to discuss the application of arc-and-tangent-type
corrugated steel sheets and trapezoidal-type corrugated sheets (Fig. 10.2) and
the design of such cold-formed steel products. The information included
herein is based on AISI publications1.871.89 and other references used in this
chapter.
10.2

APPLICATIONS

Corrugated steel sheets are frequently used for roofing and siding in buildings
because the sheets are strong, lightweight, and easy to erect. In many cases
they are used as shear diaphragms to replace conventional bracing and to
stabilize entire structures or individual members such as columns and beams.
The shear diaphragms and diaphragm-braced beams and columns were discussed in Chap. 9.
Figure 1.18a shows the use of standard corrugated sheets for exterior curtain wall panels. The application of unusually large corrugated sections in
frameless stressed-skin construction is shown in Fig. 1.18b. In addition, corrugated steel pipe of galvanized sheets has long been used in drainage structures for railways, highways, and airports.1.18,1.88,1.89 Figure 10.3 shows typical
corrugated metal pipe culvert used for highway systems. Other corrugated
steel products have been used for retaining walls, guardrails, conveyer covers,
aerial conduits, and other purposes.1.18,1.88
588

10.3

589

SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN

Figure 10.1 Cross section of typical arc-and-tangent-type corrugated sheets.

During recent years, corrugated sheets have been used in flooring systems
for buildings and bridge construction.1.88,10.1 These products have also been
used as web elements for built-up girders in order to increase web stiffness
instead of using a relatively thicker plate or a thin web with stiffeners. The
Macomber Panlweb girder shown in Fig. 10.4 consists of 0.075- to 0.15-in.
(1.9- to 3.8-mm) corrugated web for depths of 20 to 40 in. (0.51 to 1.02
m).10.2 Reference 10.3 discusses the required connections for beams with corrugated webs. The fatigue strength of girders with corrugated webs was reported in Ref. 10.4.
10.3 SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN OF ARC-ANDTANGENT-TYPE CORRUGATED SHEETS
In 1934 Blodgett developed a method to compute the sectional properties of
arc-and-tangent-type corrugated sheets.10.5 The computation of the moment of
inertia and the section modulus for standard corrugated sheets has been simplified by Wolford.10.6 In the computation, design curves and tables can be
used to determine factors C5 and C6 in Eqs. (10.1) and (10.2):1.87
I C5bt 3 C6bd 2t
S
where I
S
b
d
t

2I
dt

(10.1)
(10.2)

moment of inertia, in.4

section modulus, in.3
width of sheet, in.
depth of corrugation, in.
thickness of sheet, in.

Figure 10.2 Cross section of typical trapezoidal-type corrugated sheets.

590

CORRUGATED SHEETS

Figure 10.3 Typical corrugated metal pipe culvert installation on interstate highway
system.1.87

Figure 10.4 Macomber Panlweb girder.10.2

10.3

SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN

591

C5, C6 factors depending on shape of arc-and-tangent-type corrugation.

Using Wolfords charts, as shown in Figs. 10.5 to 10.9, the values of the
moment of inertia, section modulus, area, radius of gyration, and length of
tangent can be computed by the following procedure:
1. Compute the midthickness radius R,
R R

t
2

2. Compute values of q and K,

q
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

R
d

and

p
d

where p is the pitch.

From Fig. 10.5, determine the angle for the computed values of q
and K.
From Figs. 10.6 and 10.7, determine C5 and C6 by using K and angle
.
From Figs. 10.8 and 10.9, determine and the m/d ratio.
Compute I and S by using Eqs. (10.1) and (10.2).
Compute
A bt

8. The radius of gyration is

r
9. The length of the tangent is d

AI
m
d

Figure 10.5 Radius-to-depth ratio versus pitch-to-depth ratio at various web angles.10.6

592

CORRUGATED SHEETS

Figure 10.6 Factor C5 versus pitch-to-depth ratio at various web angles.10.6

Based on the method outlined above, the sectional properties of several

types of corrugated sheets have been developed and published in Refs. 1.87
and 1.88. The accuracy of Eqs. (10.1) and (10.2) has been verified by beam
tests conducted under the sponsorship of the AISI. Some of the sectional
properties for galvanized and uncoated corrugated sheets are reproduced in
Tables 10.1 to 10.4. In these tables, the pitch of corrugation ranges from 114
to 6 in. (32 to 152 mm), and the depth varies from 14 to 2 in. (6.4 to 51 mm).
The thickness of steel sheets varies from 0.0135 to 0.276 in. (0.3 to 7 mm).
The inelastic flexural stability of corrugations was studied by Cary in Ref.
10.11.
In determining the load-carrying capacity of corrugated sheets, the nominal
flexural strength can be computed in a conventional manner as follows:

Figure 10.7 Factor C6 versus pitch-to-depth ratio at various web angles.10.6

10.3

SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN

593

Figure 10.8 Factor versus pitch-to-depth ratio at various web angles.10.6

Mn SFy
where S section modulus obtained from Tables 10.1 to 10.4
Fy yield point of steel
The design flexural strength can be computed by using b 1.67 for ASD
and b 0.95 for LRFD.
With regard to the deflection requirements, more deflection may be permitted for corrugated sheets than for other types of members. However, it
should not exceed 1/90 of the span length due to the possible leakage at end
laps or loss of end connections.

Figure 10.9 Tangent-to-depth ratio versus pitch-to-depth ratio at various web angles.10.6

594
TABLE 10.1

Sectional Properties, per Foot of Corrugated Width, of Several Types of Corrugated Galvanized Steel Sheets1.87

Galvanized
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.1084
0.0785
0.0635
0.0516
0.0396

1.396
1.004
0.807
0.651
0.493

0.0120
0.00811
0.00636
0.00504
0.00377

0.0675
0.0497
0.0408
0.0337
0.0262

1.379
0.991
0.797
0.643
0.487

0.0417
0.0295
0.0236
0.0189
0.0143

0.138
0.102
0.0839
0.0688
0.0532

1.439
1.035
0.832
0.671
0.508

0.0683
0.0485
0.0388
0.0312
0.0236

0.187
0.138
0.113
0.0926
0.0713

1.503
1.080
0.869
0.701
0.531

0.1023
0.0729
0.0584
0.0470
0.0356

0.239
0.176
0.144
0.118
0.0904

0.0336
0.0276
0.0217
0.0187
0.0172

0.415
0.336
0.259
0.219
0.199

0.00315
0.00254
0.00195
0.00165
0.00150

0.0224
0.0185
0.0145
0.0124
0.0113

0.410
0.332
0.225
0.216
0.197

0.0120
0.00971
0.00746
0.00632
0.00575

0.0451
0.0369
0.0287
0.0245
0.0223

0.427
0.346
0.266
0.226
0.206

0.0198
0.0160
0.0124
0.0105
0.00952

0.0604
0.0493
0.0383
0.0326
0.0298

0.446
0.362
0.278
0.236
0.215

0.0299
0.0242
0.0186
0.0158
0.0144

0.0765
0.0624
0.0484
0.0412
0.0375

p 141 in., d 41 in.

p 232 in., d 21 in.

p 232 in., d 85 in.

p 232 in., d 43 in.

TABLE 10.1

(Continued )

Galvanized
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.1084
0.0785
0.0635
0.0516
0.0396

1.583
1.138
0.915
0.738
0.560

0.1471
0.1050
0.0843
0.0679
0.0514

0.300
0.221
0.180
0.147
0.113

1.411
1.014
0.816
0.658
0.499

0.0706
0.0502
0.0402
0.0323
0.0244

0.193
0.143
0.117
0.0959
0.0738

1.468
1.056
0.849
0.684
0.519

0.1058
0.0755
0.0605
0.0487
0.0369

0.247
0.183
0.149
0.122
0.0936

0.0336
0.0276
0.0217
0.0187
0.0172

0.470
0.381
0.293
0.249
0.226

0.0432
0.0350
0.0269
0.0228
0.0207

0.0952
0.0776
0.0601
0.0511
0.0466

0.419
0.339
0.261
0.221
0.202

0.0205
0.0166
0.0128
0.0108
0.00986

0.0626
0.0511
0.0397
0.0338
0.0308

0.436
0.353
0.272
0.230
0.210

0.0310
0.0251
0.0193
0.0163
0.0149

0.0792
0.0646
0.0501
0.0426
0.0389

p 232 in., d 87 in.

p 3 in., d 85 in.

p 3 in., d 43 in.

Notes:
1. p corrugation pitch; d corrugation depth.
2. Steel thicknesses upon which sectional properties were based were obtained by subtracting 0.0020 in. from galvanized sheet thickness listed. This thickness
allowance applies particularly to the 1.25-oz coating class (commercial).
3. Blodgetts formula was used to compute I (see Ref. 10.6).
4. 1 in 25.4 mm.

595

596
TABLE 10.2

Sectional Properties, per Foot of Corrugated Width, of Several Types of Corrugated Uncoated Steel Sheets1.87

Uncoated
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.1046
0.0747
0.0598
0.0478
0.0359

1.372
0.980
0.784
0.627
0.471

0.0118
0.00789
0.00616
0.00485
0.00360

0.0665
0.0486
0.0398
0.0326
0.0252

1.356
0.968
0.775
0.620
0.465

0.0410
0.0288
0.0229
0.0182
0.0136

0.136
0.100
0.0818
0.0665
0.0509

1.412
1.008
0.807
0.645
0.485

0.0672
0.0473
0.0377
0.0301
0.0226

0.184
0.135
0.110
0.0894
0.0682

1.479
1.056
0.845
0.676
0.507

0.100
0.0711
0.0568
0.0453
0.0340

0.235
0.172
0.140
0.114
0.0864

0.0299
0.0239
0.0179
0.0149
0.0135

0.392
0.312
0.235
0.195
0.177

0.00298
0.00236
0.00177
0.00147
0.00133

0.0213
0.0172
0.0132
0.0111
0.0101

0.388
0.310
0.232
0.193
0.175

0.0113
0.00906
0.00678
0.00564
0.00511

0.0428
0.0346
0.0262
0.0219
0.0199

0.404
0.323
0.242
0.201
0.182

0.0188
0.0150
0.0112
0.00933
0.00846

0.0573
0.0462
0.0349
0.0292
0.0265

0.423
0.338
0.253
0.211
0.191

0.0283
0.0226
0.0170
0.0141
0.0128

0.0725
0.0584
0.0442
0.0368
0.0334

p 141 in., d 41 in.

p 232 in., d 21 in.

p 232 in., d 85 in.

p 232 in., d 43 in.

TABLE 10.2

(Continued )

Uncoated
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.1046
0.0747
0.0598
0.0478
0.0359

1.556
1.112
0.890
0.711
0.534

0.145
0.103
0.0819
0.0654
0.0490

0.295
0.216
0.175
0.142
0.108

1.387
0.990
0.793
0.634
0.476

0.0694
0.0490
0.0391
0.0312
0.0234

0.190
0.140
0.114
0.0926
0.0707

1.444
1.031
0.825
0.660
0.495

0.104
0.0736
0.0588
0.0469
0.0352

0.243
0.179
0.145
0.118
0.0895

0.0299
0.0239
0.0179
0.0149
0.0135

0.445
0.356
0.266
0.222
0.201

0.0408
0.0326
0.0244
0.0203
0.0184

0.0902
0.0726
0.0547
0.0457
0.0415

0.396
0.317
0.237
0.198
0.179

0.0194
0.0155
0.0116
0.00967
0.00876

0.0593
0.0478
0.0362
0.0302
0.0274

0.413
0.330
0.247
0.206
0.186

0.0293
0.0234
0.0175
0.0146
0.0132

0.0751
0.0605
0.0456
0.0381
0.0346

p 232 in., d 87 in.

p 3 in., d 85 in.

Notes:
1. p corrugation pitch; d corrugation depth.
2. Blodgetts formula was used to compute I (see Ref. 10.6).
3. 1 in. 25.4 mm.

p 3 in., d 43 in.

597

598

CORRUGATED SHEETS

TABLE 10.3 Sectional Properties, per Foot of Corrugated Width, of Several

Types of Corrugated Steel Sheets for Culverts1.87
Sheet Thickness,
(in.)

p 232 in., d 21 in.

2

p 3 in., d 1 in.
3

Galvanized

Uncoated

A (in. )

I (in. )

S (in. )

A (in.2)

I (in.2)

S (in.3)

0.1681
0.1382
0.1084
0.0785
0.0635
0.0516
0.0396

0.1644
0.1345
0.1046
0.0747
0.0598
0.0478
0.0359

2.133
1.744
1.356
0.968
0.775
0.619
0.465

0.0687
0.0544
0.0411
0.0287
0.0227
0.0180
0.0135

0.207
0.171
0.136
0.0998
0.0812
0.0659
0.0503

2.458
2.008
1.560
1.113
0.890
0.711
0.534

0.301
0.242
0.186
0.131
0.104
0.0827
0.0618

0.517
0.427
0.336
0.243
0.196
0.158
0.119

Notes:
1. p corrugation pitch; d corrugation depth.
2. Steel thickness upon which sectional properties were based are from manufacturers standard
guage for carbon steel and are close to those obtained by subtracting 0.0037 in. from galvanized
sheet gauge thickness for galvanized coating of 2.00 oz / ft2 of double-exposed surfaces by
triple-spot test.
3. Blodgetts formula was used to compute I (see Ref. 10.6). Inside radii of corrugations were
3
1
taken as 11 / 16 and 9 / 16 in. for 2
4
2 and 3 1 in. corrugations, respectively.
4. 1 in. 25.4 mm.

TABLE 10.4 Sectional Properties, per Foot of Corrugated Width, of Several

Types of Corrugated Steel Plates for Culverts1.88
Uncoated
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.1644
0.1345
0.1046
0.0747
0.0598

2.186
1.788
1.390
0.992
0.794

0.3011
0.2438
0.1878
0.1331
0.1062

0.5069
0.4210
0.3330
0.2423
0.1960

p 5 in., d 1 in.

Notes:
1. p corrugation pitch; d corrugation depth.
2. 1 in. 25.4 mm.

Uncoated
Sheet
Thickness,
(in.)

A (in.2)

I (in.4)

S (in.3)

0.2758
0.2451
0.2145
0.1838
0.1644
0.1345
0.1046

4.119
3.658
3.199
2.739
2.449
2.003
1.556

1.990
1.754
1.523
1.296
1.154
0.938
0.725

1.749
1.562
1.376
1.187
1.066
0.879
0.689

p 6 in., d 2 in.

10.4

SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN OF CORRUGATED SHEETS

599

The design of corrugated steel conduits is well discussed in Chap. 3 of

Ref. 1.88.
10.4 SECTIONAL PROPERTIES AND DESIGN OF
TRAPEZOIDAL-TYPE CORRUGATED SHEETS
Trapezoidal corrugated sheets (or ribbed panels) have often been used as
roofing, floor deck, wall panels, bridge flooring, and permanent steel bridge
deck forms.
In the design of roofing, floor deck, and wall panels, the discussion on
beam strength and deflection presented in Chap. 4 can be used.
Steel bridge flooring has been used to carry live loads plus 30% for impact
as well as the dead load of the surfacing material and the weight of the bridge
flooring. Permanent steel forms are designed for placement over or between
stringers to carry the dead load of freshly poured concrete plus a 50-psf
construction load. The AISI Specification1.314 can also be used for the design
of steel bridge flooring and permanent steel forms. Additional information on
the design and installation of these products can be found in Refs. 1.88 and
10.710.10.
The most favorable cross section of steel roof panels on the basis of minimum-weight design is discussed in Ref. 1.247. During the past decade, additional studies have been made on the use of corrugated elements as
structural components. See Refs. 10.1210.18.