Hillman, John R.2014-03-142014-03-141990-02-05etd-06082009-170953http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42905For decades engineers have been concerned with finding ways to reduce the dead load of a buildings structural system. This thesis investigates the potential of reducing the dead load of a structure by creating new lighter-weight floor systems using various configurations of mixed materials. Floor systems have a/ways been one of the heaviest components of a buildings structural system, and therefore comprise a significant portion of the structures dead load. As a result, by developing a substantially lighter-weight floor system it should be possible to reduce the entire weight of a buildings structural system, from the framing members down to the foundations. This paper presents some alternatives that might be considered in designing these lightweight floors.viii, 137 leavesBTDapplication/pdfenIn CopyrightLD5655.V855 1990.H444Building, Iron and steelFlooringThesishttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06082009-170953/