Corrugated metal plate and overhead structure incorporating same

Abstract

A corrugated metal plate comprises a plate configured to define a series of crests and troughs, where the plate has longitudinal edges extending parallel to longitudinal axes of the crests and the troughs and transverse edges extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axes of the crests and the troughs. The corrugated metal plate further comprises at least one of: at least one longitudinal flange extending from each longitudinal edge, and at least one transverse flange extending from each transverse edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a corrugated structure formed of corrugated metal plates, the corrugated structure having corrugations extending transversely of the longitudinal length of said corrugated structure, at least some of said corrugated metal plates comprising a longitudinal flange extending from each longitudinal edge and a transverse flange extending from each transverse edge, at least some of the flanges comprising alignment features, the method comprising:
 bringing adjacent plates into abutting relationship such that alignment features on adjacent plates matingly engage;   installing fasteners through aligned holes to secure abutting plates; and   repeating said bringing and said installing as necessary until said corrugated structure is assembled.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flanges are on the exterior of said corrugated structure, and wherein said installing is performed outside said corrugated structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flanges are on the interior of said corrugated structure, and wherein said installing is performed inside said corrugated structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each said transverse flange comprises a first flange portion and a second flange portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each first flange portion has an upturned orientation relative to the plate and each second flange portion has a downturned orientation relative to the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding sealant between abutting flanges. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sealant comprises one or more sealant strips. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said corrugated metal plates are curved in one or more of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated structure is curved, and wherein the longitudinal flanges of adjacent plates align to define circumferential flanges of said corrugated structure, and wherein the transverse flanges of adjacent plates align to define longitudinal flanges of said corrugated structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said alignment features comprise protrusions and notches. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said at least some longitudinal flanges comprises at least one protrusion or at least one notch, or both. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of said at least some transverse flanges comprises at least one protrusion or at least one notch, or both. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning an intermediate plate between adjacent plates having different corrugation profile. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning at least one reinforcement member between adjacent corrugated metal plates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one reinforcement member comprises one or more of a reinforcement rib, a reinforcement beam, a hollow structural section reinforcement rib, and a boxed reinforcement rib. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said corrugated metal plates comprising transverse flanges that extend non-orthogonally from the plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising installing said at least one corrugated metal plate having said transverse flanges that extend non-orthogonally from the plate as a keystone plate of said corrugated structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said corrugated metal plates have a pitch between about 152.4 mm and about 500 mm, and a depth between about 50.8 mm and about 237 mm.