CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

5.1
SLABS
……………………………………………………………………………...
5.1 Introduction
Reinforced concrete slabs are used in floors, roofs and walls of buildings and as the decks of
bridges. The floor system of a structure can take many forms such as in situ solid slab, ribbed
slab or pre-cast units. Slabs may span in one direction or in two directions and they may be
supported on monolithic concrete beam, steel beams, walls or directly by the structure’s
columns.
Concrete slab behave primarily as flexural members and the design is similar to that
for beams, although in general it is somewhat simpler because:

i. The width, b of slab is already fixed and a unit width of 1 m is used in the calculations
ii. The shear stress are usually low in a slab except when there are heavy concentrated loads,
and
iii. Compression reinforcement is seldom required.

b h

L = span, b = width, h = depth or thickness

Figure 5.1 : Definition of slab

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5.1.1 Types of slab

Figure 5.2 shows the illustrations of type of reinforced concrete slab normally used in
construction.

Ribbed slab

Solid slab

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Figure 5.2 shows the illustrations of type of reinforced concrete slab normally used in
construction.

Flat slab

Waffle slab

Figure 5.2 : Types of reinforced concrete slabs

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5.1.2 Differentiate of one direction and two direction slab

Slabs may be simply supported or continuous over one or more supports and are classified
according to the method of support as follows:
i. One way solid slab: Slabs of uniform thickness bending and reinforced in one direction.
One way slabs are suitable only for relatively shorts spans.

ii. Two way solid slab: Slabs of uniform thickness bending and reinforced in two directions.
Two Way solid slabs are economical for medium spans with intermediate to heavy loads.

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5.2
DESIGN PROCEDURE
……………………………………………………………………………...
5.2 Design Procedure
A procedure for carrying out the detailed design of slabs is shown in Table 6.1. This assumes
that the slab thickness has previously been determined during conceptual design.

STE
TASK STANDARD
P
EN 1990 : Table 2.1
1 Determine design life, Exposure class & Fire resistance EN 1992-1-1: Table 4.1
EN 1992-1-2: Sec. 5.6
BS 8500-1: Table A.3
2 Determine material strength
EN 206-1: Table F1
EN 1992-1-1: Table 7.4N
3 Select size of slab
EN 1992-1-2: Table 5.8
Calculate min. cover for durability , fire and bond
4 EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 4.4.1
requirements
5 Estimate actions slabs EN 1991-1-1
Analyze structure to obtain critical moments and shear
6 EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 5
forces
7 Design flexural reinforcement EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 6.1

8 Check shear EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 6.2

9 Check deflection EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 7.4

10 Check cracking EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 9.3

11 Detailing EN 1992-1-1: Sec. 8 & 9.2

Table 5.1: Design Process for slab

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5.2.1 Preliminary size of slab

The selection of slab thickness from structural view point is often dictated by deflection control
criteria. In practice, the overall depths of slabs are often fixed in relation to their spans.
Span to overall depth ratios of 20 to 30 are generally found to be economical in the case of
simply supported and continuous slabs.

Standard Fire Minimum Dimensions (mm)

Resistance Slab One-way Two-way spanning
thickness, hs spanning 𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒚
(mm) ≤ 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟓 < ≤ 𝟐. 𝟎
𝒍𝒙 𝒍𝒙
1 2 3 4 5
REI 30 60 10* 10* 10*
REI 60 80 20 10* 15*
REI 90 100 30 15* 20
REI 120 120 40 20 25
REI 180 150 55 30 40
REI 240 175 65 40 50
lx and ly are shorter and longer span of the two-way slab

 For prestressed slabs the increase of axis distance according to 5.2(5) should
be noted
 The axis distance a in Column 4 and 5 for two-way slabs relate to slabs
supported at all four edges. Otherwise, they should be treated as one-way
spanning slab.

* Normally the cover required by EN 1992-1-1 will control

Table 5.2 : Minimum dimensions and axis distance foe simply supported one-way and
two way solid slabs

5.2.2 Analysis
The analysis of reinforced concrete slab to determine bending moment and shear force may be
done either by using elastic analysis or by considering plastic collapse methods.

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5.2.3 Design of flexural reinforcement

The calculation for flexural reinforcement follow a similar procedure to that use in beam design.

𝑀
1. Calculate 𝐾 =
𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑏𝑑 2
2. If K  𝑲𝒃𝒂𝒍 , (0.167) compression reinforcement is not required, and

𝐾
i. 𝑧 = 𝑑 0.5 + 0.25 −
1.134

𝑀
ii. 𝐴𝑠 = 0.87𝑓𝑦𝑘 𝑧

5.2.4 Shear
Shear stress in slabs subjected to uniformly distributed loads are generally small. It is not usual for
a slab to contain shear reinforcement, therefore it is only necessary to ensure that design ultimate
shear force, 𝑉𝐸𝑑 is less than the shear strength of the unreinforced section 𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐

1 1
𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 = 0.12𝑘 100𝜌1 𝑓𝑐𝑘 3 𝑏𝑤 𝑑 ≥ 𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 = 0.035𝑘 3/2 𝑓𝑐𝑘 2
𝑏𝑤 𝑑

Where:

𝑉𝑅𝑑,𝑐 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 shear reinforcement

200
𝑘= 1+ ≤ 2.0 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑚
𝑑
𝐴𝑠1
𝜌1 = 𝑏𝑤 𝑑
≤ 0.02

As1 = the area of tensile reinforcement that extends beyond the section being considered by at
least a full anchorage length plus one effective depth (d)
bw = the smallest width of the section in the tensile area (mm)

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5.2.5 Deflection
Excessive deflection of slabs will cause damage to the ceiling, floor finishes or other
architectural finishes. To avoid this, limits are set on the span-depth ratio. These limits are
exactly the same as those for beams. As a slab is usually a slender member, the restrictions on
the span-depth-depth ration become more important and this can often control the depth of
slab required.

5.2.6 Cracking
To resist cracking of the concrete slabs, EC2 specify details such as minimum area of
reinforcement required is a section and limits to the maximum and minimum spacing of bar.
0.26𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑚 𝑏𝑡 𝑑
• The minimum area of principal reinforcement is 𝐴𝑠,𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑓𝑦𝑘
but not less than
0.0013𝑏𝑡 𝑑 where 𝑏𝑡
is the mean width of the tension zone.
• The minimum area of the secondary reinforcement is 20%𝐴𝑠,𝑚𝑖𝑛 . In areas near support,
transvers reinforcement is not necessary where is no transverse bending moment.
• The spacing of principal reinforcement bars should not exceed three times the overall depth
of slab (3h) or 400mm whichever is the lesser. For secondary reinforcement the spacing
should not exceed 3.5h or 450mm whichever the lesser. These rules apply for slabs not
exceeding 200mm thick.

5.2.7 Detailing
The general rules for curtailment and anchorage of bars in slabs were discussed in section 9.3 of
EC2. Simplified rules for curtailment in different types of slab are illustrated in Figure 5.3.

15% 100% 15%

lbd l lbd

(a) Simply Supported

0.15l 0.3l
0.15l ≥ lbd
50% of mid-span steel

50% 100%
40% 100% 40%

0.1l 0.2l
l
(b) Continuous

Figure 5.3: Simplified detailing rules for slabs

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5.3
ONE-WAY SPANNING SLAB
……………………………………………………………………………...
5.3 Design of Solid Slabs
Solid slabs may span in one direction or in two directions and they may be supported on
monolithic concrete beams, steel beams or walls.

5.3.1 One-way spanning slab

One-way slabs carrying predominantly uniform load are designed on the assumption that they
consist of a series of rectangular beams 1 m wide spanning between supporting beams or walls.
One-way spanning slab occur when there are only two supports as shown in Figure 5.4 (a). If
the slab is supported at four edges the longer span over the shorter span is greater than 2.0
(ly/lx). The yield line and direction of main reinforcements are shown in Figure 5.4.
ly

lx

Plan

Main reinforcement Secondary

(a) reinforcement

Plan

Main reinforcement
(b) Figure 5.4: One-way spanning slab

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5.3.2 Design of Solid Slabs

Solid slabs may span in one direction or in two directions and they may be supported on
monolithic concrete beams, steel beams or walls.

For slabs carrying uniformly distributed load and continuous over three or more nearly equal
spans, approximate solution for the ultimate bending moments and shearing forces, are given in
Table 5.3.

End support condition

Pinned Continuous
At outer Near At outer Near At first Middle Interior
support middle of support middle of interior interior supports
end span end span support spans
Moment 0 0.086FL 0.04FL 0.075FL 0.086FL 0.063FL 0.063FL

Shear 0.4F  0.46F  0.6F  0.5F

L = Effective span
F = Total ultimate load = 1.35gk + 1.5qk

Note: Values apply where the area of each bay exceeds 30m2, the ratio of the characteristic
imposed load to the characteristic dead load does not exceed 1.25 and the characteristic imposed
load does not exceed 5 kN/m2 excluding partitions. (F is the total design load on span, and L is the
effective span)

Table 5.3 : Ultimate moment and shear coefficients in continuous one way slab

Figure 5.5 : Definitions of panels and bay in slab systems

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Example 5.1

A rectangular reinforced concrete slab is simply supported on two masonry walls 250 mm thick
and 4.0 m apart (clear distance). The slab has to carry a distributed permanent action of 1.0
kN/m2 (excluding self-weight) and a variable action of 3.0 kN/m2. The materials to be used are
grade C30 concrete and grade 500 reinforcement. The slab is outside buildings which subjected
to 1 hour fire resistance and design for 50 years design life. Design the slab.

250 4000 250

Figure E5.1

Example 5.2

Design a continuous slab for a hall of internal dimension 24 m x 9 m. The slab is supported on
beams of size 200 m x 450 mm spaced at 43 m centers as shown in Figure E5.2. The variable
action on slab may taken 3.5 kN/m2 and the permanant action consist of floor finish and
services of 1.0 kN/m2. The materials to be used are grade C25 concrete and grade 500
reinforcement. The slab is inside buildings which subjected to 1.5 hours fire resistance and 50
years design life.

4m 4m 4m 4m

9m

Figure E5.2

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Example 5.1
Ref Calculation Output
Specification

b h

Effective span, L = 4.25 m

Characteristic action :
Permanent, gk = 1.0 kN/m2
Variable, Qk = 3 kN/m2
Design life = 50 years (table 2.1 EN 1990)
Fire resistance = R60
Exposure classes = XC3
Materials:
Chac. strength of concrete, fck = 30 N/mm2
Chac. strength of steel , fyk = 500 N/mm2
Unit weight of reinforced concrete, rc = 25 kN/m3
Assumed :
 bar 2 = 12mm

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Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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Example 5.2
Ref Calculation Output
Specification

4m 4m 4m 4m

9m

Long span, ly = 9000mm

Short span, lx = 4000mm
Characteristic action :

Permanent, gk = 1.0 kN/m2 (Excluding selfweight)

Variable, Qk = 3.5 kN/m2
Design life = 50 years (table 2.1 EN 1990)
Fire resistance = R60 (sec. 5.7EN 1992-1-2)
Exposure classes = XC1
Materials:
= 25 N/mm2 (Table A.3 BS8500)
Chac. strength of concrete, fck
Chac. strength of steel , fyk = 500 N/mm2
= 25 kN/m3 (Table A.1EN 1991-1)
Unit weight of reinforced concrete, rc
Assumed :
bar 2 = 10mm

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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5.4
TWO-WAY SPANNING SLAB
……………………………………………………………………………...
5.4 Two-way spanning slab
When a slab is supported on all four of its sides it effectively span in both directions. The
amount of bending in each direction will depend on the ratio of the two spans and condition of
restrains at each support.
If the slab is square and restraints are similar along the four sides then the load will
span equally in both direction. If the slab is rectangular then more than one-half of the load will
be carried in the stiffer, shorter direction and less in longer direction. A simple slab spanning in
two directions and supported on four beams is shown in Figure 5.3.

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Figure 5.3 : Yield line of two-way spanning

5.4.1 Simply supported slab

A slab simply supported on its four sides will deflect about both axes under load and the corner
will tend to lift and curl up from the support, causing torsional moments. When no provision has
been made to prevent this lifting or to resist the torsion then the moment coefficient of Table 6.4
may be used the maximum moments are given by,
ly

𝒎𝒔𝒙 = 𝜶𝒔𝒙 𝒏𝒍𝟐𝒙

𝒎𝒔𝒚 = 𝜶𝒔𝒚 𝒏𝒍𝟐𝒙 msx

msy lx

Where:
n = total ultimate load per unit area
lx = length of shorter side
ly = length of longer side

αsx and αsy are the moment coefficient from Table 5.4.

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ly/lx 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.75 2.0

αsx 0.062 0.074 0.084 0.093 0.099 0.104 0.113 0.118
αsy 0.062 0.061 0.059 0.055 0.051 0.046 0.037 0.029

Table 5.4 : Bending moment coeffient forsimply supported two=way slab

Example 5.3

Design a reinforced concrete slab for a room measuring 7.5 m x 5.0 m. The slab carries a
variable action of 2.5 kN/m2 and permanent action due to finishes of 1.2 kN/m2. The
characteristic material strength are fck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk = 500 N/mm2. The slab can be
considered simply supported on all four edges with corners free to lift. The slab is inside
buildings which subjected to 1.5 hours fire resistance and 50 years design life.

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Ref Calculation Output

Specification

7500

5000

Long span, ly = 7000mm

Short span, lx = 5000mm
Characteristic action :

Permanent, gk = 1.2 kN/m2 (Excluding selfweight)

Variable, Qk = 2.5 kN/m2
Design life = 50 years (table 2.1 EN 1990)
Fire resistance = R90
Exposure classes = XC1
Materials:
Chac. strength of concrete, fck = 25 N/mm2
Chac. strength of steel , fyk = 500 N/mm2
Unit weight of reinforced concrete, rc = 25 kN/m3
Assumed :
bar 2 = 10mm

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Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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 CHAPTER 1 : DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB

Ref Calculation Output

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