Hollow Block

Slabs
Monday, October 15, 2012

Hollow Block Slabs (definitions)

Hollow blocks are used
to fill portions of the
slab thickness; this
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

results in deeper arm

for the reinforcement
while saving the
amount of concrete
and hence the own
weight of the slab.

The reinforcement is located between the
blocks inside the ribs.

Blocks may be concrete blocks or styro-foam
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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Hollow Block Slabs (definitions)

When the ribs are in
one direction then it is
a one-way hollow block
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

slab, regardless of the

rectangularity; r.

When ribs are in both

directions then it is a
two-way hollow block
slab.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages
 Reducing slab weight by reducing amount of
concrete below neutral axis.
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

 Ease of construction, especially when all beams

are hidden beams.
 Economic for spans > 5m with moderate live
load: hospitals, office and residential buildings.
 Improved insulation for sound and heat.

Disadvantages
 Not economic for small spans
 Not suitable for heavy loads or dynamic loads.
 Difficult to repair or strengthen
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 Monday, October 15, 2012 One-Way Hollow Block Slabs
ts

t
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

b e

Simply Continuous Continuous

Support condition cantilever
supported one end both ends

Clear span (Ln/t) 20 25 28 8

Ribs are in one direction only

For spans less than 10m or cantilevers less than 2m long.

 f y 
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St. 400/600; for other grades divide values by  0 . 4 + 
 650 
Monday, October 15, 2012

Cross ribs

Cross ribs are used when the live load ≥
3kN/m2 or Span > 5m.
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

Span ≤ 5m >5m 4m – 7m >7m

Live Load ≤ 3kN/m2 ≤ 3kN/m2 > 3kN/m2 >3kN/m2

Cross Sibs No One cross One cross Three

rib rib cross ribs

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Minimum Dimensions

ts
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

b e

e ≤ 700mm

b = t/3 ≥ 100mm

ts = e/10 ≥ 50mm

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Loading

ts
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

b e

Own weight including blocks’ weight.

Flooring

Live Load

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Loading

Own Weight including blocks’ weight (kN/m2)

ts
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

b e

Concrete Blocks Concrete Blocks Concrete Blocks Foam Blocks

400x200x150 400x200x200 400x200x250 500x400x200
One Two One Two One Two One Two
way way way way way way way way
3.03 3.36 3.30 3.80 4.10 4.78 0.70 1.20
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Monday, October 15, 2012

Load Distribution Factors for Two-way

When LL ≤ 5 kN/m2 or when the compression
flange is incomplete.
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

r 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0

α 0.396 0.473 0.543 0.606 0.660 0.706 0.746 0.778 0.806 0.830 0.849

β 0.396 0.333 0.262 0.212 0.172 0.140 0.113 0.093 0.077 0.063 0.053

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Load Distribution Factors for Two-way

When LL > 5 kN/m2
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

r 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0

α 0.500 0.595 0.672 0.742 0.797 0.834 0.867 0.893 0.914 0.928 0.941

β 0.500 0.405 0.328 0.258 0.203 0.166 0.133 0.107 0.086 0.072 0.059

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Calculate Bending Moments

Two spans
When LL ≤ DL, and w
the difference between
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

spans is not more than

20%; then the bending
moment could be
calculated as following.

W = wu for limit state

design method.
& w = w for allowable
stresses design
method.

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Calculate Bending Moments
W
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

More than two spans

 Spans differences are not more than 20%
13  LL ≤ DL
Monday, October 15, 2012

Using Design Aids Charts (flexure)

RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Design for Shear
Shearing stresses should be less than the concrete shear capacity
and, hence, minimum shear reinforcement could be used.
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

Qu
Shearing stress; q u =
b.t

f cu
Concrete shear capacity; q cu = 0.16 ≥ q u ( N / mm 2 )
γc

0.4  q u 
Minimum shear reinforcement; A s, min = b.s  ( mm 2 )
fy  q cu 
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Monday, October 15, 2012

Minimum Reinforcement Slab reinf.

RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim

Stirrups
Rib reinf.

5φ6mm/m’ perpendicular to ribs.

In top slab

4φ6mm/m’ parallel to ribs.

Bottom reinforcement = rib main

reinforcement.
In Cross rib

Top reinforcement = ½ bottom
16 reinforcement

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 Monday, October 15, 2012 Minimum Reinforcement
RC Design 2 - Dr. Hany Nessim
Slab reinf.

Stirrups

Rib reinf.

 f cu 1.1 
 0.225 bd ≥ 
A s, min = min.  fy fy 
 
 1.3 A s  In Main rib
 0.25 
bd; for mild steel (as beams)
 100 
A s, min ≥  
 0.15 
bd; for deformed steel
 100 
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Example