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Slabs Final
Slabs Final
If a series of very wide, shallow rectangular beams were placed side by side and connected
transversely such that it was possible to share the load between adjacent beams, the combination
of beams would act as a slab (Fig. 1)
Reinforced concrete slabs are used to form a variety of elements in building structures such as
floors, roofs, staircases, foundations and some types of walls (Fig. 2).
Since these elements can be modelled as a set of transversely connected beams, it follows that
the design of slabs is similar, in principle, to that for beams. The major difference is that in slab
design the serviceability limit state of deflection is normally critical, rather than the ultimate
limit states of bending and shear.
TYPES OF SLABS
Slabs may be solid, ribbed, precast or in-situ and if in-situ they may span two-ways. In practice,
the choice of slab for a particular structure will largely depend upon economy, buildability, the
loading conditions and the length of the span. Thus for short spans, generally less than 5 m, the
most economical solution is to provide a solid slab of constant thickness over the complete span
(Fig 3).
With medium size spans from 5 to 9 m it is more economical to provide flat slabs since they are
generally easier to construct (Fig.4).
The ease of construction chiefly arises from the fact that the floor has a flat soffit. This avoids
having to erect complicated shuttering, thereby making possible speedier and cheaper
construction. The use of flat slab construction offers a number of other advantages, absent from
other flooring systems, including reduced storey heights, no restrictions on the positioning of
partitions, windows can extend up to the underside of the slab and ease of installation of
horizontal services. The main drawbacks with flat slabs are that they may deflect excessively and
are vulnerable to punching failure. Excessive deflection can be avoided by deepening slabs or by
thickening the slab near the columns, using drop panels. Punching failure arises from the fact
that high live loads results in high shear stresses at the supports which may allow the columns to
punch through the slab unless appropriate steps are taken. Using deep slabs with large diameter
columns, providing drop panels and/or flaring column heads (Fig. 3.53), can avoid this problem.
However, all these methods have drawbacks, and research effort has therefore been directed at
finding alternative solutions. The use of shear hoops, ACI shear stirrups, shear ladders and stud
rails are just a few of the solutions that have been proposed over recent years. All are designed to
overcome the problem of fixing individual shear links, which is both labour intensive and a
practical difficulty. Shear hoops are prefabricated cages of shear
reinforcement which are attached to the main steel. They are available in a range of diameters
and are
suitable for use with internal and edge columns. Although superficially attractive, use of this
system
has declined significantly over recent years. The use of ACI shear stirrups is potentially the
simplest and cheapest method of preventing punching shear in flat slabs. The shear stirrups are
arrangements of conventional straight bars and links that form a ‘ ’, ‘T’ or ‘L’ shape for an
internal,
Concrete slabs behave primarily as flexural members and the design is similar
to that for beams, although in general it is somewhat simpler because
1. the breadth of the slab is already fixed and a unit breadth of 1 m is used in the calculations
2. the shear stresses are usually low in a slab except when there are heavy concentrated loads,
and
3. compression reinforcement is seldom required.
Simplified analysis
BS 8110 permits the use of a simplified load arrangement for all slabs of maximum ultimate
design load throughout all spans or panels provided that the following conditions are met:
Shear in slabs
The shear resistance of a solid slab may be calculated by the procedures for beams. Experimental
work has indicated that, compared with beams, shallow slabs
fail at slightly higher shear stresses and this is incorporated into the values of design
ultimate shear stress vc given in table 5.1.
The shear stress at a section in a solid slab is given by
where V is the shear force due to the ultimate load, d is the effective depth of the slab and b is the
width of section considered. Calculations are usually based on a strip of slab 1 m wide.
The code requires that for a solid slab
if v > vc, shear reinforcement must be provided in slabs more than 200 mm thick.
If shear reinforcement is required, then nominal steel, as for beams, should be provided
when v < (vc+0.4) and 'designed' reinforcement provided for higher values
of v.
Since shear stresses in slabs due to distributed loads are generally small, shear reinforcement will
seldom be required for such loads. Localised 'punching' actions due to heavy concentrated loads
may, however, cause more critical conditions. Practical difficulties concerned with bending and
fixing of shear reinforcement lead to the recommendation that it should not be used in slabs
which are less than 200 mm deep.
Effective span.
Solid slabs are designed as if they consist of a series of beams of l metre width. The effective
span of the slab is taken as the smaller of
The deflection requirements for slabs, which are the same as those for beams, will often control
the depth of slab needed. The minimum effective depth of slab, dmin, can be calculated using
=
×
The basic (span/effective depth) ratios are given in Table 3.9(previous notes). The modification
factor is a function of the amount of reinforcement in the slab which is itself a function of the
effective depth of the slab. Therefore, in order to make a first estimate of the effective depth,
dmin, of the slab, a value of (say) 1.4 is assumed for the modification factor. The main steel
areas can then be calculated, and used to determine the actual value of the modification factor. If
the assumed value is slightly greater than the actual value, the depth of the slab will satisfy the
deflection requirements in BS 8110. Otherwise, the calculation must be repeated using a revised
value of the modification factor.
Mu = 0.156fcubd2
If Mu ≥ M, which is the usual condition for slabs, compression reinforcement will not be
required and the area of tensile reinforcement, As, is determined using equation 13 (previous
!
notes on beams), namely
=
0.95 $ %
Secondary or distribution steel is required in the transverse direction and this is usually based on
the minimum percentages of reinforcement (As min) given in Table 3.25 of BS 8110:
=
The ultimate shear resistance, υc, is determined using Table 3.8 (previous notes). If υ < υc, no
shear reinforcement is required. Where υ > υc, the form and area of shear reinforcement in solid
slabs should be provided in accordance with the requirements contained in Table 3.7.
The area of tension reinforcement, As, should not be less than the following limits:
As ≥ 0.24%Ac when fy = 250 N/mm2
As ≥ 0.13%Ac when fy = 500 N/mm2
where Ac is the total area of concrete.
The clear distance between tension bars, sb, should lie within the following limits: hagg + 5 mm
or bar diameter ≤ sb ≤ 3d or 750 mm whichever is the lesser where hagg is the maximum
aggregate size.
(See also below section on crack widths.)
3. Crack width (clause 3.12.11.2.7, BS 8110).
Unless the actual crack widths have been checked by direct calculation, the following rules will
ensure that crack widths will not generally exceed 0.3 mm. This limiting crack width is based on
considerations of appearance and durability.
(i) No further check is required on bar spacing if either:
(a) fy = 250 N/mm2 and slab depth ≤ 250 mm, or
(b) fy = 500 N/mm2 and slab depth ≤ 200 mm, or
(c) The reinforcement percentage (100As/bd ) < 0.3%.
(ii) Where none of conditions (a), (b) or (c) apply and the percentage of reinforcement in the slab
exceed 1 per cent, then the maximum clear distance between bars (smax) given in Table 3.28 of
BS 8110 should be used, namely:
smax ≤ 280 mm when fy = 250 N/mm2
smax ≤ 155 mm when fy = 500 N/mm2
A reinforced concrete floor subject to an imposed load of 4 kNm−2 spans between brick walls as
shown below. Design the floor with concrete cover of 25mm assuming the following material
strengths:
fcu = 35 Nmm−2
fy = 500 Nmm−2
span
Minimum effective depth, d456 =
basic ratio × modification factor
4250
= = 152
20 × > ?@1.4
Hence, assume effective depth of slab (d) = 155 mm. Assume diameter of main steel () = 10
mm.
cover to all steel = 25 mm.
LOADING
Dead
Self weight of slab (gk) = 0.185 × 24 kN/m3 = 4.44 kN/m2
Imposed
Total imposed load (qk) = 4 kN/m2
Ultimate load
For 1 m width of slab total ultimate load, W, is
= (1.4gk + 1.6qk) width of slab × span
= (1.4 × 4.44 + 1.6 × 4)1 × 4.25 = 53.62 kN
BC 53.62 × 4.25
Design moment
!= = = 28.5FG
8 8
Ultimate moment
MH = 0.156fIH bdJ
! 28.5 × 10N
Main steel
M= = = 0.0339
J 35 × 10K × 155J
M
%= O0.5 + Q0.25 − S
0.9
0.0339
= 155 O0.5 + Q0.25 − S
0.9
155 × 0.96 ≤ 0.95 >= 147 @
! 28.5 × 10L
Hence z = 147mm
= = = 446 J
/ W ℎ C
0.87 $ % 0.87 × 500 × 147
For detailing purposes this area of steel has to be transposed into bars of a given diameter and
spacing Thus from provide 10 mm diameter bars spaced at 150 mm, i.e. Y10 at 150 centres (As =
549mm2/m).
5f\ A[,^_`
Design service stress, f[ =
8A[,a^bc
5 × 500 × 446
= 253.87G dJ
8 × 549
>477 − @
! = 0.55 + ≤ 2.0
!
120>0.9 + J
>477 − 253.87@
0.55 + ≤ 2.0
28.5 × 10N
120>0.9 + K
10 × 155J
4250
Hence,
GeW = = 147 < g e = 155
20 × 1.44
Therefore take d = 155 mm and provide Y10 at 150 mm centres as main steel.
SECONDARY STEEL
Based on minimum steel area = 241 mm2/m. provide8 at 200 mm centres (As = 252 mm2/m).
SHEAR REINFORCEMENT
RA = RB = W/2 = 26.8 kN
Ultimate shear force (V ) = 26.8 kN and design shear stress, , is
26.8 × 10K
= = = 0.17G/ J
10K × 155
Design concrete shear stress, c
Basic span
= = 26
Minimum effective depth, d456
4500
= = 173
26 26
Try effective depth d = 140 mm, and with a mild exposure overall depth, h = 170 mm.
Bending
Since the bay size > 30m2, the spans are equal and qk ≯ 1.25gk the moment coefficients
shown in table 8.1 may be used. Thus, assuming that the end support is simply supported,
from table 8.1 for the first span:
M = 0.086FL = 0.086 x 53.6 x 4.5 = 20.8 kN m
! 20.8 × 10L
= = 1.06
J 1000 × 140J
! 20.8 × 10L
= = 0.035
J 1000 × 140J × 30
!
=
0.95 $ %
20.8 × 10L
=
0.95 × 460 × 133
Similar calculations for the supports and the interior span give the steel areas shown in
figure 8.1.0
Figure 8.10
Reinforcement in continuous slab
Over the interior support beams 100As/bhf > 0.15 for the reinforcement provided and therefore
extra steel is not required for the flange of the T-beam.
At the end supports there is a monolithic connection between the slab and the beam, therefore
top steel should be provided to resist any negative moment. The area of this steel should not be
less than half the area of steel at mid-span. In fact to provide the 0.15 per cent of steel for the
flange of the L-beam, no bars at 300 mm centres have been specified.
The layout of the reinforcement in figure 8.10 is according to the simplified rules for the
curtailment of bars in slabs as illustrated in figure 8.7.
Figure 8.7
Simplified rules for curtailment
of bars in slab spanning in one
direction
013 ℎ
n e e oe e e =
100
013 × 1000 × 170
=
100
= 221 J
/
Provide T10 at 350 mm centres top and bottom, wherever there is main reinforcement.
Solid Slabs Spanning in Two Directions
When a slab is supported on all four of its sides it effectively spans in both directions.
and it is sometimes more economical to design the slab on this basis. The amount of bending in each direction will
depend on the ratio of the two spans and the conditions of restraint at each support. If the slab is square and the
restraints are similar along the four sides then the load will span equally in both directions. If the slab is rectangular
then more than one·half of the load will be carried in the stiffer, shorter direction and less in the
longer direction. If one span is much longer than the other, a large proportion of the load will be carried in the short
direction and the slab may as well be designed as spanning in only one direction.
Moments in each direction of span are generally calculated using coefficients which are tabulated in the codes of
practice. Areas of reinforcement to resist the moments are determined independently for each direction of span. The
slab is reinforced with bars in both directions parallel to the spans with the steel for the shorter span placed furthest
from the neutral axis to give it the greater effective depth. The span-effective depth ratios are based on the shorter
span and the percentage of reinforcement in that direction.
With a uniformly distributed load the loads on the supporting beams may fully be apportioned as shown in figure
above .
Where Msx and Msy are the moments at mid span on strips of unit width with spans lx and ly respectively, and
n = >1.4g r + 1.6qr @, that is the total ultimate load per unit area
The slab should be reinforced uniformly across the full width, in each direction.The effective depth d used in
calculating Asy should be less than that for ASx because of the different depths of the two layers of reinforcement.
At least 40 per cent of the mid-span reinforcement should extend to the supports and the remaining 60 per cent
should extend to within 0.1lx or O. l ly of the appropriate support.
Examp/e
Design the Reinforcement for a Simply Supported Slab 220 mm thick and Spanning in Two Directions
The effective span in each direction is 4.5m and 6.3 m and the slab supports a live load of 10 kN/m2 • The
characteristic material strengths are fcu= 30 N/mm2 and fy =460 N/mm2.
Cx 6.3
= = 1.4
C$ 4.5
gC eC = 1.4z{ + 1.6|{
46.9FG
!x 46.9 × 10L
F= = = 0.046
J 1000 × 185J
!x 46.9 × 10L
= = = 609.8 J
/
0.95 $ % 0.95 × 460 × 176
!x 46.9 × 10L
Span effective depth ratio
= = 1.37
J 1000 × 185J
From table 6.7, for fs =288N/mm2 the span effective depth modification factor=1.25
C z = 20 × 1.25 = 25
e e e e ℎ
4500
g C = = 24.3
e e e e ℎ 185
Thus d=185mm is adequate.
Z= 176 – 12 = 164mm.Therefore
!$ 24.2 × 10L
= = = 369.8 J
/
0.95 $ % 0.95 × 460 × 164
where βsx and βsy are the moment coefficients given in table 3.15 of BS 8110 for the specified end conditions,
! x maximum design ultimate moments either over supports or at mid-span on strips of unit width
and span lx (Fig. below)
msy maximum design ultimate moments either over supports or at mid-span on strips of
unit width and span ly
n total design ultimate load per unit area 1.4gk 1.6qk
Similarly, the design shear forces at supports in the long span direction, Vsy, and short span direction, Vsx may be
obtained from the following expressions
Fig. below shows a part plan of an office floor supported by monolithic concrete beams (not detailed), with individual
slab panels continuous over two or more supports. The floor is to be designed to support an imposed load of 4
kNm−2 and finishes plus ceiling loads of 1.25 kNm−2. The characteristic strength of the concrete is 30 Nmm−2 and
the steel reinforcement is 500 Nmm−2. The cover to steel reinforcement is 25 mm.
assuming the thickness of the floor is 180 mm.
(a) Design the steel reinforcement for panel BC2/3 (shown hatched) and check the adequacy of the slab in
terms of shear resistance and deflection. Illustrate the reinforcement details on plan and elevation views of
the panel.
PANEL BC2/3
Design load n
Design moment
C$ 7
By inspection, panel BC2/3 is an interior panel.
= = 1.4
Cx 5
Steel reinforcement
Continuous supports
At continuous supports the slab resists hogging moments in both the short-span and long-span directions. Therefore
two layers of reinforcement will be needed in the top face of the slab. Comparison of design moments shows that the
moment in the short span (17.8 kNm) is greater than the moment in the long span (11.4 kNm) and it is appropriate
therefore that the steel in the short span direction (i.e. main steel) be placed at a greater effective depth than the
steel in the long-span direction (i.e. secondary steel) as shown.
• k•
Effective depth of secondary steel = ℎ − − = 180 − 10 − − 25 = 140
J J
Main steel
17.8 × 10L
M= = = 0.0264
x,
J 30 × 10K × 150J
! 17.8 × 10L
= = = 263 J
/ > 0.13% ℎ = 234 J
/ F
0.95 $ % 0.95 × 500 × >0.95 × 150@
Secondary steel
$, 11.4 × 10L
M= = = 0.0194
J 30 × 10K × 140J
! 11.4 × 10L
= = = 180.5 J
/ < 0.13% ℎ = 234 J
/ G F
0.95 $ % 0.95 × 500 × >0.95 × 140@
Mid-span
At mid-span the slab resists sagging moments in both the short-span and long-span directions, necessitating two
layers of reinforcement in the bottom face of the slab too. Comparison of mid-span moments shows that the moment
in the short span (13.1 kNm) is greater than the moment in the long span (8.5 kNm) and it is again appropriate
therefore that the steel in the short span direction (main steel) be placed at a greater effective depth than the steel in
the long span direction (secondary steel) as shown.
• k•
Effective depth of secondary steel = ℎ − − = 180 − 10 − − 25 = 140
J J
Main steel
! x,’ 13.1 × 10L
= = = 193.5 J
/
0.95 $ % 0.95 × 500>0.95 × 150@
Secondary steel
Shear
From Table 3.15 (Bs 8110),
long span coefficient, βvy = 0.33 and
short span shear coefficient, βvx = 0.43
Design load on beams 2B/C and 3B/C, vsy = βvynCx = 0.33 × 14.2 × 5 = 23.4 kNm−1
Design load on beams, B2/3 and C2/3, vsx = βvxnCx = 0.43 × 14.2 × 5 = 30.5 kNm−1 (critical)
Shear stress
30.5 × 10K
= = = 0.20G
x dJ
10K × 150
Concrete stress
30
=Q
“
× 0.498 = 0.51 G dJ
25
For two-way spanning slabs, the deflection check is satisfied provided the span/effective depth ratio in the shorter
span does not exceed the appropriate value in Table 3.14 multiplied by the modification factor obtained via
equations 7 and 8 of Table 3.16
5000
g C= = = 33.3
e e e e ℎ 150
Service stress,
5 5 211
=
,”•–
= × 500 × = 252G dJ
8 $
,’”—˜ 8 262
e Ce = 26 × 1.81 = 47 > g C ›M
e e e e ℎ
Reinforcement detail
Reinforcement details
Fig. below shows a sketch of the main reinforcement details for panel BC2/3. For reasons of buildability the actual
reinforcement details may well be slightly different.