Compressive Membrane Action in RCC Slabs

Department of Civil Engineering
NED University of Engineering and Technology

Karachi, Pakistan
Seminar on
Compressive Membrane Action in RCC Slabs

CE-503: Advanced Reinforced Concrete
November, 2010
Submitted By
Sadaf Fatima
CE-05
M-Engg, Batch 2009-10
Submitted To
Prof. Dr. S.F.A. Rafeeqi

Contents 1
List of Figures 2
Introduction 4
Impetus of Research 5
Types of Reinforced Concrete Slab Construction 6
Approaches to Analysis and Design of Slab System 7
Membrane Action 8
Experimental Research 11
Treatment in Design Codes 16
Considering Membrane Action in Design 17
Conclusion 19
References 20
NED UET, Karachi Page 1

List Of Figures
Figure-1: Beam-Less Slab
Figure-2: Beam Slab
Figure-3: Axial forces developed in laterally restrained slab: a) slab subjected to

transverse loading, b) slab elongates upon cracking, c) restrained elongation
induces axial compression.
Figure-4: Schematic Load-Deflection curve of a slab with full edge restraint (Park
1964)
Figure-5: Load-Deflection curve for slabs
Figure-6: Comparison of slab strength results (Taplin and Hon)
Figure-7: Comparison of load carrying capacity with code predictions (Alam,

Amanat, Seraj)

To my husband Shariq,
my son Sameer,
my daughter Rania,
my mother-in-law,
for their never ending support, love and patience throughout the period of
accomplishing this task, without which I would never have gotten this far,
my teacher and advisor Dr. S. F. A. Rafeeqi,
whose teachings have awaken in me the passion to learn more, and has
encouraged me to work hard consistently and who has reminded me and
my fellow engineers, our role, being an engineer towards our society,
And above all,
my beloved mother,
for her prayers and
the strength of body and soul she has endowed me with,
by upbringing me the way she did.

Introduction
Reinforced concrete slabs are one of the most common structural engineering
elements. Their behavior strongly depends on the support condition and
interaction of slab with the surrounding structure.
If the edges of slabs are restrained against lateral movement by stiff boundary
elements, compressive membrane forces are induced in the plane of slab when,
as the slab deflects, changes of geometry cause the slab edges to move outward
and to react against the bounding elements. The compressive forces so induced
enhance the flexural strength of slab sections at the yield lines which will cause
the ultimate load of the slab to be greater than the ultimate load calculated using
Johansen’s theory of yield lines. This action enhances not only the flexural
capacity of slabs, but also their punching capacity in case of beamless slabs.
At larger deflections, the slab edges tend to move inward, and, if the edges are
laterally restrained, tensile membrane forces are induced that may enable the
slab to carry significant load by catenary action of the reinforcing steel.
The three factors, membrane action, flexural behavior and punching shear are
interdependent. The type and degree of membrane action will depend on the
loading ,support conditions and the shape (both plan and cross sections) of the
slab. The flexural strength is generally improved in a compressive membrane
field. The punching shear strength will decrease as the amount of cracking due to
flexure increases. Therefore, as membrane action improves the flexural strength,
it also aid the punching strength, unless the shear failure load is much below the
flexural failure load.
The presence of compressive membrane action has been recognized for many
decades now, but its obvious benefits are not fully utilized in design and
assessment codes.

Impetus of Research
The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of compressive

membrane action on the behavior of RCC slabs.

Types of Reinforced Concrete Slab Construction
RCC slabs have taken many forms with the development of methods of
construction, economics, stability of particular slab system as per requirement
and advancement in methods of analysis of slabs.
Slabs are mainly categorized in two general categories;

1- Beamless Slabs
2- Slabs supported on beams on all four sides.
Figure-1: Beam-Less Slab
Figure-2: Beam Slab

Beamless Slabs
One of the advantages of beamless slabs is that they are easier to construct due
to simplicity in the formwork. Design is usually governed by the shear strength at
columns. Deflection is also a major concern under heavy loading (See Figure-1).
Slabs Supported On Beams
If severe deflection limits are imposed, two-way slab will introduce moderately
stiff beams which will reduce deflection more than largest column capital. Beams
are also easily reinforced for shear.
They are used in structures which are to resist large horizontal loads by frame
action as they provide greater lateral stiffness because of both the presence of
the beams and the greater efficiency of the beam-column connections (See
Figure-2).
Approaches to Analysis and Design of Slab System
There are numbers of approaches to analysis and design of reinforced concrete

slab systems. These various approaches are elastic theory, limit analysis theory
and modifications to elastic theory and limit analysis theory as in ACI Code.
Elastic Theory Analysis
The distribution of moments and shear found by elastic theory is such that,
1- The equilibrium conditions are satisfied at every point in the slab.

2- The boundary conditions are complied with.
3- Stress is proportional to strain, i.e., bending moments are proportional to
curvature.
Examples are direct design method, equivalent frame method.
Limit Analysis
Limit Analysis recognizes that because of plasticity, redistribution of moments

and shears away from elastic theory distribution can occur before the ultimate
load is reached.
However, yield line theory does not take account of membrane effects in the
slab, which are often present in reinforced concrete slabs at the ultimate load as
a result of boundary conditions and the geometry of deformations of slab
segments.

Membrane Action
Consider the behavior of a reinforced concrete slab under transverse load,

shown in Figure-3. As the slab deflects under the load, the concrete on the
tension face cracks and the reinforcement is stretched. Typically, the strains on
the tension face will be considerably greater in magnitude than those on the
compression face.
Figure-3: Axial forces developed in laterally restrained slab: a) slab subjected to transverse
loading, b) slab elongates upon cracking, c) restrained elongation induces axial compression.

The net tensile strain resulting at the slab mid-depth causes the slab to expand,
producing outward horizontal displacements at the slab ends.
The tendency to expand will be prevented, to some degree, by the lateral
stiffness of supporting columns, beams, or walls. Adjoining slab panels will also
form an extremely stiff diaphragm which will oppose the expansion of the loaded
slab. As a result, compressive membrane force will be induced in the loaded slab
owing to restrained expansion. The compressive force, in turn, produces an
increase in the nominal flexural capacity of the slab section. This mechanism is
known as membrane action and can lead to significant increases in the load
carrying capacity of slab. In more advanced stages, of deformation, the concrete
may crush completely leaving only the reinforcement to act as a tensile net. This
second stage behavior is termed as Catenary Action.
Figure-4: Schematic Load-Deflection curve of a slab with full edge restraint (Park 1964)

Figure-4 shows the load –central deflection curve of a uniformly loaded two-way
rectangular reinforced concrete slab with laterally restrained edges.
One can distinguish 3 phases:
Phase-1, From A to B: As the load is increased from A to B, the yield line pattern
develops, and with the help of compressive membrane forces, the slab reaches
its enhanced ultimate load at B. The introduction of compressive membrane
forces in the slab can be thought of as being due to jamming of the slab
segments between boundary restraints, which causes the slab strips to arch from
boundary to boundary. The induced compressive membrane force in slab results
in an enhancement of the flexural strength of slab section.
Phase-2, From B to C: As the deflection increases beyond B, the load carried by

the slab decreases rapidly because of a reduction in compressive membrane
force .As C is approached, the membrane forces in the central region of slab
change from compression to tension.
Phase-3, From C to D: Beyond C the slab carries load by the reinforcement

acting as a plastic tensile membrane with full depth cracking of the concrete over
the central region of slab due to the large stretch of the slab surface. The slab
continues to carry further load with an increase in deflection until at D, the
reinforcement begins to fracture or some other component in the system fails.
The load at B will be referred to as ultimate load.

Experimental Research
Effects on Flexural Capacity
Perhaps, the most dramatic demonstration of membrane action was made by

Ockleston (1955). The floor slabs in a 10-year old three storey reinforced
concrete structure were intentionally loaded to destruction. The lightly reinforced
two-way slab panels were 135mm thick, 4.9m x 4.1m in plan, and bounded by
main and secondary beams. The slabs were designed for a dead load of 3.2
kN/m2 and a superimposed floor load of 3.4 kN/m2. Upon gradual loading, the
floor did not collapse until the total load reached 40.4 kN/m2, representing a
factor of safety of 6.12.
The structural aspects pertaining to the 1978 collapse of a warehouse structure

in Niagra Falls were examined in a paper (Vecchio and Collins 1990). The
collapsed structure was the Kimberley Clark Warehouse building, a four-storey
reinforced concrete structure with flat-slab floors supported on columns with
capitals. Its floors were designed for a dead load of 4.8kN/m2 and a
superimposed live load of 6.0kN/m2, thus the total design load was 10.8kN/m2. In
time, the third floor of the building came to be used as a storage site for nickel
materials. At the time of collapse, the total load imposed over several entire bays
of the third floor was estimated to be in excess of 48kN/m2. It is a disputed issue
as to whether overloading of the floor, or the effects of a fire burning directly
beneath, caused collapse. Nevertheless, the floor demonstrated a factor of safety
against collapse of 4.5 relative to design loads. It was surmised that this high
strength reserve was developed primarily through the influence of compressive
membrane action in the slabs.
In a test conducted by Gamble et al., on a ¼ scale model of a nine panel (3x3)

reinforced concrete slab and beam floor, when the interior panel alone was
subjected to a uniformly distributed live load, the supporting beams failed when
the load was approximately twice the ultimate load predicted by Johansen’s yield
line theory. This slab was in the tensile membrane stage, as the mid span
deflection was about twice the slab thickness, and tensile cracks penetrated the
full thickness of the slab in the central portion of the panel.
Vecchio and Tang conducted test on two large-scale slab strip specimens
consisted of 100mm thick, 1500mm wide slab strip built integral with two stub
columns 200x200 mm in cross section with 100mm thick drop panel provided at
each column. Transverse edge beams were included at the ends to facilitate the
desired support conditions. The results demonstrated the influence of membrane
action in reinforced concrete slabs. Axial forces induced because of membrane
action served to increase the flexural stiffness and load-carrying capacity of slab
by about 30 to 40% relative to an unrestrained slab. However, test results also

indicated that geometric non-linearity effects had also a significant influence over
capacity. The high axial forces induced, coupled with large slab deflections at
ultimate load, created large secondary moments which partially negated the
beneficial influence of membrane action.
Two ¼ scale models of a reinforced concrete nine-panel (3x3) flat slab system
supported by four interior columns and by a continuous wall around perimeter
have been tested under uniform static and dynamic loading by Criswell, and
showed a 30% increase in the ultimate load due to compressive membrane
forces from the restraint of the boundry walls. Comparison of this test result with
the load enhancement obtained by Ockleston, Lienbenberg and Gamble et al.
illustrates that the increase in ultimate load due to membrane action is more
significant for slab-and-beam systems than for flat slab systems.
In a paper presented by G.S.T. Armer (1968) on the ultimate load test of slabs by
strip method, it was shown that in slabs having relatively higher reinforcement
ratio, it was possible to increase load beyond the limiting state without collapse
resulting. The applied load was then carried by a combination of flexural and
compressive membrane action. This was not possible in the slab with low
reinforcement ratio because of its low moment capacity.( See Figure-5) As
shown in Figure-5, the main difference between two slabs is their behavior after
the limiting (maximum) compressive membrane action has been generated by
the partial restraint of the edge beams.
In a paper by Taplin and Hon, a method for assessing typical beam-and-slab

bridge decks taking into account the compressive membrane action, is described
and experimental results are compared with capacity predicted by code. (See
Figure-6)

Figure-5: Load-Deflection curve for slabs.
Figure-6: Comparison of slab strength results (Taplin and Hon)

Effects on Punching Shear Capacity
As demonstrated by Armer (1968), the enhancement effects of compressive

membrane action on the punching load of a slab under a concentrated loading, if
they could be taken into account in analysis, would probably lead to considerable
benefits in economy. Further research was encouraged to attempt to simulate
boundary conditions more closely than those tests carried out in past. This
conclusion was reached after a study of number of tests carried out at Queen’s
university, Belfast, on quarter scale models and in light of the findings made by
Armer.
An experimental study was conducted by A.K.M. Jahangir, KM Amanat and SM.

Seraj on the punching shear behavior of concrete slabs. The experiments
comprised of tests on restrained as well as unrestrained, 15 slab specimens, with
variation of flexural reinforcement and slab thickness. Edge restraint was
provided by means of edge beams of various dimensions to mimic the behavior
of continuous slabs. All the models underwent punching type of failure with their
inherent brittle characteristics and failed at a load much higher than those
predicted by the design codes. It was found that the ultimate punching shear
capacity and behavior of slab samples are dependent on restraining action of
slab edges, flexural reinforcement ratio, slab thickness and span-to-depth ratio. It
was also noted that cracking pattern were fine and large in number in case of
strongly restrained slabs. On comparing the test results with different code
predictions, it appears that, ACI 318 (2005) is most conservative in calculating
punching shear capacity of slabs. The experimental load capacity was averagely
1.8 times higher than that calculated by ACI code. Whereas, CEB-FIP (1990)
code was found to be less conservative than ACI 318, BS 8110 and CAN3-
A23.3.( See Figure-7)

Figure-7: Comparison of load carrying capacity with code predictions (Alam, Amanat, Seraj)

Treatment in Design Codes

In design and assessment codes, the flexural strength of reinforced concrete
slabs is usually determined using an elastic analysis and the ultimate strength of
the cross-section. The yield line theory developed by Johansen can also be used
to determine the ultimate strength of a reinforced concrete slab. These theories
have a common limitation, in that compressive membrane action within the slab
cannot be taken into account.
The Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code first introduced provisions for
compressive membrane action in 1979. This code (and later editions including
Canadian Highway Bridge Design code) contains an empirical deck slab design
method for slab on girder bridges that reduces amount of steel required in
concrete slab decks. The code allows this to be done only if certain restrictions
on span length, slab thickness, detailing of diaphragms and connection between
slab and beam are met.
In 2002, the United Kingdom Highways Agency published guidelines for the use
of compressive membrane action in bridge decks. This allows for both simplified
and rigorous analysis to utilize the beneficial effects of membrane action where
adequate deck slab restraint exists.
Some of the present-day code provisions usually specify the punching shear
strength as a function of compressive strength of concrete alone. Thus, these
codes do not take adequate account of possible role of specimen size and edge
restraint.
As concluded in a study by Alam, Amanat and Seraj, Present code methods

underestimate the punching load capacity of slabs as the code provisions are
based on tests conducted on simply supported slabs with their edges
unrestrained.

Considering Membrane Action in Design
Wood and Park were two of the earliest researchers to develop analytical
methods to assess the strength of reinforced concrete slabs where compressive
membrane action exists. The theoretical formulations have generally been based
on plasticity theory. Because of the complexity of this approach, many
assumptions and simplifications have been required in those analyses. This lead
to formulations that, while being fundamentally and theoretically important, did
not provide accurate predictions of the strength and loading behavior methods.
To use these methods in practical situations, knowledge of the surround stiffness
that exists for the slab is required.
Various researchers have come up with analytical methods to account

compressive membrane action in designing of reinforced concrete slabs. Taplin
and Hon have presented a method to design one-way bridge deck slabs (Ref.
7).Park and Gamble have described analytical methods to determine capacity of
reinforced concrete slab with different configurations and edge restraints (Ref. 1).
Kulkarni and Desayi have presented a method to analyze membrane action in
fixed orthotropic circular slabs (Ref.8).
To investigate the possibility of incorporating membrane action in design, a ¼

scale model of a reinforced concrete nine-panel (3x3) slab and beam floor
system was tested by Hopkins and Park. The center panel had been designed
for an ultimate load of twice the Johansen’s yield line theory and the beams were
designed to carry the enhanced ultimate load, and the resulting axial forces. The
floor reached the anticipated ultimate load, but it was found that in such a design,
it could be difficult to ensure that crack widths and deflections at service load
were not excessive.
The use of compressive membrane action allows the designer of continuous

slab-and-beam floors to reduce the amount of reinforcement in the panels to less
than that required by Johansen’s yield line theory. For the same ultimate loads
and the concrete dimensions, there will be more steel in the beams supporting
the panels designed to include membrane action than in the beams supporting
the panels designed by Johansen’s theory, however, since extra steel will be
required for tie reinforcement.
A floor that has been designed by Johansen’s yield line theory to carry a
particular ultimate load on all panels can, in fact, carry on some panels an
ultimate load much greater than the design ultimate load, provided that the
surrounding panels are lightly loaded, since the steel in lightly loaded adjacent
beams and panels can be used to develop the compressive membrane action in
the heavily loaded panels.

Also, steel placed in beams for earthquake or wind loading could be utilized to
carry some additional gravity loading alone.
Although advantage can be taken of compressive membrane action during the

design of new structures, it is in the assessment of existing structures that the
greatest benefit can be gained. There are existing reinforced concrete buildings
that have inadequate ultimate strength when assessed for increased loading in
case of change of usage purpose of building. A common response to this
problem is to strengthen the floor slab. Alternative approach is to make an
assessment of the ultimate strength of slab allowing for the beneficial effect of
compressive membrane action.

Conclusion
1- The load carrying capacity of reinforced concrete slabs is enhanced by

compressive membrane action depending on the column layout, span to
depth ratios, reinforcement ratio in slab and boundary restraints.
2- The slab-and-beam floors with only alternate panels loaded could carry
extremely high ultimate loads on the loaded panels.
3- The incorporation of membrane action in design is most efficient when use

can be made of steel placed in beams for alternative loading cases to
provide tie reactions for the membrane forces in the panels.
4- Geometric non-linearity effects can have a significant influence over load

carrying capacity. High axial forces induced due to boundary restraints
coupled with large slab deflections at ultimate load can create large
secondary moments which can partially negate the beneficial effects of
membrane action.
5- By obtaining a more accurate assessment of the true strength of the

existing reinforced concrete slabs, the need for strengthening may be
removed.
6- Punching shear strengths observed from tests conducted on restrained

reinforced concrete slabs have found to be higher than predictions of
present-day code provisions. Further experimental research on a wide
range of slab is, of course, needed to consolidate findings.

References
1- Robert Park, William L. Gamble, “Reinforced Concrete Slabs”,2nd

edition,1999.
2- F.J Vecchio, K. Tang, “Membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs”,

CAN. J. CIV. ENG. Vol. 17, 1990.
3- Geoffrey Decan, Luc Taerwe, “Concrete beams and slabs”, Joint

workshop of COST Actions TU0601 and E55, Slovenia, 2009.
4- Linus C.S. Lim, “Membrane action in fire exposed concrete floor systems”,
thesis submitted for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD,
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand,
2003.
5- A.K.M.Jahangir Alam, Khan Mahmud Amanat, Salek M. Seraj,BUET,

Bangladesh, “An Experimental Study on Punching Shear Behaviour of
Concrete Slabs”, Advances in Structural Engineering, vol 12, no.2, 2009.
6- G.S.T. Armer, “Ultimate load tests of slabs designed by the strip method”,
Discussion on paper published. Proc. Instn civ. Engrs, 1968, 41(oct) 313-
331.
7- Geoff Taplin, Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd, Alan Hon, Maintenance

Technology Institute, Monach University, “ Compressive Membrane Action
in Bridge Deck Slabs”.
8- Kulkarni and Desayi, “Effect Of Membrane Action On The Plastic Collapse

Load Of Circular Orthotropic Slabs With Fixed Edges”, I n t . J. mech. Sci.,
Vol. 20, pp. 97-108. Pergamon Press 1978.

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Department of Civil Engineering

NED University of Engineering and Technology

Compressive Membrane Action in RCC Slabs

Prof. Dr. S.F.A. Rafeeqi

Types of Reinforced Concrete Slab Construction 6

Approaches to Analysis and Design of Slab System 7

Treatment in Design Codes 16

Considering Membrane Action in Design 17

NED UET, Karachi Page 1

Figure-1: Beam-Less Slab

Figure-2: Beam Slab

Figure-3: Axial forces developed in laterally restrained slab: a) slab subjected to

Figure-5: Load-Deflection curve for slabs

Figure-6: Comparison of slab strength results (Taplin and Hon)

Figure-7: Comparison of load carrying capacity with code predictions (Alam,

NED UET, Karachi Page 2

my teacher and advisor Dr. S. F. A. Rafeeqi,

encouraged me to work hard consistently and who has reminded me and

my fellow engineers, our role, being an engineer towards our society,

And above all,

for her prayers and

the strength of body and soul she has endowed me with,

by upbringing me the way she did.

NED UET, Karachi Page 3

NED UET, Karachi Page 4

The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of compressive

NED UET, Karachi Page 5

Types of Reinforced Concrete Slab Construction

Slabs are mainly categorized in two general categories;

Figure-1: Beam-Less Slab

Figure-2: Beam Slab

NED UET, Karachi Page 6

Slabs Supported On Beams

Approaches to Analysis and Design of Slab System

There are numbers of approaches to analysis and design of reinforced concrete

Elastic Theory Analysis

1- The equilibrium conditions are satisfied at every point in the slab.

Examples are direct design method, equivalent frame method.

Limit Analysis recognizes that because of plasticity, redistribution of moments

NED UET, Karachi Page 7

Consider the behavior of a reinforced concrete slab under transverse load,

NED UET, Karachi Page 8

NED UET, Karachi Page 9

One can distinguish 3 phases:

Phase-2, From B to C: As the deflection increases beyond B, the load carried by

Phase-3, From C to D: Beyond C the slab carries load by the reinforcement

NED UET, Karachi Page 10

Effects on Flexural Capacity

Perhaps, the most dramatic demonstration of membrane action was made by

The structural aspects pertaining to the 1978 collapse of a warehouse structure

In a test conducted by Gamble et al., on a ¼ scale model of a nine panel (3x3)

NED UET, Karachi Page 11

In a paper by Taplin and Hon, a method for assessing typical beam-and-slab

NED UET, Karachi Page 12

Figure-5: Load-Deflection curve for slabs.

Figure-6: Comparison of slab strength results (Taplin and Hon)

NED UET, Karachi Page 13

Effects on Punching Shear Capacity

As demonstrated by Armer (1968), the enhancement effects of compressive