Republic of the Philippines

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Puerto Princesa City

College of Engineering and, Architecture and Technology

Assignment 1:
Types and Construction Methods of Slabs

2019-1-0077

BSAR 4b

August 14, 2023

Slabs

Slabs are flat, horizontal structural elements made of reinforced concrete that receive the
load and transfer it through the beams to the columns and to the footings to the soil below.
Slabs are used in both load-bearing structures and framed structures. In a load bearing
structure, the load is transferred from the slab to the load-bearing walls. The thickness of the
slab varies from 100 mm to 500 mm.
The methods for slab construction vary from each other. Based on the support condition,
a slab can be a simply supported slab, cantilever slab or a continuous slab.
A slab can be a floor slab or a roof slab. The live load acting on the floor slabs is greater
than the roof slabs. Thus, the floor slabs are heavily reinforced when compared to the roof
slabs.

Types of Slabs

Conventional Slabs

The slab, which is supported by beams and columns, is called a conventional slab. In
conventional slab the thickness of the slab is small but depth of the beam is large. The load is
transmitted from slab to beam and then from beam to column.
These types of slabs are provided with reinforcement where the horizontal bar is called
main reinforcement and vertical bar is called distribution bar. Conventional slabs are two types.

● One way slab

● Two way slab

One Way Slab

One way slab is a conventional horizontal slab rectangular in shape and supported by
beams on two of its four sides. The slabs are supported on beams opposite to each other.
Therefore, the deflected shape is cylindrical.
In one way slabs the longer span is more than twice of the shorter span. The ratio of longer
span to shorter span is greater than two. As a result, the shorter span is subjected to bending.

The main reinforcements are provided in the shorter directions to resist the bending and the
secondary reinforcements are provided in the longer direction.
Two Way Slab

Two-way slabs are also conventional slabs mostly rectangular in shape and supported
on all four sides of a beam. In two-way slabs, the longer span is less than twice the shorter
span. The ratio of longer span to shorter span is less than two. The deflected shape of the slab
is like a dish or saucer shape.

In this case, both the shorter and longer directions are subjected to bending. Therefore, the
main reinforcements would be provided in both directions based on the magnitude of bending.
The two-way slabs are economical to a size of 6m x 6m. Also, the quantity of steel used in a
two-way slab is more than the one-way slab.

Figure 1. Differences between One way slab and Two way slab.

Flat Plate

Flat Plate slabs are where the loads are not transferred from the slabs to the beams. In
flat plates, the loads are transferred directly to the columns. The flat plate system may be
one-way or two-way depending on the design.

Flat Slabs

are the modified version of flat plates with a column head and/or a drop panel cast
monolithically with the slab. There are no beams present in the flat slabs but the drop panels
and column heads will transfer the loads smoothly to the columns.

The drop panels are square or rectangular in shape and increase the shear capacity of
the slab. The drop panels add deflection to the slab and thus minimize the deflections.
 The column heads are provided below the drop panels and they are mostly sloping to
meet the column dimensions. A flat slab may have either column head or drop panel or both.

Fig. 2 Diagram of a Flat slab.

Waffle Slabs

Waffle Slabs are lightweight slabs with hollow grid-like systems on their soffit. The hollow
grid system reduces the self-weight of the slab without compromising its structural stability.
The grids are spaced at equal intervals and they transfer the load from above to the beams. The
space between the ribs is sometimes treated as a beam and reinforced to increase the flexural
rigidity of the slab.

Fig. 3 Waffle Slab

Post Tensioned Slabs

Prestressed slabs are commonly used in the construction of prefabricated buildings.

Post-tensioned prestressed slabs have ducts that carry high-strength steel tendons in addition
to conventional reinforcement.
The steel tendons are prestressed and anchored at the ends after the concrete slab has
hardened. This is called post-tensioning. The post-tensioned slabs are mostly precast and are
of various shapes.

Fig. 4 Post tension slab.

Pretensioned Slab

Pretensioned prestressed slabs are prestressed before the concrete hardens. The
high-strength tendons are pulled and the slab is cast. After the slab has sufficiently hardened,
the prestressing strands are cut loose and the stress is transferred to the slab.

Construction Methods of Slabs

Conventional Slabs

Assemble and Erect Formworks - Formworks are erected and assembled on site

Prepare and Place Reinforcements - Reinforcements is placed atop the formworks.

Pour, Compact and Finish - Concrete is poured into the prepared formworks with
reinforcements, concrete are compacted and vibrated, and then finished to a smooth or rough
finish depending on the requirements.

Curing Concrete and Remove Formwork - After curing the concrete, the formworks will be
removed and the slab is ready for further finishing.
Post Tensioned Slabs

Post tensioned slabs methods of construction is almost the same of the conventional
slabs with tendons added to the formworks before the pouring of the concrete, after the pouring
and curing of the concrete the tendons is stretched using a machine or stressing jack that
calculates the tension forces that is needed to be applied. The tendons is pulled or tensioned
and are anchored after applying tension.

Fig. 5 Diagram showing how PT slabs are tensioned.

Pre Tensioned Slab

Pre tensioned slab is pre manufactured off-site, a formwork with predetermined number
of reinforcements is placed into the formworks, the reinforcement is stretched while the concrete
is being poured onto the formworks. Stress is applied to the reinforcement until the concrete
cures, once the concrete cures, the excess reinforcements is cut and the slab is delivered on to
the construction site.

Fig. 6 Pretensioned Concrete being manufactured.