ABPL30046 Steel and Concrete Structural Systems

Semester 1 -2022
Tutorial 04 – Ground Slab (Pour Layouts and Detailing)

You are required to propose the pour layout of the ground slab at a distribution centre
with dimensions of 100m x 50m as shown in Figure T2. Assume that the walls and roof
have been completed, and your task is now to work out the method and sequence for the
casting of the ground slab given the following constraints. The ground slab is 200mm thick
with a layer of F92 mesh placed 50mm from the top surface. Access is only via the two
roller doors shown at the bottom right of the plan.

Three proposed methods of construction are:

i. Long strip construction,
ii. Wide strip construction, and
iii. Large area construction.

Determine the size of each pour, and indicate the position of all construction joints, saw
cuts, and isolation joints. Estimate the widths of each joint after shrinkage of concrete.

Additional Information for the racking system:

Narrow aisle racks 1190mm wide x 2690 mm long centres: aisle width 1540mm.
Wide aisle racks 840mm x2 with 380mm gap = 2060mm wide x 2840mm long centres:
aisle width = 3070mm.
Post base dimension 140x100mm
Racks 8.0m high with half width racks on the perimeter walls.

Figure T04: Ground Floor Plan of a Distribution Centre

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 ABPL30046 Steel and Concrete Structural Systems
Semester 1 -2022
1. LONG STRIP CONSTRUCTION
• Long strip max pour is about 400 sq.m. Usually about
50m long and 6-8m wide.
• Concrete Will be poured from the back of the truck
• Panel length (L ) of 10-15m is recommended
• A transverse pour joint (BLACK line) is therefore
required at grid F.
1 7
• There will be isolation joint all around the columns.

4 8 POUR PLAN (OPTION 1)

• There will be 12 pours and will be done using hit and
miss method for pours 1-6 and will take 6 days.
2 9 • For pours 7-12 this will take 12 days to do with a day
delay for preparing each strip after pouring.
5 10
Shrinkage calculations
Students assume 400um(microstrain) for RC slab which is
3 11 4mm per 10m length of slab. Therefore, for 50m length,
total shrinkage is 20mm.
1. Pour joints at each ends takes up 50% of total
6 12 shrinkage: ie 10mm total with 5mm at each end.
For pour 1, this will be taken up at grids A and F
(Typical for all pours)
2. For the remaining 10mm, 50% will be taken up at
the centre. I will therefore put two centre saw cuts
joints at grids C and D (in BLUE). 50% of 10 =
5mm distributed between this two @ 2.5mm each.
3. The remaining 50% (5mm) will go to the saw cut
joints at grids B and E (in RED). Ie 2.5mm each.
4. NOTE: The portals are about 10m bays and
therefore the concrete panels of 10x8.33m OK.
5. Also note with the 8.33m width, the shrinkage is
0.833x4=3.32mm. and will be take up by the pour
joints.
SAW CUT AND POUR JOINTS
• All Pour joint will have Diamond plate dowels.
• Flat plate dowels for saw cut joints

POUR PLAN (OPTION 2)

• For symmetry, transverse joints at grids E and G.
Then do hit and miss for pours 1-6 in 6 days, then 7-11
in 5 days. Cast transverse strip between grids E-
F in 1 day, then F-G after 2 days (miss one day for
previous pour to dry and prep next day) and pour 12
in 1 day.
• TOTAL of 15 days. Save 3 days but option 2 will have
many more joints. After saw cutting. Is it worth it?
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Higher probability of edge cracking as well. More
liability for builder.
 ABPL30046 Steel and Concrete Structural Systems
Semester 1 -2022
2. WIDE STRIP CONSTRUCTION

• Wide Strip will normally double the long strip

construction
• Concrete Will be poured from the back of the truck
• A transverse pour joint (BLACK line) will be required
at grid F.
• There will be isolation joint all around the columns.

1 4 POUR PLAN
• There will be 6 pours and will be done using hit and
miss method for pours 1-3 and will take 3 days.
• For pours 4-6 this will take 6 days to do with a day
delay for preparing each strip after pouring.
3
5
Shrinkage calculations (same for long strip in the
longitudinal direction
Students assume 400um(microstrain) for RC slab which is
4mm per 10m length of slab. Therefore, for 50m length,
total shrinkage is 20mm.
2 6 1 Pour joints at each ends takes up 50% of total
shrinkage: ie 10mm total with 5mm at each end.
For pour 1, this will be taken up at grids A and F
(Typical for all pours)
1. For the remaining 10mm, 50% will be taken up at
the centre. I will therefore put two centre saw cuts
joints at grids C and D (in BLUE). 50% of 10 =
5mm distributed between this two @ 2.5mm each.
2. The remaining 50% (5mm) will go to the saw cut
joints at grids B and E (in RED). Ie 2.5mm each.
3. NOTE: The portals are about 10m bays along
length and 8.33 spacing of columns along width.
Therefore the concrete panels of 10x8.33m OK.
With a saw cut in middle.
4. Also note with the 16.66m width, the shrinkage is
1.666x4=6.66mm. 50% (ie 3.33mm) will be taken
up by the pour joints on either sides. There will
need to be a saw cut joint (in dotted purple) in the
middle along grid line 2 to take up the other 50%
of 3.33mm.

SAW CUT AND POUR JOINTS

• All Pour joint will have Diamond plate dowels.
• Flat plate dowels on a cradle for saw cut joint

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 ABPL30046 Steel and Concrete Structural Systems
Semester 1 -2022
3. LARGE AREA CONSTRUCTION

• Wide area construction will normally from 30m x 30m

to 50 x 50m
• Will be poured with and somero lazer scrred
• There will be isolation joint all around the columns.
• Armored edges with diamond plate dowel at pour
joints

POUR PLAN
1 4 2 • There will be 6 pours and will be done sequentially

Shrinkage calculations
Students assume 400um(microstrain) for RC slab which is
4mm per 10m length of slab. Therefore, for 30m length,
total shrinkage is 12mm and across width of about 25m it
is about 10mm.
For wider panel of 40x25, total shrinkage is 16mm.
5. All Pour joints at each end takes up 50% of total
3 shrinkage: For the 30m wide side, 6mm into two
5 6
pour joints and the remaining 6mm into the saw
cut joints (in RED) with 3mm in each.
6. Students can distribute the rest using same
concept.

SAW CUT AND POUR JOINTS

• All Pour joint will have Armored edges with diamond
plate.
• Flat plate dowels on a cradle for saw cut joint

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