Lecture 17 (L17)

Roof and floor systems

Roof and floor systems

Hollow core elements (HC) Double-T beams (DT)

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Betongelementboken
Relevant readings from BEB:

A7.1 Forspente Hulldekker (Prestressed Hollow Cores)

A7.2 Ribbeplater (Double-T beams)
C1.3 Deformasjoner (Deflections)
C3 Dekker (Roofs and floors)
C11 Ribbeplater (Joints for Double-T)
C12 Hulldekker (Joints for Hollow Cores)

Precast concrete floors

Economic and versatile solution

Worldwide, approximately half of the floors in commercial buildings, and ¾

in car parks are of precast concrete.

Maximum structural performance with minimum weight.

Large span and small depths

With or without topping:

- Structural (cast in-situ concrete,
reinforced/unreinforced)
- Non-structural (screed)

Static system:
Individual elements, as simply supported.
Can also be used for small cantilevers with additional reinforcement.

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Terminology
Slabs P
Forces perpendicular to the element
Bending of element
2D effect

Stiff plates Skiver

In-plane forces
No bending of element
Diaphragm floor and shear wall

For floor and roof elements:

- Vertical loads: Each element is designed as separate beam
- Horizontal loads: All elements are joined together to form a single
member. Generally, the plate is considered to be much stiffer than the
rest of the structure. The horizontal plate transmits the horizontal load
to the vertical element as a perfectly rigid body. This is called the
diaphragm action of the floor/roof.
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Hollow core (HC)

Monolithic prestressed or reinforced element with
constant overall depth divided into an upper and a
lower flange linked by vertical webs.

Has longitudinal voids, called cores.

Most units are 1200 mm wide

Multiple elements work together grouting the joint.

Developed in the 1950s

Self-weight of a HC is about ½ of the same solid

section (void ratio of 50%)

The voids can be used for laying of various

installations (electricity), heating or air circulation.
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Hollow core Openings
Small openings on prestressing bench while
concrete is fresh. Holes in-between webs.

It is possible to vary the geometry of the HC by

cutting out part of it or making holes. Need to
follow some rules. (See BEB Section A7.1)

Limit the number of openings and variations.

Variations from the standard element increases
the cost.

Larger openings are also possible

Openings larger than 1.2m
Steel trimmer angles

Hollow core - Production

Mainly two types:

1) Formwork (Moulding) 2) Extrusion Slip formed

Reinforced concrete Prestressed concrete
Mandrels forming the core Prestressing bench
Filling with concrete in two passes Moving machine:
Video (https://youtu.be/m0-BtAy147s) filling and compacting
Video (https://youtu.be/Uz7cFob8tZw)

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Double-T (DT)
The optimization of the structural element derived
into the development of the DT beam. They provide
greater spans and reduced mass compared to HC.

Standard element of width 2400 mm

Spans up to 24 m

Generally with reinforced topping.

Can have a stepped end (half joint) to reduce the

floor height.

When larger capacities required:

Add more reinforcement (prestress)
Increase thickness of topping
Ensure composite action of beam and topping

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Double-T Openings
Small openings
Openings between webs
Max. dimensions
2 m long
1 m wide (between webs)

Larger openings
Requires transvers connection to
adjacent elements

Horizontal openings
In the webs
Max. half of depth
Locations with small shear forces

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Joints
Connection between elements of the same type to form a slab/plate.

Hollow core
Grouted joint

Double-T
Welded connection
Topping

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Connections: Hollow core

Shear forces Movements
and Forces Reinforcement
Elements try to separate
Produce perpendicular tensile forces
Reinforcement needed for each
Peripheral tie
Cross tie

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Connections: Double-T
Welded or bolted steel connections

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Particular rules in EC2

In EC2-10.9.3 gives particular rules for precast floor systems.

Ensure appropriate shear connection between adjacent elements.

Three main types of shear transfer connection:

When acting as diaphragm to transfer horizontal loads to the bracing, then:

- consider the effect of horizontal deformation
- reinforce the diaphragm where in tension

Transverse reinforcement for shear transfer across connections in the

diaphragm may be concentrated along supports, forming ties consistent
with the structural model. This reinforcement may be placed in the topping,
if it exists. 15
EC2 Tying systems
In EC2-9.10
Tying system to prevent a progressive collapse
Code specifies the minimum forces
Minimum reinforcement (but not additional)

Types of ties:
Peripheral ties
Internal ties
Column/wall tie

Generally, the horizontal loads

produced by the diaphragm action
together with the bracing system are
larger than those specified here.

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Design of individual units

Individual beams

Simply supported

Ultimate Limit State

Shear
Bending

Serviceability Limit State

Deformations

Simplified analysis for hand calculation

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Ultimate limit state (ULS)
The same as we saw in Part 1: Prestressed concrete

In particular the same as for Pre-tensioned beams

We need to check for:

Moment
Simplified calculation

Shear
Follow EC2

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ULS: Design of T sections (1)

Effective width of flange
See EC2-5.3.2.1

Alternative 1
NA falls inside flange
Design as a rectangular cross-section

Alternative 2
NA falls in the web
Flange carries all compression
Compression stress constant

Simplified calculations
Use alternative 2
Generally on safe side
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ULS: Design of T sections (2)
Simplified design:

z
Hollow core

Double-T z

IB or SIB beam

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ULS: Moments
Generally sections are under-reinforced

Simplified calculation:

Section forces

Tensile reinforcement:

Compression zone:

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ULS: Shear
Prestress force as external load

EC2-8.10.2
Anchorage of strands
Transmission length
XXX
Not requiring shear reinforcement
EC2-6.2.2
Hollow cores (See EC2-6.2.1(4))
No min. reinforcement required
Un-cracked section

Requiring shear reinforcement

EC2-6.2.3 (Truss model)
Double-T beams

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Serviceability Limit State (SLS)

Deflections are often a problem for slab elements.

When prestressed, the element has an initial camber (upward deflection)

Often an in-situ concrete layer (topping) is casted on top

Load assumptions are the largest source of error

Influences the amount of creep

Load history can be complex, due to variations in

Time of load application (Self-weight, Permanent loads, Service loads)
Temperature (Curing, storage, final position in structure)
Relative humidity (Storage, at structure)

Calculation method
Full prestress Stage I No cracks in SLS
Hand calculations = Average E-modulus

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Deflections (1)
Important to obtain good approximations of the deflections.

Prestressed elements: Deflections can be

upward or downward depending on the level
of prestress and permanent loading.

Reinforced concrete: Deflections will always be

downwards. Elements can be fabricated with
an initial camber.

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Deflections (2)
Stages of deformation history:

Element installation (Assembly)

After application of permanent loads
Long time no (or small) live load
Long time with live load

Recommended max. deflections

To avoid crack calculations
BEB.C Table C 1.6
Different values for
Time stage
Element type
Construction type

Reality: Service load between no and maximum

Final deformation between and
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Deflections (3)
Hollow core
Typical vertical camber
of HC at assembly

Double-T
Minimum topping to:
- Level the top surface
- Ensure load distribution
No composite action (30 mm)
Composite action (60 mm)
For reinforcement

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Control of precast slabs in SLS

To calculate vertical deflections:
Assume single element (no diaphragm action yet)
Assume simply supported element

Method
1) Calculate effective E-modulus (either or ) for the time stage
that is checked. There are multiple E values possible, depending on the
different loads and their application time.
2) Calculate average E-modulus ( ) for including the effect of creep.
3) When relevant, include the effect of shrinkage as an additional axial
force and moment produced by the concrete shrinkage strain on the
reinforcement (as we saw in Prestressed concrete)
4) Calculate deflections for each load. Need to calculate for the
transformed cross-section.
5) Check that the total deflection follows the recommended value

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Exercise 7
Calculate deflections of a HC

Calculation of
Careful with:
when the loads are applied
long-term vs short-term loads

For short term deformation include

Elastic deformation
Influence of creep (t = time of calculation, = load application)

For long term deformation include

Influence of creep
Influence of shrinkage

Dimensions are given/calculated per m of element width

Formulas to calculate section properties also in m of element width
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