Concrete Deflection

AN INTRODUCTION
What affects steel deflection?
• Magnitude of loading
• Elastic Modulus
• Section Properties
• Stiffening by other elements
What affects concrete deflection?
• Magnitude of loading
• Duration of loading
• Time of first loading Accurate concrete deflection prediction
• Load history
• Tensile & compressive strength of concrete
is very difficult!
• Elastic Modulus
• Shrinkage Numerous factors which are often time-related,
• Creep interdependent and not known at time of design.
• Ambient conditions
• Degree of restraint Recommended that deflection calculations are +15% to -30%
estimates (TCC TR58 2008)
• Cracking
• Secondary load-paths
• Stiffening by other elements
Which deflections matter?

• Deflection of slab perimeter supporting cladding prior to the installation of the

cladding
• Deflection of the slab perimeter after installation of the cladding
• Deflection of slab after installation of the partitions
• Deflections affecting appearance

It depends who’s asking the question. Designer has to

decide which apply to project and how to communicate
these clearly.
Let’s just give the biggest deflection
then?
• ‘My glazing can only accommodate a 5mm deflection!’
• ‘My standard partition deflection head is 15mm’
• Could add significant cost to cladding, curtain walling and internal
partition elements.

We can save money for our clients and

help make projects financially viable!
Critical deflection

• ‘Critical deflection’ (e.g deflection affecting internal partitions)

• As concrete deflection is related to creep the deflection due to a
critical load cannot be calculated directly. This is not like steel design.

Critical deflection = Long-term deflection – Deflection prior to critical loading being applied
 Deflection calculation approaches
• Span-to-effective-depth ratio
Eurocode 2
Checks

• ‘Rigorous’ Approach
ROBOT

• Linear finite element with adjustment of elastic modulus

• Non-linear finite element analysis

Span-to-effective-depth ratio
• Section 7.4.2 BS EN 1992-1-1
Span-to-effective-depth ratio
Min. 205mm
Min. 248mm
 Span-to-effective-depth ratio
• Hand method based on experience, justified by various reports.
• For typical situations it limits overall deflections to L/250 and L/500
post partitions
• ‘Adequate for avoiding deflection problems in normal circumstance’

Cannot be used to ‘predict’ deflections

Rigorous Approach
• Section 7.4.3 BS EN 1992-1-1

Min. 248mm

Min. 291mm
 Rigorous Approach
• Gives estimates of deflections
• Complex and lengthy calculations
• Many unknowns
• More onerous than span-to-depth deemed to satisfy…..!
Linear FE with manual stiffness
modification
Linear FE with manual stiffness
modification
Linear FE with ROBOT stiffness
update
L O C AT I O N S

BRISTOL
BIRMINGHAM
CARDIFF
CAMBORNE
GLASGOW
GLOUCESTER
LONDON
MANCHESTER
NORTHAMPTON
PLYMOUTH
SOUTHAMPTON
STOKE-ON-TRENT
TAUNTON