CE F311 Design of Concrete Structures

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

Course Lecture-X

BITS Pilani
Hyderabad Campus

Two Way Slabs

Introduction
When the aspect ratio of a floor panel is less than two, the contribution of
the longer span in carrying the floor load becomes substantial. Since the
floor load is transmitted in two directions, this type of slab is called a twoway slab, and the flexural reinforcement has to be designed in both the
directions.
Two-way slab systems include two-way solid slabs supported by beams,
flat plates, flat slabs, and waffle slabs (see Fig. 2).

A slab supported on beams on all sides of each floor panel is generally

referred to as a two-way slab system.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Introduction

Fig. 1 Difference in behaviour of one-way and two-way slabs (a) One-way slab (Ly/Lx > 2.0)
(b) Two-way slab (Ly/Lx 2)

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Introduction

Fig. 2 Types of two-way slabs (a) Two-way slab (b) Flat plate (c) Flat slab (d) Grid or waffle slab
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

Consider a two-way slab as consisting of beam strips in each of the two
directions, intersecting each other. Two such strips, L1 in the longer
direction and S1 in the shorter direction, are shown in Fig. 3(a).
When acted upon by the applied load, each of the two strips acts similar to
a beam, sharing the applied load and transferring it to their respective
edge supports.
Thus, bending exists in both directions. To resist these moments, the slab
must be reinforced in both directions by two layers of reinforcements that
are perpendicular to each other.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

Consider the same slab with two sets of three strips in two perpendicular
directions as shown in Fig. 3(b).
The behaviour of the outer strips S2, L2, S3, and L3 are different from that
of the centre strips S1 and L1. These outer strips are bent as well as
twisted.
This twisting results in torsional stresses and torsional moments,
especially near the corners, which in turn will result in lifting up of the
corners, unless restrained.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

Fig. 3 Behaviour of two-way slabs (a) Single beam strip in each direction
(b) Multiple beam strips in each direction

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

When the load is increased, hairline cracks start to appear from the point
of maximum deflection as shown in Fig. 4(a).
The slab no longer has constant stiffness, as the cracked regions have
lower stiffness than the other regions.
In rectangular slabs, the crack pattern may differ in the two directions and
the slab may not remain isotropic.

Most of the slabs will have hairline cracks under service loading.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

When the load is further increased, yielding of reinforcements takes place
at the mid-span. The bending moments get redistributed to the nonyielding portions that still remain elastic.

As the load is increased further, this inelastic redistribution will continue

until a large area of steel in the central portion of the slab yields and a
mechanism is formed when the slab fails (see Fig. 4b).

The yield lines divide the slab into a series of trapezoidal or triangular
elastic plates in the case of rectangular slabs and triangular plates in the
case of square slabs (see Fig. 4b).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Two-way Slabs

Fig. 4 Mode of failure of simply supported two-way slabs (a) Onset of yielding of bottom
Reinforcement at point of maximum deflection (b) Bottom steel yielding along yield lines
forming a mechanism

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Minimum Thickness of Slabs

Slab thickness is the primary factor affecting the serviceability and shear
strength. Fire resistance requirements may also govern both the cover
and slab thickness.
The vertical deflection limits may be assumed to be satisfied in two-way
slabs with short spans up to 3.5 m with mild steel reinforcement and for
loading class up to 3 kN/m2, when the span to overall depth ratios are not
greater than the following values(Clause 24.1 & 23.2):
1. Simply supported slabs - 35
2. Continuous slabs 40
For Fe 415 grade steel these values to be multiplied by 0.8

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Analysis of Wall-supported Slabs

1. Linear elastic analysis for thin plates (classical plate theory, finite
difference method)
2. Non-linear analysis (finite element analysis)
3. Plastic or limit analysis (lower bound like the strip method and upper
bound like the yield-line analysis method)
4. Idealized frame method of analysis (equivalent frame method)
5. Simplified methods of analysis (methods based on moment coefficients,
direct design method)
6. Combination of elastic theory and limit analysis

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Trajectories of Principal Moments in Two-way

Slabs
Structures have a tendency to transmit loads to the supporting systems
along the shortest possible path. This tendency is seen in slabs as
illustrated in Fig. 10, which shows the principal moment directions in slabs
with ratios of sides 1.0 and 2.0 for simply supported and fixed boundary
conditions.
In the central region in the longer direction of the longer slabs, the
direction of the principal moments, is nearly perpendicular to the supports.

Thus, the load is mainly transferred in the shorter direction, implying that
the moments in the shorter direction are greater than those in the longer
direction.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Analysis of Wall-supported Slabs

Fig. 10 Trajectories of principal moments in beam-supported rectangular slabs (a) Ly/Lx = 1 (b) Ly/Lx =
2.0

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Analysis of Wall-supported Slabs

The principal moment directions in the corner regions are inclined to the
support, indicating twisting moments.
Approximate regions of negative bending moments in simply supported
rectangular slabs under uniformly distributed slabs are shown in Fig. 11(a)
and these regions for slabs with fixed ends is shown in Fig. 11(b).
These regions should be provided with reinforcements on both the upper
and lower faces of the slabs.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Analysis of Wall-supported Slabs

Fig. 11 Regions of negative bending moments in rectangular slabs under uniformly

distributed slabs (a) Simply supported slab (b) Slab with fixed ends

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Analysis of Wall-supported Slabs

Hence, considering the two middle strips as shown in Fig. 3(a), the
deflection at their common intersection point will be the same (as these
two strips of beams belong to the same monolithic slab).
The following equations as given in Clause D-2.1 of IS 456 are based on
their method:

Where

Where, wu is the factored UDL , Lx is the short span, and r is the is the aspect ratio of
spans= Ly/Lx. See Table 27 of IS 456 also.
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Coefficients Based on Yield-line Theory

Restrained slabs are defined as those that are cast integrally with beams
and in which the corners are prevented from lifting and provision for
torsion is made at simply supported corners.
They may be continuous or discontinuous at the edges.

The maximum design moments per unit width of such restrained slabs may
be calculated using the following equations:
Mx = ax wu L2x
My = ay wu L2x
here Mx and My are the moments on strips of unit width spanning Lx and Ly,
respectively, ax and ay are the bending moment coefficients. wu is the
uniformly distributed factored load on slab.
Table 26 of IS 456(see Table 4 of the book) is based on this method
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Coefficients Based on Yield-line Theory

The equations may be used only when the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The characteristic dead and imposed loads on adjacent panels are
approximately equal to the loads on the panel being considered.

2. The spans of adjacent panels in each direction are approximately

equal.
3. The slabs are essentially subjected to uniform loads.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Coefficients Based on Yield-line Theory

The following are the rules to be observed when the equations are applied to
restrained slabs (continuous or discontinuous):
1. Slabs are considered as divided in each direction into middle strips
and edge strips as shown in Fig. 12.

2. The maximum design moments calculated as mentioned earlier apply

only to the middle strips and no redistribution is allowed.
3. Reinforcement in the middle strips should be detailed in accordance
with IS 456.
4. Corner reinforcements are provided to resist the torsional moments.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Coefficients Based on Yield-line Theory

Fig. 12 Division of slab into middle and edge strips (a) For span Lx (b) For span Ly

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Different types of support conditions

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Different types of support conditions

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Bending moment coefficients for two way restrained

slabs ( Table 26, IS 456-2000) Detailing requirements

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Unbalanced Moments in Adjacent Spans

When there is a series of continuous slabs in one or both directions, the
negative moments obtained at a common support on the left- and righthand sides, may not be equal and may differ significantly, as shown in Fig.
13.

This may be due to any one or more of the following reasons:

1. The two adjacent spans being unequal
2. The loading on one panel being different from that of the other
3. The boundary conditions in the two adjoining panels being different

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Unbalanced Moments in Adjacent Spans

Fig. 13 Unbalanced moments in adjacent spans of a continuous slab

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Procedure to Balance Unbalanced Moments

1. Calculate the sum of the mid-span moment and average of the support
moments (neglecting the signs) for each panel.
2. Treat the values found from Table 26 of IS 456 as fixed-end moments
(FEMs).
3. Distribute the FEMs across the supports according to the relative
stiffness of adjacent spans, giving new support moments.

4. Adjust the mid-span moment for each panel: this should be done in such
a way that when it is added to the average of the support moments
(neglecting signs) from step 3, the total should be equal to that from step
1.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Procedure to Balance Unbalanced Moments

If, for a given panel, the resulting support moments are significantly
greater than the value obtained from Table 26 of IS 456 , the code
suggests that the tension steel over the supports should be extended
beyond the provisions of Clause D-1.5.

It also recommends the following procedure:

5. Take the span moment as parabolic between supports: the
maximum value is found from step 4.
6. Determine the points of contraflexure of the new support moments
(from step 3) with the span moment (from step 5).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Procedure to Balance Unbalanced Moments

7. Extend half the support tension steel at each end to at least an
effective depth or 12 times the bar diameter beyond the nearest point
of contraflexure.
8. Extend the full area of support tension steel at each end to half the
distance 6.6 from step 7.

Even though this procedure has been specified in the code, several
engineers consider it logical to take the larger value of moment (M1 as
shown in Fig. 13) as the design negative moment at the common
continuous edge.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Shear Forces in Two-way Slabs

The magnitude of shear stresses are comparatively lesser in two-way
slabs than in one-way slabs due to the two-way action. Hence, they will
not govern the design.
The distribution of shear forces at the various edges of a two-way slab is
not easy to determine. However, Clause 24.5 and Fig. 7 of the code (see
also Fig. 1b) recommend a simple triangular distribution of load on the
short edge and a trapezoidal distribution of load on the long edge.

This type of shear is often called a one-way shear, which is different from
the two-way shear or punching shear, which also has to be checked in the
case of flat slabs.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Shear Forces in Two-way Slabs

Fig. 15 Assumed distribution of loads for determination of shear force in two-way slabs

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Beam-supported Two-way Slabs

Extending plate-based code methods to beam-supported continuous slabs
introduces a degree of approximation with respect to the support rigidity.
A major assumption in the plate-based methods is that a rectangular slab
panel is rigidly supported on its four sides. If beams are provided along the
column lines and if these beams are rigid, then the analysis and design of
the slab may be considered in the same manner as wall-supported slabs.
The design and detailing of two-way slabs supported on stiff beams may
be carried out similar to the design and detailing of two-way slabs
supported on the walls.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Beam-supported Two-way Slabs

Fig. 16 Minimum depth of beam to ensure rigidity

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Design Procedure for Two-way Slabs

The different steps involved in the design of two-way slabs, considering
them as beams of one metre width, are similar to the design of one-way
slabs.
The bending moments are obtained using the coefficients provided in
Tables 26 and 27 of the code.
The required thickness of the slab may be estimated initially based on the
serviceability limit state criteria of deflection, using the suggested value of
effective span to depth ratio given in Clause 24.1 of the code or by using
Fig. 7 of the Book.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Design Procedure for Two-way Slabs

As the depth chosen based on the deflection criteria will normally be
greater than that required for bending, the tension steel required will be
less than that for the balanced steel and the section will be underreinforced.

The reinforcements calculated for the bending moments occurring in the

middle strip of the restrained discontinuous slabs have to be provided in
the middle strip alone (see Fig. 12) and the edge strips require only
minimum reinforcement.
After calculating the reinforcements, the assumed thickness should be
checked for L/d limits imposed by the code, using modification factors
given in Figs 4 and 5 of the IS code.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing of Reinforcements
Simply Supported Two-way Slabs
When the slab is truly simply supported at the edges, there will not be any
negative moments near the supports. However, there may be some
unforeseen partial fixity.
To safeguard against partial fixity, either alternate bars are bent up or
separate top steel is provided, with an area equal to 0.5 times of that
provided at the bottom of the mid-span, with an extension of 0.1Lx or 0.1Ly
from the face of the support (see Fig. 17).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing of Reinforcements

Fig. 17 Detailing of wall-supported two-way slabs with bent-up bars

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing of Torsional Reinforcement at Corners

Torsional stresses and torsional moments are developed near the corners
of a simply supported slab, which will result in the lifting up of the corners
as shown in Fig. 18(a) unless the slab is restrained at corners.
This will result in cracking of the slab near the corners as shown in Fig.
18(b).
Hence, torsional reinforcements are to be provided in the corners of the
slab to take care of these torsional moments. Two types of reinforcement
are indicated in Figs 18(c) and (d).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing of Torsional Reinforcement at Corners

Fig. 18 Torsional effects and

torsional reinforcements
(a) Lifting of corners due to
torsion
(b) Potential crack pattern
(c) Torsion reinforcement using
skewed bars
(d) (d) Torsion reinforcement using
top and bottom bars

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing for Restrained Two-way Slabs

When restrained slabs are designed by using the moment coefficients given
in Table 26 of IS 456 , they should be detailed as discussed below:
1. The tension steel calculated for the positive design moments (per
unit width) at the short and long spans should be provided, as shown
in Fig. 19, at the bottom of the mid-span in the middle strip in the
short- and long-span directions, respectively.
2. The tension steel calculated for the negative design moments in the
short and long spans at continuous supports should be provided at
the top and uniformly distributed across the edge strips of the short
and long spans, respectively (see Fig. 19).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing for Restrained Two-way Slabs

3. At discontinuous edge, negative moments may arise due to partial fixity.
Hence, to safeguard against such situations, 50 per cent of the bottom
steel at the mid-span should be provided at these edges and such steel
should extend over a length of 0.1Lx or 0.1Ly from the face of the support,
as shown in Fig. 19.
4. Reinforcement in an edge strip parallel to the edge need not exceed the
minimum area of tension reinforcement together with the
recommendations for torsion given as per Clause D-1.7 of the code.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 19 Reinforcement detailing in restrained two-way slabs (a) Plan (b) Section AA
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

Detailing for Restrained Two-way Slabs

Fig. 20 Simplified
rules for curtailment
of bars in two-way
slabssection
through
middle
strip
(a) Using bent-up
bars
(b)
Using
straight bars

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Detailing of Torsional Reinforcement at Corners

Torsion reinforcement should be provided at any corner where the slab is
simply supported on both edges meeting at that corner.
The following points need to be noted (see Fig. 21):
This torsion reinforcement should be provided at the top and bottom
in a mesh or grid pattern, each with layers of bars placed parallel to
the sides of the slab and extending from the edges to a minimum
distance of one-fifth of the shorter span
Torsion reinforcement equal to half that described in 1, should be
provided at a corner where one edge of the slab is continuous and
the other edge is discontinuous.
Torsion reinforcement need not be provided when both edges
meeting at a corner are continuous.
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 21 Detailing of torsional reinforcement in restrained slabs

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Roof Slabs
Roof slabs are subjected to weathering action in addition to supporting
the self-weight, occasional imposed load, and the weathering course.
It is important to provide adequate drainage facilities to avoid the problem
of ponding and overloading and/ or leakage of roof slab.
Roofs in tropical areas are subjected to large variations of temperature.
Strains due to thermal changes are sufficient to cause micro-cracks in
concrete. it is advisable to provide sliding joints between the roof and the
wall in wide roofs, using elastomeric bearing pads.
Parapet wall is important to hold down the corners of slabs.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Green Roofs

Green roof of City Hall in Chicago, Illinois.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Green Roofs
To mitigate Heat-island Effect of cities green roofs are adopted.
A green/living roof is partially/completely covered with vegetation planted
over a waterproofing membrane.
It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and
irrigation systems. Hence those loads (typically 1-5 kN/m2 ) should be
considered.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

References
Reinforced Concrete Design- Krishna Raju
Reinforced Concrete Design- Pillai and Menon
IS 456:2000
Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures-N Subramanian

IIT Madras Reading Material for RCC and Concrete

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

BITS Pilani
Hyderabad Campus

THANK YOU!