Chapter One: Flat Slabs 1

Chapter One: Flat Slabs

1.1 Introduction

Concrete two-way slabs may in some cases be supported by relatively shallow,

flexible beams, or directly by columns with out the use of beams or girders. Such
slabs are generally referred as column supported two-way slabs. Beams may also
be used where the slab is interrupted as around stair, walls or at discontinuous
edges.

In practice column supported two-way slabs take various forms:

a) Flat Plate: they are flat slabs with flat soffit. Such slabs have uniform
thickness supported on columns. They are used for relatively light loads, as
experienced in apartments or similar buildings. Flat plats are most
economical for spans from 4.5m to 6m (see Fig. 4.1a).

b) Flat slab: they are slab systems with the load transfer to the column is
accomplished by thickening the slab near the column, using drop panels
and/or by flaring the top of the column to form a column capital. They
may be used for heavy industrial loads and for spans of 6m to 9m (see Fig.
1.1c)

c) Waffle slabs: they are two-way joist systems with reduced self weights.
They are used for spans from 7.5m to 12m. (Note: for large spans, the
thickness required to transmit the vertical loads to the columns exceeds
that required for bending. As a result the concrete at the middle of the
panel is not efficiently used. To lighten the slab, reduce the slab moments,
and save material, the slab at mid span can be replaced by intersecting
ribs. Near the columns the full depth is retained to transmit loads from the
slab to the columns (see Fig. 4.1b)

In this chapter, consideration will be given to flat slabs with or with out drop
panels or column capitals.

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 2

Fig. 1.1 Types of two way slabs

For analysis and design purpose the panel in flat slab is divided in to column
strips and middle strips as shown below (EBSC 2)

Fig.1.2 Division of panels in Flat slabs

- A column strip is a design strip with a width on each side of a column
centerline equal to 0.25 Lx or if drops with dimension not less than Lx/3 are
used, a width equal to the drop dimension.
- A middle strip is a design strip bounded by two column strips.
The drop panels are rectangular (may be square) and influence the distribution of
moments in the slab. The smaller dimension of the drop is at least one third of
the smaller dimension of the surrounding panels, Lx/3 and the drop may be 25 to
50 percent thicker than the rest of the slab.
1.2 Load Transfer in Flat Slabs
Consider the following column supported two way slabs. If a surface load w is
applied (see Fig. 4.3a), it is shared between imaginary slab strips l a in the short
direction and lb in the longer direction. Note that the portion of the load that is
carried by the long strips l b is delivered to the beams B 1 which in turn carried in
the short direction plus that directly carried in the short direction by the slab
strips la, sums up to 100 percent of the load applied to the panel. The same is
true in the other direction.

A similar situation is obtained in the flat plate floor (see Fig. 1.3b) where broad
strips of the slab centered on the column lines in each direction serve the same
function as the beams. Therefore; for column supported construction, 100

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 3

percent of the applied load must be carried in each direction, jointly by the slab
and its supporting beams.

Fig. 1.3 Column-supported two-way slabs

1.3 Moments in Flat slab Floors

Consider the flat slab floor supported by columns at A, B, C, and D as shown in
Fig. 4.4a

(a)

Fig. 4.4 Moment variations in column-supported two-way slabs

(c)
Longitudinal Distributions of moments
For the determination of moment in the direction of span l 1, the slab may be
considered as a broad, flat beam of width l 2.
The load, P2 = wl2 per m length of span.
From the requirement of statics:
a) In the longitudinal direction (see Fig. 1.4b)

b) In the perpendicular direction

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 4

From the above static moment in each direction, the moment in the long
direction is larger than those in the short direction unlike to the situation for the
slab with stiff edge beams.
Lateral Distributions of moments
The moments across the width of critical sections such as AB or EF are not
constant as shown qualitatively (see Fig.1.4 c). For design purpose, moments
may be considered constant within the bounds of a middle strip or column strip,
unless beams are present in column lines.

1.5 Practical Analysis of Flat slabs

The two methods for the analysis of flat slabs are:

a) Direct Design method

b) Equivalent Frame Method
Generally, for both methods of analysis, the negative moments greater than
those at a distance hc/2 from the center-line of the column may be ignored
provided the moment Mo obtained as the sum of the maximum positive design
moment and the average of the negative design moments in anyone span of the
slab for the whole panel width is such that:

Where L1 is the panel length parallel to span, measured from centers of columns.
L2 is the panel width, measured from centers of columns
hc is the effective diameter of a column or column head (see below)

When the above condition is not satisfied, the negative design moments shall be
increased.

The effective diameter of a column or column head hc is the diameter of a circle

whose area equals the cross-sectional area of the column or, if column heads are
used, the area of the column head based on the effective dimensions as defined
below. In no case shall hc be taken as greater than one-quarter of the shortest
span framing in to the column.
The effective dimensions of a column head for use in calculation of hc are limited
according to the depth of the head. In any direction, the effective dimension of a
head Lh shall be taken as the lesser of the actual dimension L ho or Lh,max, where
Lh,max is given by:
Lh,max = Lc + 2dh

For a flared head, the actual dimension L ho is that measured to the center of
the reinforcing steel (see Fig. 4.5)

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 5

Fig. 4.5 Types of Column Head

1.6 Direct Design Method as per EBCS 2, 1995

According to the EBCS 2 specification, the direct design method of analysis is

subjected to the following restrictions.

1. Design is based on the single load case of all spans loaded with the
maximum design ultimate load.
2. There are at least three rows of panels of approximately equal span in the
direction being considered.
3. Successive span length in each direction shall not differ by more than one-
third of the longer span
4. Maximum offsets of columns from either axis between center lines of
successive columns shall not exceed 10% of the span (in the direction of
the offset)

Longitudinal Distribution

The distribution of design span and support moments depends on the relative
stiffness of the different sections which in turn depends on the restraint provided
for the slab by the supports. Accordingly, the distribution factors are given in the
following table.
Table 4.1 Bending Moment and Shear Force Coefficients for Flat slabs of Three or
More Equal Spans.

Outer support Near First Center of Interior

Column Wall center of interior interior support
first span support span
Moment - - 0.083FL -0.063FL 0.071FL -
0.040F 0.020F 0.055FL
L L
Shear 0.45F 0.40F - 0.60F - 0.50F
Total 0.040F - - 0.022FL - 0.022FL

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 6

Column L
moments

NOTE:
1. F is the total design ultimate load on the strip of slab between adjacent
columns considered.
2. L is the effective span = L1-2hc/3
3. The limitations of Section A.4.3.1(2) of EBCS 2, need not be
checked
4. The moments shall not be redistributed

Lateral Distribution

The design moment obtained from the above (or equivalent frame analysis) shall
be divided b/n the column and middle strips according to the following table.
Table 4.2 Distribution of Design Moments in Panels of Flat Slabs
Apportionment been column and middle strip
expressed as percentages of the total negative or
positive design moment
Column strip (%) Middle. strip (%)
Negative 75 25
Positive 55 45

NOTE: For the case where the width of the column strip is taken as equal to that
of the drop and the middle strip is thereby increased in width, the design
moments to be resisted by the middle strip shall be increased in proportion to its
increased width. The design moments to be resisted by the column strip may be
decreased by an amount such that the total positive and the total negative
design moments resisted by the column strip and middle strip together are
unchanged.

1.7 Equivalent Frame Method

The direct design method is applicable when the proposed structures satisfy the
restrictions on geometry and loading. If the structure does not satisfy the criteria,
the more general method of elastic analysis is the equivalent frame method.
In the equivalent frame method, the structure is divided in to continuous frames
centered on the column lines on either side of the columns, extending both
longitudinally and transversely. Each frame is composed of abroad continuous
beam and a row of columns.

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 7

Fig. 4.6 Building idealization for equivalent frame analysis

Equivalent Frame Method as per EBCS 2, 1995

According to the EBCS 2 specification, Equivalent Frame Method of analysis is
treated as follows:
(1) The width of slab used to define the effective stiffness of the slab will
depend upon the aspect ratio of the panels and the type of loading, but the
following provisions may be applied in the absence of more accurate
methods:
 In the case of vertical loading, the full width of the Panel, and
 For lateral loading, half the width of the panel may be used to
calculate the stiffness of the slab.
(2) The moment of inertia of any section of slab or column used in calculating
the relative stiffness of members may be assumed to be that of the cross
section of the concrete alone.
(3) Moments and forces within a system of flat slab panels may be obtained
from analysis of the structure under the single load case of maximum
design load on all spans or panels simultaneously, provided:
 The ratio of the characteristic imposed load to the characteristic
dead load does not exceed 1.25.
 The characteristic imposed load does not exceed 5.0 kN/m2
excluding partitions.
(4) Where it is not appropriate to analyze for the single load case of maximum
design load on all spans, it will be sufficient to consider following
arrangement of vertical loads:
 All spans loaded with the maximum design ultimate load, and
 Alternate spans with the maximum design ultimate load and all
other spans loaded with the minimum design ultimate load (1.0G k).
(5) Each frame may be analyzed in its entirety by any elastic method.
Alternatively, for vertical loads only, each strip of floor and roof may be
analyzed as a separate frame with the columns above and below fixed in
position and direction at their extremities. In either case, the analysis shall
be carried out for the "appropriate design ultimate loads on each span
calculated for a strip of slab of width equal to the distance between center
lines of the panels on each side of the columns.

Equivalent Frame Method as per ACI Code

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 8

According to the ACI Code specification, the Equivalent Frame method was
developed with the assumption that the analysis would be done using the
moment distribution method.

a) Basis of Analysis
The equivalent Frame method was developed with the assumption that the
analysis would be done using the moment distribution method. For vertical
loading, each floor with its columns may be analyzed separately by assuming the
columns to be fixed at the floors above and below.
b) Moment of Inertia of Slab Beam
The slab beam includes the portion of then slab bounded by panel centerlines on
each side of the columns, together with column line beams or drop panels (if
used).
The moment of inertia used for analysis may be based n the concrete cross-
section, neglecting reinforcement, but variations in cross section along the
member axis should be accounted for (see below).

Fig. 1.7 EI values for slab with drop

Fig.1.8 EI values for slab and beam

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 9

c) The equivalent Column

In the equivalent frame method of analysis, the columns are considered to be
attached to the continuous slab beam by torsional members transverse to the
direction of the span for which moments are being found. Torsional deformation
of these transverse supporting members reduces the effective flexural stiffness
provided by the actual column at the support.

Fig. 1.9 Torsion at a transverse supporting member

The above effects can be considered by replacing the actual beam and columns
with an equivalent column having the following stiffness:

Where Kec = Flexural stiffness of equivalent column

Kc = flexural stiffness of actual column
Kt = torsional stiffness of edge beam
The torsional Stiffness Kt can be calculated by:

Where Ecs = modulus of elasticity of slab concrete

c2 = size of rectangular column, capital, or bracket in the direction of l2.
C = cross sectional constant (roughly equivalent to polar moment of
inertia)
The torsional constant C can be calculated by:

Where x is the shorter side of a rectangle and y is the longer side.

C is calculated by sub-dividing the cross section of torsional members in to
component rectangles and the sub-division is to maximize the value of C.
The torsional members according to ACI Code are as follows:

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 10

Fig. 1.10
Torsional
members

d) Arrangement of Live Load for Analysis

1. If the unfactored live load does not exceed 0.75 times the unfactored dead
load, it is not necessary to consider pattern loadings, and only the case of
full factored live load and dead load on all spans need to be analyzed
2. If the unfactored live load exceeds 0.75 times the unfactored dead load
the following pattern loadings need to be considered.
a) For maximum positive moment, factored dead load on all spans and
0.75 times the full factored live load on the panel in question and on
alternate panels
b) For maximum negative moment at an interior support, factored
dead load on all panels and 0.75 times the full factored live load on
the two adjacent panels.

The final design moments shall not be less than for the case of full factored dead
and live load on all panels.

1.8 Shear in Flat Slabs, as per EBCS 2

The concrete section (thickness of the slab) must be adequate to sustain the
shear force, since stirrups are not convenient.
Two types of shear are considered
i) Beam type Shear: Diagonal tension Failure and critical section is
considered at d distance from the face of the column or capital and V c is
the same expression given earlier for beams or solid slabs.
i.e. Vc = 0.25fctd k1 k2 bw d
ii) Punching Shear: perimeter shear which occurs in slabs with out beams
around columns. It is characterized by formation of a truncated punching
cone or pyramid around concentrated loads or reactions. The outline of the
critical section is shown in Fig. below.

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 11

Fig. 1.11 Critical section remote from a free edge

The shear force to be resisted can be calculated as the total design load on the
area bounded by the panel centerlines around the column less the load applied
with in the area defined by the critical shear perimeter.
The punching shear resistance with out shear reinforcement is:

Vcp = 0.5 fctd k1 k2 u d

K1 = (1+50)  2.0
e= (ex ey)2  0.015
u = perimeter of critical section
d = ½(dx+dy), average effective depth

Table 1.4a

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 12

Table 1.4b

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 13

Table 1.4c

Structural Engineering V Negib.B

 Chapter One: Flat Slabs 14

Table 1.5
Minimum Bend Point Locations and Extensions for reinforcement in Flat Slabs

Structural Engineering V Negib.B