Chapter 2

Limit State Design of Slab

Part I
2.1 Introduction
2.2. Design procedures for slab as per EBCS EN
2.3 Design of one way slab

Sosina M.
November 2022
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 2.1 Introduction

The elements of a structure are classified, by consideration of

their nature and function as beams, columns, slabs, walls,
plates, arches, shells etc.

A slab is a member for which the minimum panel dimension

is not less than 5 times the overall slab thickness. (EBCS EN)

It’s an important structural element which is constructed to

create flat and useful surface such as floors, roofs and ceiling.

Slabs are commonly supported by beam, column and wall or

the ground.

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Loadings on slabs (Dead load, Live Load, Floor Finish,
Earthquake loads and snow loads).

There are three Common Types of slabs.

a) Solid Slab
b) Ribbed Slab
c) Flat Slab
A) Solid Slabs
They are fully customizable, loosely reinforced concrete
slabs of varying width, length and thickness.

Solid Slabs can be classified as one way solid slabs and two
way solid slabs.
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 A slab subjected to predominantly uniformly
distributed loads may be considered to be one way
spanning and hence called one way solid slab if either:
(a) It posses two free (unsupported) and sensibly parallel
edges or
(b) If it is the central part of a sensibly rectangular slab
supported on four edges with the longest span to
shortest span ratio greater than 2 ( Ly/Lx >2)

 Two way solid slab: A rectangular one supported on

four edges with beams with the longest span to
shortest span ratio is less than or equal to 2.
(Ly/Lx ≤2)
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 B) Ribbed Slabs
It is a slab with topping or flange supported by closely
spaced ribs.

There are two types of ribbed slab system

i) One way ribbed slab

ii) Two-way ribbed slab (Waffle slab)

A one-way ribbed slab consists of a series of small

reinforced concrete T beams that are connected with
girders. The joists or ribs run usually in one direction (in
the shorter direction).

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One way ribbed slab 8
One way ribbed slab
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Two way Ribbed slabs (waffle slabs) have joists or ribs in
two perpendicular or any other angle coordinate system.
They contain square grids with deep sides.
They are majorly used in Hotels, malls, Restaurants for good
pictorial view and install artificial lighting.

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 Typical ribbed slab with non-uniform ceiling

Typical Ribbed Slab with flat ceiling

Permanent HBC 12
 C) Flat Slab
It is a slab supported directly on columns without
beams. They are also called beam-less slabs.
They are generally used in Parking slot, Hotels, Commercial
buildings.

Drop Panel

Column
capital

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 (c) One-way slab (3D)

(a) One-way slab (b) Two-way slab (d) Two-way slab (3D)

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 6m 6m

2m S1 S2 2m

2m
4m S3 S4

6m 4m

Figure 1
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• For slab S1 & S2 in the above Figure 1 , Ly = 6m and Lx =
2m
Ly/Lx =6m/2m = 3 > 2 :Therefore, both slabs are one way.
• For slab S3 in Figure 1 , Ly = 6m and Lx = 4m
Ly/Lx =6m/4m = 1.5 ≤ 2 :Therefore, slab is Two way.
• For slab S1 in Figure 2, Ly = 5m and Lx = 3m
Ly/Lx =5m/3m = 1.67 ≤ 2 :Therefore, slab is Two way
(However load will be transferred in one direction and this
slab should be treated as one way)

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Figure 2
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One way solid slab systems can be designed as if they
are simply supported or continuous beams over their
shortest span lengths with 1m strip width.

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Two way solid slab systems can be analyzed using
empirical method, coefficient method
(EBCS2/1995) or equivalent frame method or any
other relevant method.

For slabs with irregular shapes, with openings or

with complex discontinuities and support
conditions, it is better to use Yield line method of
analysis to get more reasonable stress resultants.

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Minimum Requirements for slabs: EBCS2/1995
Minimum Thickness of slabs:
1) The following minimum thicknesses shall be adopted in
design:
 60 mm for slabs not exposed to concentrated loads (e.g
inaccessible roofs).
80 mm for slabs exposed mainly to distributed loads.
100 mm for slabs exposed to light moving concentrated
loads (e.g. slabs accessible to light motor vehicles)
120 mm for slabs exposed to heavy dynamic moving
loads (e.g. slabs accessible to heavy vehicles)
150 mm for slabs on point supports (e.g. flat slabs)
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Minimum Flexural Reinforcements:
2) The ratio of the secondary reinforcement to the main
reinforcement shall be at least equal to 0.2.
3) The geometrical ratio of main reinforcement in a slab
shall not be less than:
𝜌𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.5/𝑓𝑦𝑘
Maximum Spacing of Flexural Reinforcements:
4) The spacing between main bars for slabs shall not
exceed the smaller of 2h or 350 mm
5) The spacing between secondary bars shall not exceed
400 mm
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2.2 Design procedures for solid slab as per EBCS EN

Step 1: Cross sectional dimensions (b & h)

Take a depth (d) which fulfills the minimum thickness
requirements of slabs and check for the minimum depth
required for serviceability requirement.
Take width, b =1m = 1000 mm (design is per unit width)

The table below shows the basic L/d ratios for reinforced concrete
members without axial restraint calculated from the code
equations.
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Step 2: Load Analysis

Determine Mmax

Step 3: Determine km and kS

𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑏
𝑘𝑚 = 𝑘𝑠 = 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
𝑑 35
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Step 4: Design main Reinforcements (As)
𝑘𝑠 ∗ 𝑀
𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐴𝑠 , 𝐴𝑠 =
𝑑
𝑏 ∗ 𝑎𝑠 1000 ∗ 𝑎𝑠
𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆= =
𝐴𝑠 𝐴𝑠
2𝑕 𝑜𝑟 2𝐷
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ≤
350 𝑚𝑚

Step 5: Design Distribution bars (Ast)

𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐴𝑠𝑡 ≥ 0.2𝐴𝑠
𝑏 ∗ 𝑎𝑠 1000 ∗ 𝑎𝑠
𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 , 𝑆𝑡 = =
𝐴𝑠𝑡 𝐴𝑠𝑡
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ≤ 400 𝑚𝑚
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 Reinforcements on slab
 Main or moment reinforcements – To resist the applied moment
 Secondary or distribution reinforcements- distributing non-uniform loads.

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2.3 Design of one way slab
Example 1: one way Solid slab - Simply Supported

Design the following typical one way solid slab to carry live
load of 2 kN/m2. Use materials C-20 Concrete and Ø8 mm
bars having fyk = 300 Mpa.
6m 8m

1.7m
2.6m S1 S2

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Necessary data:
Clean cover, CC = 15 mm
Clear Floor height = 3m
Additional DL to be considered (floor & Wall Finish)
Ceiling plaster = 2cm thick
Terrazzo floor tile = 2 cm thick
Cement screed (mortar) = 5cm thick
External HCB = 20cm thick
Internal HCB (partition) = 10cm thick
Consider an additional DL of 8.0353 kN/m acting on the
partition wall on slab S2 (i.e. excluding partition load)
Density of terrazzo, cement mortar & plaster = 23 kN/m3
Density of Rectangular hollow blocks (HCB) = 14 kN/m3
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Step 1: Material Properties
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐶 − 20 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒 ∶
20
𝑓𝑐𝑘 = = 16 𝑀𝑝𝑎
1.25
0.85 ∗ 𝑓𝑐𝑘 0.85 ∗ 16
𝑓𝑐𝑑 = = = 9.07 𝑀𝑝𝑎
1.5 1.5
2 2
0.21∗ 𝑓𝑐𝑘 3 0.21∗ 16 3
𝑓𝑐𝑡𝑑 = = = 0.89 𝑀𝑝𝑎
1.5 1.5

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑆 − 300 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙:

𝑓𝑦𝑘 300
𝑓𝑦𝑘 = 300 𝑀𝑝𝑎 & 𝑓𝑦𝑑 = = = 260.87 𝑀𝑝𝑎
1.15 1.15
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Step 2: Determine the depth of the section
Effective depth of solid slab, 𝒅:
0.6fyk le
𝑑 ≥ 0.4 +
400 βa
le = shortest span = 2.6 m =2600 mm
βa can be taken similar to simply supported beams = 20
0.6 ∗ 300 2600
𝑑 ≥ 0.4 + = 110.5 mm
400 20
Over all depth of the slab , 𝐷 assuming Ø8mm main rebars :
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𝐷 = 110.5 + 15 + = 129.5 𝑚𝑚
2
Provide 𝐷 = 130 mm, Actual d = 111 mm 42
Step 3: Loads on the Slab
Live Load:
𝐿𝐿 = 2 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2

Dead Load:
1.7 0.1 3 14 + (8.0353)(1.7)
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 , = = 1.00
8 ∗ 2.6

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 1.00 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2

𝑆𝑙𝑎𝑏 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡 = 0.13 ∗ 25 = 3.25 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2

𝐶𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.02 ∗ 23 = 0.46 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝑇𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑧𝑧𝑜 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑟 = 0.02 ∗ 23 = 0.46 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝐶𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑟 = 0.05 ∗ 23 = 1.15 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2

Total DL = 6.32 kN/m2 43

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑, Fd = 1.3𝐷𝐿 + 1.6𝐿𝐿
Fd = 1.3 6.32 + 1.6 2 = 11.4 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝑘𝑁
Since the design is per unit width, Fd = 11.4 𝑚
W = 11.4 kN/m

2.6 m
𝑤𝑙2 11.4 ∗ 2.62
𝑀𝑀𝑎𝑥 = = = 9.6
8 8
Step 4: Determine km and kS
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 9.6
𝑏 1.0
𝑘𝑚 = = = 28
𝑑 0.111 44
From Table No-1a of EBCS-2/1995 /Part 2, the
corresponding values of 𝑘𝑠 for 𝑘𝑚 = 28.0 and C-20 &
S300 material grade is, 𝑘𝑠 = 4.06 (𝑏𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
Step 5: Design main Reinforcements (As)
𝑘𝑠 ∗ 𝑀 4.06 ∗ 9.6
𝐴𝑠 = = = 353.0 𝑚𝑚2
𝑑 0.111
1000 ∗ 50.3
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆= = 142.5 𝑚𝑚
353
2𝑕 = 2 ∗ 130 = 260 𝑚𝑚
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ≤
350 𝑚𝑚
Provide Ø8mm bars @c/c 140 mm
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Step 5: Design main Reinforcements (As)
𝑘𝑠 ∗ 𝑀 4.06 ∗ 9.6
𝐴𝑠 = = = 353.0 𝑚𝑚2
𝑑 0.111
1000 ∗ 50.3
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆= = 142.5 𝑚𝑚
353
2𝑕 = 2 ∗ 130 = 260 𝑚𝑚
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ≤
350 𝑚𝑚
Provide Ø8mm bars @c/c 140 mm

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Step 6: Design Distribution bars (Ast)
𝐴𝑠𝑡 = 0.2𝐴𝑠 = 0.2 353 = 50.6 𝑚𝑚2
1000 ∗ 50.3
𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 , 𝑆𝑡 = = 994.07 𝑚𝑚
50.6
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ≤ 400 𝑚𝑚

Provide Ø8mm bars @c/c 400 mm distribution

reinforcements.

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Reinforcement detailing

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Example 2: one way Solid slab – Continuous span
Design the floor slab system which consists of one way
slab framed by beams. The load consists of LL = 5 kN/m2
and load from partition = 3 kN/m2. Materials used are C-
25 concrete and steel having fyk = 300 Mpa. Assume bw =
250 mm
3m 4m 3.5 m

8m S1 S2 S3

Figure 4.1.4 49
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Thank You!

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